Aromatherapy

The term Aromatherapy was coined by French chemist, René Maurice Gattefossé. Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. Aromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of essential oils (An essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants). It is defined as follows in Medical Encyclopedia, Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological well-being. It is sometimes used in combination with massage and other therapeutic techniques as part of a holistic treatment approach. In France Aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine, where the use of the anti-septic, antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties of oils in the control of infections is emphasized Materials in Aromatherapy • Essential oils: Fragrant oils extracted from plants chiefly through. • Absolutes: Fragrant oils extracted primarily from flowers or delicate plant tissues. • Phytoncides: Various volatile organic compounds from plants that kill microbes. • Herbal distillates or hydrosols: The aqueous by-products of the distillation process. • Infusions: Aqueous extracts of various plant material. • Carrier oils: Typically oily plant base triacylglycerides that are used to dilute essential oils for use on the skin. Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural VOCs work in different ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic system and emotional centers of the brain. When applied to the skin (commonly in form of