About Aromatherapy
Rosa damascena
The most distinctive characteristic of essential oils is their smell. Most of the oils in this collection have a fragrance that appeals, although their fragrances cover the full spectrum from heavenly to “medicinal”.
However, the majority of essential oils delight our sense of smell. In fact, their scent is, for most people, their defining and most loved property.
Aromatherapy is the art, and science, of using essential oils for healing.
There is a common misconception that we are healed by just by smelling the oils. While fragrance definitely plays a role in evoking the emotions, which are a key part of any healing process, there is much more to the story.
Aromatherapy mainly involves “delivering” the healing compounds within the essential oils into the body by various methods in order for the healing to occur. Some common modes of delivery include massaging oils into the skin, inhaling them in steam, soaking in a bath containing a few drops of oils, and using the oils in a poultice for a localized effect. Click here for full details on how to apply any of these methods.
Therapeutic uses of essential oils for physical conditions include relieving pain, assisting in wound healing, recovery from insect bites and stings, relieving swelling and odema, and assisting the body to “fight” infections, such as colds and flu. See individual essential oils for details of their healing properties.
Essential oils also generally have a very powerful effect on the emotions. Many of them are uplifting and have an anti-depressant effect. Some are stimulating and enlivening; others are soothing and calming, and in some cases, help adults and children safely to sleep. Oils can balance emotional and hormonal highs and lows, and a few are reputed to be aphrodisiacs.
There is a common misconception that we are healed by just by smelling the oils. While fragrance definitely plays a role in evoking the emotions, which are a key part of any healing process, there is much more to the story.
Aromatherapy mainly involves “delivering” the healing compounds within the essential oils into the body by various methods in order for the healing to occur. Some common modes of delivery include massaging oils into the skin, inhaling them in steam, soaking in a bath containing a few drops of oils, and using the oils in a poultice for a localized effect. Click here for full details on how to apply any of these methods.
Therapeutic uses of essential oils for physical conditions include relieving pain, assisting in wound healing, recovery from insect bites and stings, relieving swelling and odema, and assisting the body to “fight” infections, such as colds and flu. See individual essential oils for details of their healing properties.
Essential oils also generally have a very powerful effect on the emotions. Many of them are uplifting and have an anti-depressant effect. Some are stimulating and enlivening; others are soothing and calming, and in some cases, help adults and children safely to sleep. Oils can balance emotional and hormonal highs and lows, and a few are reputed to be aphrodisiacs.
Fragonia in flower
Essential oils can also play a major role in the reduction of stress, tension and anxiety. Oils can also help with behavioural disabilities and problems - for example, Fragonia has been used successfully in case of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) and for autism.
It is no surprise that oils can affect our emotions so powerfully. Our sense of smell is closely connected to the more "primitive" emotional areas of our brain, and smells of all kinds can trigger vivid memories, complete with appropriate emotional responses, from deep within our subconscious.
To receive a healing effect at the emotional level, essential oils can be burned in a vaporizer, massaged into the skin, inhaled in steam or used in a bath. Click here for full details on how to apply any of these methods.
The New Millennium Oils are all of a very high standard, suitable for therapeutic use in aromatherapy applications.
It is no surprise that oils can affect our emotions so powerfully. Our sense of smell is closely connected to the more "primitive" emotional areas of our brain, and smells of all kinds can trigger vivid memories, complete with appropriate emotional responses, from deep within our subconscious.
To receive a healing effect at the emotional level, essential oils can be burned in a vaporizer, massaged into the skin, inhaled in steam or used in a bath. Click here for full details on how to apply any of these methods.
The New Millennium Oils are all of a very high standard, suitable for therapeutic use in aromatherapy applications.
About Essential Oils
Essential oils are the oil (non-water-soluble) component resulting from an extraction of compounds from one or more parts of a plant. Essential oils may be extracted from the flowers, leaves, fruit, branches, wood or roots of a plant.
The most common extraction is method is via steam distillation, in which the plant material is placed in a chamber and exposed to steam, which takes up many volatile compounds from the plant. The steam is then condensed to form water, and the resulting layer of oil on the top is tapped off separately as the essential oil.
Other possible extraction methods are cold pressing, used primarily for the skins of citrus fruit, or extraction by a chemical solvent or carbon dioxide.
Essential oils contain many compounds that have wonderful healing properties. The fascinating aspect of this is that many of these compounds are made by the plant using very similar biochemical pathways to those that our body uses to create vital hormones, such as testosterone or progesterone. It is almost as though plants were designed for this purpose, and this is no surprise, since we evolve on our Earth alongside the plant kingdom.
The most common extraction is method is via steam distillation, in which the plant material is placed in a chamber and exposed to steam, which takes up many volatile compounds from the plant. The steam is then condensed to form water, and the resulting layer of oil on the top is tapped off separately as the essential oil.
Other possible extraction methods are cold pressing, used primarily for the skins of citrus fruit, or extraction by a chemical solvent or carbon dioxide.
Essential oils contain many compounds that have wonderful healing properties. The fascinating aspect of this is that many of these compounds are made by the plant using very similar biochemical pathways to those that our body uses to create vital hormones, such as testosterone or progesterone. It is almost as though plants were designed for this purpose, and this is no surprise, since we evolve on our Earth alongside the plant kingdom.
Essential Oil Safety
Used safely and appropriately, essential oils are a wonderful and powerful healing tool. Be aware, however, that essential oils are also very potent and concentrated, so there are some important safety rules to be aware of.
Most essential oils must not be used neat (that is, at 100% concentration) directly on the skin. They can burn or cause irritation. The usual method of applying oils to the skin is to dilute them in a carrier vegetable or nut oil (usually at 5%). The most well-known carrier oils are sweet almond, hazelnut, macadamia, apricot kernel and jojoba oils. Click here for more details on how to dilute essential oils.
In our description of each essential oil, there will be a note if the oil is safe to use neat on the skin. However, even in this case, it is wise to spot-test on a patch of skin first just to be sure. And some oils should never be used on the skin, in which case, this will be noted too.
Most essential oils must not be used neat (that is, at 100% concentration) directly on the skin. They can burn or cause irritation. The usual method of applying oils to the skin is to dilute them in a carrier vegetable or nut oil (usually at 5%). The most well-known carrier oils are sweet almond, hazelnut, macadamia, apricot kernel and jojoba oils. Click here for more details on how to dilute essential oils.
In our description of each essential oil, there will be a note if the oil is safe to use neat on the skin. However, even in this case, it is wise to spot-test on a patch of skin first just to be sure. And some oils should never be used on the skin, in which case, this will be noted too.
Lime fruit
Some essential oils are photo-toxic. This means that if you apply this oil externally to the skin and go out in the sun, you will have an extremely high chance of burning. It is strongly recommended that you stay out of the sun for 24 hours after applying a photo-toxic oil to the skin. Most of the oils with this property are from the citrus family – eg. Bergamot and Lime.
Some essential oils are NOT safe to use in pregnancy. Again check the individual oil for this information. Most oils are safe to use during pregnancy, provided you use them dilute (at 5%) on the skin, or in a vaporizer or steam inhalation.
If you are in any doubt about whether an oil is safe to use in a particular way at any time, please consult an appropriate health practitioner, such as a qualified aromatherapist.
Some essential oils are NOT safe to use in pregnancy. Again check the individual oil for this information. Most oils are safe to use during pregnancy, provided you use them dilute (at 5%) on the skin, or in a vaporizer or steam inhalation.
If you are in any doubt about whether an oil is safe to use in a particular way at any time, please consult an appropriate health practitioner, such as a qualified aromatherapist.
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