Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy heals in a easy and gentle way. and what’s more,
the ‘treatment’ is not just for your physical problems, but
for your mental and emotional problems as well.
¤ Aromatherapy Oldest Forms of Natural Therapy of India
 Aromatherapy
is one of the oldest forms of natural therapy practiced in India, and
also in Egypt and China. Way back in 1000 BC, people used aromatic
oils and plants to adorn their bodies and for physical and mental well
being, for religious purposes and for mummification.
With a rekindling of interest in the ‘natural way of life’
people are once again turning to aromatherapy, the most natural and
beneficial of all forms of naturopathy. Aromatherapy is not to be
confused with herbals or nature cure, the latter being the wider
domain.
¤ Treatment With Oils
Aromatherapy is the precise art of using Essential Oils. These oils
are the distilled vital essence of a plant with complex hydrocarbons,
and are present in flowers, leaves, grass, roots, barks, seeds and
fruit rind. A single drop of this essential oil, equivalent to an
ounce of living plant, is highly potent. The process of extraction is
rather slow, laborious and expensive. To give you an example, 30 roses
would give only a single drop of rose oil.
Likewise aromatherapy works subtly but steadily. Needless to say, it
has a more holistic approach. When you smell something pleasant, the
message goes directly to the brain, and then subconsciously it
modifies your emotional behavior and physical infirmity. For instance,
the scent of sandal paste, which is a must for puja (ritual worship)
in the morning – a time when one is a blithe spirit – is
bound to bring happy associations. A whiff of sandal at the end of a
tiring day is a good thing to refresh the mood. and the smells you
gather work on your perceptions and mood.
¤ Oil Treatment Proves Magical
Essential oils are like sacred gifts of nature. Very small amounts
can work wonders for our bodies, stimulating, rejuvenating and
balancing our delicate life-support system; they literally spring the
body back into action. The oils can be applied directly to the
afflicted part of the body, or can be heated so that its fumes can be
inhaled.
They increase mental activity, stimulate positive feelings and
control the negative ones, trigger pleasant memories, deodorize, bring
calmness, energize and activate blood circulation and sexual feelings.
All this in addition to their curative properties. The oils are good
fighters against bacterial and viral diseases, septic infections,
rheumatism, insomnia, anxiety, indigestion and other ailments. They
also work well as anti-diuretic, anti-venomous, anti-inflammatory,
anti-spasmodic and anti-toxic agents. But more than anything else,
essential oils are especially great for hair and beauty treatments,
what with their enormous rejuvenating capacity.
¤ The Use of Oil In Hospitals
In many places, hospitals have replaced chemical sedatives with
essential oil blends which include lavender, marjoram, geranium and
cardamom oils.
Firms in Japan are pumping aromatherapy oils through air cooling
systems for a unique purpose – to increase employee efficiency!
In India, many homes have been into this business of essential oils
since long, though not knowing the fashionable term ‘aromatherapy’.
The burning of incense sticks and the use of ittars (traditional
perfume concentrates) is something you’d find in many Indian
homes.
Today aromatherapy is fast becoming the keyword in beauty and health
spas, perfume and cosmetic industries the world over. One can see
clearly that it is poised to be the alternative healing system of the
future. So whatever be your ailment, let the fragrances of nature be
the doctor!
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