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Aromatherapy: Defining Essential Oils in Aromatherapy
Essential oils are used throughout the various types of aromatherapy treatments. They have been referred to as the quintessence of a plant's being. The Oxford English Dictionary defines quintessence as "An extract from anything, containing in concentrated form its most essential principle." Essential oils are concentrated aromatic liquids extracted from a variety of aromatic plant material through the process of distillation. These natural organic substances are produced in various glands and sacs within aromatic plants. Each essential oil is usually produced in one part of the plant, except in a few cases. Where a plant produces essential oils in more than one of its parts, differences of odor and in chemical composition occur. For example, the oil from the leaves of the cinnamon tree has a cinnamon and clove like odor; where as the oil from the bark has the characteristic ‘cinnamon’ odor. Another example is from the bitter orange tree: Bitter orange oil is produced from the peel, petitgrain from the leaf and neroli from the blossom; all have different odors yet similar properties.
In traditional aromatherapy circles, Essential oils are extracted from many different kinds of plants. They can be extracted from culinary herbal plants. Some examples of this can be seen in basil, clary sage, rosemary, peppermint, and thyme. Essential oils can also be extracted from various kinds of seeds. For example, angelica, coriander, black pepper and cardamom all have wonderful essential oils with a variety of different properties. Fruits like lemon, mandarin, bergamot, grapefruit and lime also have some great essential oils that are quite helpful throughout the practice of aromatherapy. There are many flowers like rose, ylang ylang, jasmine & lavender that have the perfect essential oils for aromatherapy treatment procedures. Some resins including frankincense, myrrh, benzoin and elemi have essential oils that can be extracted for aromatherapy purposes. Many of the woods from various kinds of trees make excellent essential oils for aromatherapy. Some examples include cedarwood, sandalwood, camphor and cinnamon. Wood, though, isn't the only useful part of the tree in terms of essential oils for aromatherapy purposes. Leaves and twigs can also be quite helpful for this purpose. The leaves and twigs of tea tree, eucalyptus, melissa, petitgrain and patchouli have been found to be quite helpful in aromatherapy procedures. Some grasses including lemon grass & palmarosa are used extensively throughout aromatherapy. Roots, Rhizomes & Bulbs including angelica, ginger, garlic & vetiver are also used in most aromatherapy treatments.
Each plant contains a percentage (which varies between 5% - .01%) of essential oil, and it is this fact that dictates the amount of plant material needed for distillation to create a specified amount of essential oil. For example, it takes up to 100 kilos of rose petals to produce 1/2 liter of rose whilst 100 kilos of lavender will yield approximately 3 liters of lavender essential oil. The quantity of plant material needed also dictates pricing of the individual essential oils.
The quality of an essential oil is influenced by a number of factors, such as its geographical and botanical source, the prevailing climate, the standards of local farming, the time of harvesting and the skill of individual harvesters and distillers. The essential oils used in aromatherapy are only a small proportion compared with that of the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic trade. In the food trade, essential oils are used as flavorings for many different dishes. In the pharmaceutical industry, essential oils are used quite differently. In most cases, they are used for medicines, toothpastes, gargles, cough sweets and inhalations. Friar's Balsam and Vick's Vaporub is a good example of products they are used in. Moreover, the pharmaceutical industry uses a variety of essential oils in various products. For example, clove oil is commonly used in toothpaste. Peppermint oil is in many of the products you consume for digestive disorders. Eucalyptus oil is commonly inhaled to help deal with stuff noses and colds. Lavender oil is a great remedy for insect repellent or after bite soothing lotion. Tea tree oil is used throughout dentistry practices. The use of essential oils, though, doesn't stop there. In the cosmetic trade essential oils are used in face creams, make up and perfume. Essential oils have many different uses in the world of aromatherapy treatments.
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Aromatherapy is no cure for what ails you - Skin and beauty- msnbc.com
One of the most rigorous studies of aromatherapy showed no significant change in heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormones or immune function after sniffing two top scents.
Delivering aromatherapy via the Web - Gadgets- msnbc.com
People play games, go shopping and meet dates on the Internet. So why not use the Web to download the perfect mood-enhancing fragrance?
Delivering aromatherapy via the Web - Gadgets - MSNBC.com
People play games, go shopping and meet dates on the Internet. So why not use the Web to download the perfect mood-enhancing fragrance? ... Selling smells via the Internet Japanese ...
Healing herbs: Nature?s medicine (and perfume!) - GreenDAY - MSNBC ...
The pure essences of plants or herbs, essential oils are the backbone of aromatherapy, a healing modality that relies on the power of scent to promote healing.
Rest easy! 5 tips for a better night's sleep - Family and health ...
Aromatherapy Bath and Body Works is head and shoulders above everyone. I have looked into their quality specifications, their products, and what they are trying to do, and I really ...
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aromatherapy - Google News
aromatherapy - Google News
Aromatherapy Bath Product: Great Blends and Ideas for the Optimal ... - Best ...
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Aromatherapy Bath Product: Great Blends and Ideas for the Optimal ...
Best Syndication, CA - Aug 18, 2008
You could go to a store and buy an aromatherapy bath product, or you could make your own at home. Herbal and aromatic baths are an ancient tradition, ...
Aromatherapy a sweet business - Arizona Daily Star
Aromatherapy a sweet business
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - Aug 16, 2008
By Jennifer Sterba Sonia Rodriguez didn't let a debilitating illness keep her from opening her own store and sharing her passion for aromatherapy with the ...
How to look fabulous when you fly - Mirror.co.uk
How to look fabulous when you fly
Mirror.co.uk, UK - 22 hours ago
Overcome jet-lag by rubbing the Tisser and Aromatherapy Travel Ease Roller ball, £4.50, from Waitrose, on your wrists. The aroma of its organic essential ...
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by ... - PR.c...
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by ...
PR.com (press release), NY - Aug 18, 2008
This unique Dry Personal AromaTherapy System can often bring relief in seconds from a single puff! ?While Aromatherapy has been used for centuries in ...
Study: Aromatherapy massage with music reduces anxiety in nurses - Chiropract...
Study: Aromatherapy massage with music reduces anxiety in nurses
Chiropractic Economics, FL - Aug 13, 2008
A study published in the September issue of Journal of Clinical Nursing says aromatherapy massage with music can help reduce anxiety levels in emergency ...
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Yahoo! News Search Results for aromatherapy
Yahoo! News Search Results for aromatherapy
Major Relief for Migraines and Other Common Ailments Introduced by New York C...
New York College of Health Professions, a premier undergraduate and graduate College of Holistic Health, has developed and released a proprietary line of personal AromaTherapy products that has had a remarkable effect on many patients suffering from Migraine Headaches and other common ailments. [PR.com - August 18, 2008]
Beautorium Keeps Getting Greener and Greener (PR.com)
From anti-aging to pregnancy and baby, from body care to hair care, from aromatherapy to makeup, Beautorium is a luxury of ?green? solutions for modern skin care and beauty needs. The beauty doesn?t stop there. Get ready for three more cult beauty brands to join the mix: Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics, John Masters Organics and Weleda. Afterglow Mineral Cosmetics Hailing all the way from ...
Aromatherapy a sweet business (Arizona Daily Star)
Sonia Rodriguez didn't let a debilitating illness keep her from opening her own store and sharing her passion for aromatherapy with the community.
Want to Relax? Try Pure Lavender Essential Oil (Carteret County News-Times)
(ARA) - It seems that lavender, or the scent of it, is everywhere - candles, hand lotions, shampoo, bath gel, air freshener, even laundry detergent. It's the most widely used and best-selling essential oil. Why is lavender so popular?
Dogs get special treatment, training at Brother of the Wolf (Courier-Post)
Training canine companions may be a vocation for some, but it's an art form for Dawn Watson.
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