What is Aromatherapy
What Is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils combined with massage, inhalations and aromatic baths to help treat specific conditions.
The origin of the word ‘Aromatherapy’ comes from the French word Aromatherapie and was first coined as such in a scientific paper in 1926 by Renée Gattefosse, the ‘father of modern Aromatherapy’.
Renée was a chemist in his father’s perfumery company. He was interested in the medicinal aspects of essential oils and discovered that many of them were better antiseptics than the chemicals that his father used in his products. Gattefosse burnt his hand badly in a laboratory accident and applied some neat Lavender oil onto it. The burn healed exceptionally fast – in only a few hours – and did not become infected and left no scarring. This led him to develop the use of essential oils in dermatology and undertake a huge amount of research on their medicinal properties.
Even though the term is quite modern, the use of essential oils or essences from plants goes back to ancient times and is one of the oldest forms of treating people recorded.
People have always been using plants and herbs to heal themselves and archaeologists have found traces of plants and herbs in graves and burial sites as well as in settlements and ancient rubbish tips. Primitive cultures knew by learning from their parents what berries to eat, what roots to gather, what plants would heal them and so forth. This tradition would be passed from generation to generation and enabled them to survive.
Today, Aromatherapy is still more widely known as a form of beauty treatment rather than the therapeutic discipline it is. Because of this, the spread of interest has been on a superficial level, such as cosmetic uses rather than the true medical nature of the discipline. Beauty salons are now advertising massages and facials using oils, but these have been pre-blended by the manufacturing company and the therapist does not need to worry about what oils to use or contra-indications. This is because the products they are using contain only minimal essential oil content and therefore will not harm the client.
Luckily, interest in true Aromatherapy is growing as people are now interested in the more serious applications of essential oils and how they can help treat specific conditions.
What to expect from a treatment?
Before you go for a treatment it is important to understand that a key part of the treatment is the 'bonding' with the practitioner or therapist.
Be patient and look around for a therapist that makes you feel safe and with whom you can trust.
It is easy to criticise a whole therapy because we have been to one person who did not give us the treatment we wanted. You wouldn't distrust every doctor because one you encountered did not treat you in the way you wanted. You would ask for a second opinion and look for another one that made you feel better and with whom gave you some degree of trust.
It is the same with complementary therapists, use your instincts and find one that suits your energy and your mind.
When you first see an Aromatherapist, they will take a detailed medical history. Don't be alarmed, we are governed by data protection as well as other medical workers.
We need to take one so that the oils or the treatment we use will not contra-indicate any medication that you may be on or any condition that you may be suffering from.
Once the medical history has been done, the therapist should explain the treatment that he/she will give you and the oils that will be used.
You will then be asked to undress down to your lower underwear and lay on the bed where the massage will begin.
You should be covered at all times on the couch and should not feel vulnerable or bare. Therapists are instructed in towel use so even the most shy person will feel safe and covered up at all times.
Once the massage has finished you will be left alone to get up off the couch and once dressed any findings will be discussed with you.
You will be advised on any oils that you may need to use at home and the different ways of using them, either in an inhalation, massage blend or in the bath.
You will leave feeling relaxed and on a cloud.
What to expect after an Aromatherapy Treatment