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Although
aromatherapy has been in the spotlight lately, it's anything but new. Religious
ceremonies throughout the ages have included the burning of special incense as
part of their sacred rites.
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And European doctors in the eleventh century often
used essential oils to help prevent and to heal disease.
It's only
recently, however, that researchers have discovered what our ancestors seemed
to know instinctively all along: certain aromas are more than just pleasant to
our noses. They can actually alter our brain waves, which in turn can
profoundly affect our moods. Scents can make us more alert. They can calm us
down. They can lift our spirits. They may even be able to stimulate our immune
systems. Scientists can actually study the different parts of the brain thateach scent affects.
Orange, jasmine, and rose, for example, alter brain wavesin a way that produces calming sensations and increases your sense of
well-being, while oils like rosemary and black pepper are more stimulating and
increase your energy response. Because they're so good for you in so many ways,
many of the recipes in this book call for a drop or two of essential oils of
all kinds.
Ever wonder
why one whiff from a bakery, a hay field, or a familiar aftershave can open the
floodgates for long-forgotten memories? It's because the olfactory nerve—the
one found in the upper regions of the nasal cavity—provides the shortest, most
direct route to your limbic system, the brain's emotional mainframe and the
warehouse for stored memories. The limbic system also is directly connected to
those parts of the brain that control your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing,
memory, stress levels, and hormone balance. No wonder many holistic health
practitioners incorporate aromatherapy into their practices.
As if that
weren't enough, you also can use many of these fragrant healers topically. For example,
their astringent, antiseptic properties make them good killers of infectious
germs on cuts and abrasions on the skin. They also are great for nourishing
mature, dry, or cracked skin.
If you're
new to aromatherapy, however, you're best off exercising caution when applying
oils to your skin. For one thing, most of them are very strong and should be
diluted with water before application. They also can cause allergic skin
reactions, particularly among people with fair skin or freckled complexions. If
you want to use an essential oil topically, perform a skin test first. Simply
place a drop of the oil on a cotton swab and dab it on the inside of your wrist
or inner elbow. Cover it up and keep it unwashed for twenty-four hours. If you
don't experience any itching, redness, or rash, you should be able to use the
oil topically. Caution: Pregnant women should not use any oils topically.
You can buy
essential oils at many pharmacies. But you'll often end up paying a lot of
money for a little bit of oil. Instead, you can make your own essential oils by
soaking herbs, flowers, or roots in vodka or rubbing alcohol for ten to
fourteen days. You then pour a small amount of the oil in a Potpourri burner
and enjoy the effects. The following will guide you through the most commonly
used essences and their best uses.
Basil: A
favorite in recipes of all kinds, basil is uplifting and refreshing. Using basil
in a bath is popular in Ayurvedic medicine for cooling and warming the skin
simultaneously. It also may be used as a bug repellent.
Black
pepper: Though inhaling too much at once can make you sneeze, black pepper is
good for increasing energy levels. It's derived from the unripe fruit and berry
of the peppercorn.
Cedarwood:
Popularly used to scent wardrobes and dresser drawers, cedarwood is a sweet
fragrance that clears the mind. Some people use it topically to relieve itchy
skin. It is also an astringent for oily skin.
Citrus oils:
The next time you come home growling from a bad day at work, diffuse some
citrus essence into the air. Citrus oils can chase away foul moods and create a
bright, uplifting atmosphere.Orange,
lemon, lime, or grapefruit will do the trick.
Clary sage:
Another fine herb for combating depression, menstrual pain, and premenstrual
syndrome. When diffused into the air or used as a massage oil, this essence is
said to make you feel euphoric.
Eucalyptus:
Popularly used in cold and flu chest rubs and cough drops, eucalyptus helps
clear stuffiness and congestion. It's also a classic antiviral and expectorant
essence in aromatherapy.
Floral oils:
We love the way flowers look. And we love the way they smell. Hands down,
floral oils are the best for stress relief. They're also the fragrances that
people tend to like best. Experiment with flower essences of all kinds from the
most basic rose to exotic wildflowers.
Geranium:
Geranium is among the floral essences that relax you. It also has special
properties as an antiviral and antifungal agent. It's gentle on the skin and
works well topically.
Lavender:
The queen of essential oils, lavender may be the most healing of all the
fragrances. Researchers in hospital intercare units have found that this sweet
essence can improve moods and relieve stress. It also comes to the rescue as an
antiseptic for minor injuries such as small burns, cuts, bruises, and insect
bites. Because it contains a lot of ester, it has an almost sedative quality.
Some people add a drop or two on their bed sheets to relieve brief bouts of
insomnia.
Mandarin:
Made from the sweet mandarin orange, this citrus essence is one of the most
popular for alleviating anxiety and for lifting bad moods.
Patchouli:
Very popular in the days of Woodstock,
this spicy, pungent essential oil is used to calm and focus the mind. Patchouli
also soothes dry skin. Some folks say it even works as an aphrodisiac.
Peppermint:
Cool and invigorating, peppermint is popularly used to relieve symptoms of
cold, flu, and sinus congestion. Just place two or three drops of peppermint
essence in a bowl of hot water and inhale. Peppermint also is a great mental
stimulant.
Rose: A
classic in the world of aromatherapy, rose oils are cherished for relieving stress
and elevating moods.
Rosemary: A
longtime culinary favorite in Mediterranean countries, rosemary has a fresh
aroma that soothes frazzled nerves and relieves anxiety.
Sandalwood:
Derived from the sandalwood tree, sandal-wood oil is used in baths to keep the
immune system running at peak condition. Sandalwood oil also can act as an
antiseptic. Spearmint:
Like its sister essence peppermint, spearmint energizes the mind when inhaled.
It also is cool and invigorat-lng when used topically. Spearmint is especially
effective as an astringent for oily skin.
Tea tree:
Acting as a gentle antiseptic, tea tree oil is used commonly for skin
conditions such as burns, cold sores, athlete's foot as well as for lip balms,
soaps, and dental
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