Aromatherapy
The following article/writings do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of Visionary Music or Shapeshifter. The are offered to you so that you may discern what holds truth for you and to increase your knowledge and awareness of the topics/subjects related to DNA Activation, ascension and planetary evolution. These articles have been submitted to us, passed around the web or found during research. When available we have used appropriate credit lines and added URLs so that you can contact the authors. If you find any articles that have been posted incorrectly or without permission, contact us at evolve@visionarymusic and let us know. It is not our intent to infringe on any copyright laws, just to share the information for the upliftment of the planet.
SOURCE: http://www.herbs2000.com/aromatherapy/1_aromatherapy.htm
Aromatherapy is a modern term for a healing art that is ages old. Its earliest use was in China as early as 4000 B.C. The Chinese were probably the first to use essential oils for medicinal purposes. The Egyptians were known for using aromatics in rituals and healing, including different forms of massage, and for cosmetics and embalming. Many of their formulas were carved into the stone walls of Egyptian temples so that we have been able to document their widespread use of essential oils. However, the first herbal medicinal handbook describing numerous uses for plant oils was not published until the 17th century. Chemical substitutes became popular in the 19th century and almost halted the use of pure and natural oils.
Aromatherapy is a way to improve the quality of life on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. The basis of aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, the vital life essence of aromatic plants and flowers in a concentrated form.
Not all plants contain essential oils; less than 20% have essences. In those that do -more than 150 -the oil, or essence, is contained in highly specialized glands that are present in the foliage, flower, or other plant material. In fact, roots, stalks, bark, leaves, flowers, blossoms, seeds, nuts, fruits and resins have all been used to obtain the plant oil. In the plant, the essential oil is part of the plants own immune system. As the oils evaporate, they create a barrier around the leaf or other plant part, and so reduce water loss through evaporation in the plant itself. Essential oils in essence appear to provide some defense against infection in the plant material, helping to strengthen its immune system, and attract insects that are vital to pollination.
The plants that contain essential oils are found mainly in hot, dry habitats. At certain times of the day, and particular times of the year, the essential oils are present at optimum levels, and this is the best time for harvest and distillation. The amount of oil produced by a plant is also affected by the growing conditions, including the type of soil, the amount of sunlight it receives, and rainfall. Many plants are needed to produce even an ounce of oil -for example, 6 pounds of lavender flowers are needed to make 1 oz of oil while 300 pounds of rose petals are required for 1 oz of rose oil.
Most essential oils are obtained through steam distillation. This process involves filling large vats with plant material which is then steamed at high pressure. The hot steam causes the essential oils to be released by the plant. The oils do not dissolve in water and will float to the top. They are then skimmed from the top. These pure "life forces" of the plant are then available to use in many different ways.
They are highly concentrated and have a unique chemical composition consisting of botanical vitamins, hormones and antibiotics. In comparison to dried herbs, essential oils are 75-100 times more concentrated. Since they are the most potent part of the plant, only a small amount is needed to be effective.
Essential oils have a consistency similar to that of water, and most are lighter than water. All of them differ from vegetable oils in that they are not greasy. Most are colorless. They are extremely volatile, which means they will quickly evaporate when exposed to air.
The action of an essential oil on the body is holistic, combining both physical and mental aspects. Essential oils work together with all aspects of the body, strengthening rather than weakening it so that it may aid in the healing and restorative process.
Essential oils are extremely flexible in their applications. Their ability to affect people on so many different levels physical, emotional, psychological -is a special element unmatched by other healing arts. You can easily incorporate them into many of your daily activities. Pure essential oils have a place in every home and every lifestyle. They are nature's alternative to the many synthetic chemicals that have invaded our lives and homes in the names of health, cleanliness, and environmental enhancement.
Improving Health And Well Being
Nature creates essential oils from basic hydrocarbon molecules. The type of molecules that make up the essential oil determines the range of effects the oil will have. Some oils have up to 250 different components making them nearly impossible to duplicate synthetically. These aromatic molecules of essential oils come in contact with the only part of our brain that is exposed outside our body -the olfactory bulb. This olfactory bulb, which is responsible for the sense of smell, is 10,000 times more sensitive than any other sense. Scents are tied directly to the neo-cortex of the brain which is the part that processes memory and emotions and where basic drives are stimulated.
By breathing essential oils, you elicit all kinds of responses which promote a sense of health and well-being. It is believed the molecules of an essential oil also permeate the skin and are carried by the lymphatic and circulatory systems to the inner organs. Whether the oil is absorbed through the skin or inhaled, once in the bloodstream and body fluids, it works therapeutically, however small the dose.
The chemicals in essential oils unlock the body's ability to heal. 'Essential oils are able to influence all aspects of the body's functions, from tissues to organs, to body fluids and cells, as well as the emotional state and the spiritual aspects of the person.
The results of aromatherapy are very individual; no two persons are affected by the same essential oil in exactly the same way. Even the same person can be affected differently by the same oil depending on surroundings, time of day, or mood.
The idea behind aromatherapy is, first, to find the scents, unique for each individual, that evoke positive sensory feelings and emotions, and then to introduce those scents into our everyday life to enhance well-being. Natural scents keep us connected to the earth -grounded -sparking memories and emotions and healing the spirit.
The Essence
The majority of essential oils produced are used as food flavoring agents and perfume materials. They are also of some interest to the pharmaceutical industry, but usually in order for chemists to isolate their 'active principles'. However, some continue to be employed in their natural state by practitioners of aromatherapy and herbal medicine.
Essential oils, also known as 'essences' or "volatile oils', are the highly odoriferous liquid components of aromatic plants, trees and grasses. The word 'essential' is derived from quintessence, which the Oxford English Dictionary defines as 'An extract of a substance containing its principle in its most concentrated form'. In ancient philosophical or alchemical terms, quintessence was related to ether or the fifth element and was thought to be the spiritual aspect of matter. It is also interesting to mention that essential oils are sometimes called 'ethereal oils', a Germanic term which aptly describes their otherworldly nature; for if left in the open air they disappear without a trace, evaporating into the ether like a mist.
Where are they found?
Essential oils may be found in different parts of the plant: in the petals (rose), leaves (eucalyptus), roots of grass (vetiver), bark (cinnamon), heartwood (sandalwood), citrus rind (lemon), seeds (caraway), rhizomes (valerian), bulbs (garlic), the aerial or top parts of the plant (marjoram) or resin (frankincense), and sometimes in more than one part of the plant. Lavender, for instance, yields oil from both the flowers and the leaves, while the orange tree produces three different smelling essences with varying medicinal properties; the heady bitter-sweet neroli (flowers), the similar though less refined scent of petit grain (leaves) and the cheery orange (rind of the fruit).
Although sometimes denigrated as "waste products' of plant metabolism, studies have shown that plants utilize essential oils for such purposes as attracting pollinating insects, repelling predators and protecting themselves from disease -quite a significant survival mechanism. Yet essential oils are not vital to the life of plants as a whole, as the word 'essential' may suggest; Indeed, while it is true that most plants have an odor to a sensitive nose, not all plants produce volatile oils.
Essential oils accumulate in specialised plant tissues, harbouring oil glands. The more oil glands present in the plant, the cheaper the oil, and vice versa. For instance, 100 kilos of lavender yields almost 3 litres of essential oil, whereas 100 kilos of rose petals can yield only a half a litre. Essential oils are highly concentrated substances and therefore rarely used neat, though certain essences, such as lavender and tea tree, are sometimes used undiluted as an antiseptic. For aromatherapy massage, however, they are diluted in a 'carrier' oil such as sweet almond or olive. As well as being soluble in ordinary vegetable oil, essential oils will dissolve in alcohol, egg yolk and waxes (melted beeswax or jojoba for example). However, they are only partially soluble in water -and a little more soluble in vinegar.
Colour and consistency
Even though they are technically classified as oils, plant essences are quite different from 'fixed' or fatty oils such as sunflower seed, corn or sweet almond. They are highly volatile, which means they evaporate when left in the open air, and they do not leave a permanent mark on paper. While many essences are virtually colourless (peppermint), yellowish (lavender), greenish (bergamot), amber (patchouli) or dark brown (vetiver), a few are endowed with an idiosyncratic hue. Tagetes, for example, is dark orange or yellow, whereas German chamomile is a splendid inky-blue. Many essences have the consistency of water or alcohol -lavender, peppermint and rosemary, for example.. Others, such as myrrh and vetiver, are viscous, or thick and sticky, whereas rose otto is semisolid at room temperature, but becomes liquid with the sligh-*test*-('") warmth.
Most Commonly Used Essential Oils
Basil ( Ocimum basilicum )
Benzoin ( Styrax tonkinensis )
Bergamot ( Citrus bergamia )
Cajuput ( Melaleuca leucodendron )
Camphor ( Cinnamomum camphora )
Caraway ( Carum carvi )
Cedarwood ( Cedrus atlantica )
Chamomile ( Chamaemelum nobile, Matricaria chamomilla / recutita )
Cinnamon ( Cinnamomum zelanicum )
Clary Sage ( Salvia sclarea )
Coriander ( Coriandrum sativum )
Cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens )
Eucalyptus ( Eucalyptus globulus )
Fennel ( Foeniculum vulgare )
Frankincense ( Boswellia carteri )
Geranium ( Pelargonium odorantissium )
Ginger ( Zingiber officinale )
Hyssop ( Hyssopus officinalis )
Jasmine Absolute ( Jasminum officinale )
Juniper ( Juniperus communis )
Lavender ( Lavandula officinalis )
Lemon ( Citrus limonum )
Lemongrass ( Cymbopogon citratus )
Marjoram ( Orinanum majorana )
Melissa ( Melissa officinalis )
Myrrh ( Commiphora myrrha )
Neroli ( Citrus aurantium )
Niaouli ( Melaleuca viridiflora )
Orange, Sweet ( Citrus aurantium )
Patchouli ( Pogostemon patchouli )
Pepper ( Piper nigrum )
Peppermint ( Menta piperita )
Petitgrain ( Citrus aurantium )
Rose ( Rosa gallica, Rosa damascena, Rosa centifolia )
Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis )
Sandalwood ( Santalum album )
Tea Tree ( Melaleuca alternifolia )
Thyme ( Thymus spp )
Ylang - Ylang ( Cananga odorata )
Carrier Oils Types
Apricot kernel oil: Good for all types of skin, especially useful on sensitive and aging skin. One of the ligh-*test*-('") oils to use. Very good for a facial oil.
Avocado oil: A nutrient-rich base oil with a high content of vitamins, protein, lecithin, and essential fatty acids. Beneficial for all skin types, but especially for mature, wrinkled, dry, and itchy skin.
Evening primrose oil: Expensive but a wonderful oil for skin care since it increases and protects skin cell function and works as a skin rejuvenator. The oil can quickly become rancid so should be refrigerated. A small portion can be added to skin creams and lotions to increase effectiveness. It is useful for dry skin, eczema, and psoriasis.
Grape seed oil: A nice, light, non-odoriferous oil. Makes a nice massage oil by itself or combined with sweet almond oil. Easily absorbed by the skin, suiting all skin types.
Jojoba oil: Nourishing to the skin and hair. An oil rich in Vitamin E which can be used alone or mixed with other base oils. Suitable for all skin types. Actually a wax so unlikely to become rancid (unlike most of the other vegetable oils). Contains antibacterial properties so is very good for the treatment of acne.
Sweet almond oil: Great base for massage, bath, body, and skin-care products because it is so nourishing to the skin. Contains a variety of vitamins and minerals, most notably Vitamin D. Scentless. Suitable for all skin types, especially dry or irritated skin.
Wheat germ oil: An antioxidant oil; adding a small proportion (such as 1 tablespoon to every 2 ounces of massage or body oil) to a basic mix will retain the freshness of the blend and help extend the product's shelf life. High in vitamins E, A and B as well as in mineral and protein content. Particularly beneficial to dry and mature skin. Also helps heal scar tissue, soothe burns, and smooth stretch marks.
Blending
Blending is a very important part of aromatherapy; it is the creative part of the process. Each essential oil has an essence of its own, but when combined with other compatible oils in a blend, the combination becomes more powerful than the sum of its parts. In other words, a synergy is created. A complex chemical is created that is more potent than anyone oil used on its own and better results can be achieved without increasing the dosage. It is important to know the properties of each oil in order to achieve this blend, but some guidelines will help in your own experimentation with making your own blends.
Blend oils with similar properties ( invigorating, calming, etc.).
When you are ready to develop blends of your own, use no more than 3 oils until you are comfortable with the basic principles.
Blend 1 drop at a time because even 1 drop can transform a blend.
Write down all blends so you can repeat your successes and avoid the blends that didn't work.
Make small quantities of blends until you're sure you will use the blend frequently.
Aromatherapy blends will keep longer than unused carrier/base oils but still will eventually go rancid. Store properly for a shelf life of at least 6 months.
Mix blends in glass cups, bottles, or bowls.
Store blends in dark glass bottles, well-labeled (including ingredients, portions, etc.), dated and tightly sealed.
Don't be afraid to experiment!
