Aromatherapists' Essential Oil Toolkit: Nature's Healing Scents

Aromatherapists use essential oils, which are highly concentrated extracts taken from different parts of plants, such as roots, seeds, flowers, bark, and leaves. These oils are used for their healing properties and can be inhaled, massaged into the skin, or, rarely, ingested. Aromatherapists may use essential oils such as lavender, orange blossom, rose, bergamot, lemon, sandalwood, chamomile, cedarwood, tea tree, and peppermint.

How are essential oils made?

Aromatherapists use essential oils to enhance physical and emotional health. Essential oils are plant-derived extractions that rely on high-quality, raw plant materials and precision processing. The art of crafting essential oils is well-documented in China and India around 3,000 BCE, with Western Europeans using many early essential oil extraction methods to develop quinine, morphine and atropine in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Today, there are five main methods of extracting essential oils from plants:

• Water/steam extraction: This is the most common method used by manufacturers worldwide. It is considered the highest-yield process and is ideal for aromatic plants like lavender and roses.
• Direct steam extraction: This involves focusing steam through the raw material.
• Hydrodistillation: This process involves covering the plant in water and soaking it for longer periods. It is often used for roots or bark.
• Cold-pressed extraction: This method is typically used on citrus fruits as it preserves the freshness and aroma of the oils. It involves grinding down the peels of the fruits and then spinning them in a subterfuge to separate the aromatic compounds from other materials.
• Solvent extraction: This is the most complex extraction method and results in a product called an "absolute" rather than an essential oil. It can be used to extract aromatic materials that would not withstand the heat of steam distillation, such as delicate flowers or woody plants like sandalwood.

Once the essential oils have been extracted, they are used in aromatherapy treatments. Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. It can be administered through topical skin application, inhalation, oral absorption, or internal absorption.

How do essential oils work?

Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils, or plant extracts, to support health and well-being. While the practice has gained traction as a complementary therapy, scientific evidence is still lacking in some areas. Nonetheless, essential oils are believed to work through the following mechanisms:

Inhalation

When essential oils are inhaled, their aroma molecules interact with the olfactory nerves in the nose, which then communicate with parts of the brain such as the amygdala and hippocampus. These brain regions are responsible for storing emotions and memories, and stimulation of these areas can influence physical, emotional, and mental health. The limbic system, which includes the amygdala, also plays a role in controlling unconscious physiological functions like breathing, heart rate, and blood pressure.

Skin Absorption

Essential oils can also be applied to the skin, either through direct application or during a massage. Some plant chemicals are absorbed through the skin, and it is thought that application methods such as using heat or applying to specific body areas can enhance absorption. However, more research is needed to confirm these effects.

Oral Ingestion

While rare, essential oils can also be ingested orally, but only under the supervision of a trained and qualified specialist.

Other Methods

Essential oils can also be added to bathwater, used as room sprays, or incorporated into products like liquid soap, toothpaste, or mouthwash.

While the exact mechanisms of how essential oils work are still being studied, their potential benefits are widely recognised. Aromatherapy is used to treat a variety of conditions and is believed to relieve pain, improve mood, reduce stress and anxiety, enhance sleep quality, and provide other therapeutic benefits.

What are the benefits of aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses essential oils to improve health and well-being. It is a holistic therapy, supporting the whole self—mind, body, and spirit. Aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years, with ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and Greece incorporating aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils for medical and religious purposes.

The benefits of aromatherapy include:

Improved Sleep Quality

Aromatherapy can help improve sleep quality, promoting relaxation and easing insomnia. Essential oils such as lavender are often used to help relieve stress and anxiety, improving sleep.

Reduced Stress, Anxiety, and Depression

Aromatherapy may help manage and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. The scent molecules in essential oils impact the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, and stimulate the release of feel-good hormones and neurotransmitters like serotonin.

Pain Management

Aromatherapy can help manage and relieve pain, including pain from kidney stones, osteoarthritis of the knee, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, and headaches. Essential oils like lavender and chamomile are used to soothe and relax the body, reducing the need for pain medications.

Improved Digestion

Essential oils like peppermint oil can help improve digestion and relieve digestive problems. However, it is important to note that peppermint oil should not be ingested and should only be used topically or through inhalation.

Eased Side Effects of Cancer Treatment

Aromatherapy can help ease the side effects of cancer treatment, such as nausea, pain, and improved mood. Clinical studies suggest that essential oils like lavender, rose, and frankincense can reduce anxiety and fear, enhance well-being, and reduce the need for pain medications.

Enhanced Hospice and Palliative Care

Aromatherapy can provide comfort and improve the quality of life for people in hospice or palliative care. It can help reduce agitation, stress, and anxiety, as well as provide a sense of relaxation and enhance mood.

Improved Skin and Hair Health

Aromatherapy can benefit skin and hair health. Essential oils like tea tree oil are used for treating acne, athlete's foot, and insect bites. Aromatherapy can also help with hair loss (alopecia) and improve hair growth.

Treating Menstrual and Menopausal Symptoms

Aromatherapy can help relieve menstrual symptoms, including easing digestion, reducing headaches, and improving mood. Additionally, it can help manage menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and insomnia.

Boosted Circulation

Aromatherapy massages can boost circulation and increase absorption of essential oils into the body. Massaging the area where the oil is applied can further enhance the benefits of aromatherapy.

Respiratory Benefits

Aromatherapy provides respiratory benefits, offering respiratory disinfection and decongestant properties. Essential oils like eucalyptus can help relieve airways during a cold or flu and improve breathing.

Treating Infections

Aromatherapy has antimicrobial, antiviral, antifungal, and antioxidant properties. Essential oils can help fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi, providing a natural remedy for infections.

Improved Mood and Emotional Well-being

Aromatherapy can boost mood and emotional well-being, reducing agitation and enhancing relaxation. Essential oils can stimulate the release of hormones that regulate mood and improve emotional states.

While aromatherapy offers these benefits, it is important to use essential oils safely and properly. They should be diluted with carrier oils and not ingested, as they can be harmful if consumed. Always consult a healthcare professional before using aromatherapy, especially if you have any medical conditions or are taking medications.

How should essential oils be used?

Essential oils are highly concentrated natural extracts from the roots, leaves, seeds, blossoms, stems, flowers, and fruits of plants. They capture the plant's scent and flavour, or "essence".

There are several ways to use essential oils, including:

• Inhalation: This is the most common method of using essential oils. You can inhale them directly from a bottle, or use a diffuser, humidifier, steam inhalation, vaporiser, or spray.
• Topical application: Essential oils can be applied to the skin after being diluted with a carrier oil, such as almond, coconut, or sesame oil. They can be used for skincare and massage and are often added to cosmetic products.
• Oral ingestion: Essential oils can be ingested orally, but this should only be done under the guidance of a trained professional.

When using essential oils, it is important to take certain precautions:

• Always dilute essential oils with a carrier oil before applying them to the skin.
• Do not apply essential oils near sensitive areas such as the eyes, ears, and mouth.
• Avoid using essential oils on broken, inflamed, or irritated skin.
• Perform a patch test before using any new essential oil to check for potential skin allergies.
• Avoid using citrus oils before sun exposure, as they can cause photosensitivity and increase the skin's reaction to sunlight.
• Do not ingest essential oils unless instructed by a trained professional.
• Keep essential oils out of the reach of children and pets.
• Consult a doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or have any health concerns or allergies.

Essential oils have a wide range of claimed benefits, including improving sleep, relieving headaches and pain, boosting mood and energy, reducing stress and anxiety, improving digestion, and treating skin conditions. However, scientific evidence for these benefits is often lacking, and more research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety.

Are there any risks or side effects?

Aromatherapy is generally considered safe. However, essential oils may cause serious side effects for some people, especially if applied directly to the skin, ingested, or inhaled without dilution.

Essential oils are highly concentrated and can cause irritation when applied to the skin, even if used with a carrier oil. While allergic reactions can occur with any essential oil, the following oils are more likely to cause discomfort:

• Cinnamon
• Citrus fruits (which can also increase the skin's sensitivity to sunlight, causing burns)
• Clove
• Wintergreen
• Jasmine
• Basil
• Eucalyptus
• Rosemary
• Black pepper

Some essential oils are photosensitive, meaning they react to ultraviolet light and can cause skin redness, discolouration, or blistering. These include:

• Bergamot
• Lemon
• Lime
• Orange
• Grapefruit
• Mandarin
• Angelica
• German chamomile
• St. John's Wort

It is recommended to avoid direct sunlight for 12 to 24 hours after using these oils on the skin.

Ingesting essential oils can be dangerous and even fatal in some cases. Some oils, such as nutmeg, can cause hallucinations and comas when ingested in high concentrations. Swallowing essential oils can irritate the esophagus and stomach and interfere with liver and kidney function. They can also interact with medications and cause unexpected changes in the gut.

Inhaling essential oils without dilution can also be dangerous, especially for children, pregnant women, and individuals with allergies or respiratory issues. Some oils, such as cinnamon, can irritate the mucus membranes and cause contact dermatitis, facial flushing, double vision, nausea, and vomiting.

When used correctly, essential oils can be a safe and effective complementary therapy for a wide range of health concerns, including anxiety, sleep issues, nausea, and pain. However, it is important to exercise caution and always dilute essential oils before use.

Frequently asked questions