Online Class: Aromatherapy (Intermediate to Advanced)

Learning about aromatherapy is the ultimate step in self-care and overall health and wellness because it is a natural, holistic, and gentle approach to common ailments. Using essential oils in your daily wellness routine, you will begin to really listen to your body and pay attention to what it needs.  

As a Western culture, we are often beguiled by promises of an "instant" cure in the form of a pill or tablet. While modern, allopathic medicine has its place; learning about aromatherapy will give you many more ways to improve your overall well-being. From the moment you take your morning shower and deliberately and consciously massage your scalp to the end of the day when you might enjoy an evening foot massage, aromatherapy is just the ticket to help you achieve a good night's rest.  

By using essential oils in a variety of delivery mechanisms, you can give not only yourself but your whole family the gift of better health. Most aromatherapy techniques are useful for people of all ages.  

Always remember, safety first. Not all essential oils can be used on all individuals, so pay close attention to the lesson on the safety of essential oils in this class.  

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils extracted from plant materials to provide an alternative, natural way of improving one's health.  

We look to the Egyptians as providing the first recorded evidence of using aromatherapy and aromatic herbs in their religion, cosmetics, and medicine. They are famous for their burial techniques that use aromatic essences and resins. There is evidence that they had two extraction methods used from as early as 3500 B.C. At approximately the same time period, both China and India made use of herbs and aromatic plants, leading to the development of Indian Ayurvedic medicine. 

In Greece, Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.), the most famous physician of his time, believed in treating patients holistically and used aromatherapy massage as treatment methods for his patients. The Romans held hygiene in the highest esteem and placed great emphasis on the use of aromatherapy, as evidenced in their bath houses.  After the fall of the Roman Empire, the emergence of the Arabian influence during the Dark Ages allowed for influences from not only the Greek and Roman teachings, but also from China and India. The Persian physician Avicenna (980-1037 A.D.) is credited with perfecting the essential oil distillation process. 

Facts and Myths about Aromatherapy  

Aromatic oils are not a 20^th century invention.  Rather, aromatherapy is likely as old as man's relationship with the plant kingdom. There is no way of knowing who first determined that plants had healing properties; however, there are biblical references to the use of aromatic compounds in both the Old and New Testament. As previously mentioned, ancient Egypt had advanced knowledge about aromatherapy, based on sealed urns filled with aromatic resins found in the tombs of the pharaohs. Terra cotta distillers have been found in archaeological digs, and glass distillation mechanisms were invented in the 16^th century, opening the door to more widespread use of essential oils.  

Here are some important things you need to know about aromatherapy. Call them myths if you like: 

• Aromatherapy is better than standard medical treatment. This is not necessarily so. While aromatherapy can be used for a variety of ailments, it is not designed to replace your current medical regimen. It is considered to be a complementary approach to your health and well-being. Aromatherapy can provide some relief from common diseases; it can alleviate stress, and it can also energize you.
• Aromatherapy will cure you of your serious medical condition . Even the most advanced medicines cannot always cure serious medical conditions. However, using essential oils as an adjunct to your therapy can help you manage the symptoms of your condition or your treatment better. Aromatherapy is not a cure-all that will eliminate the need for seeking qualified medical care. Do not make the wrong decision about your health care because of a desire to take a "holistic" approach. Aromatherapy is only part of the picture.
• Essential oils, because they are natural, do no harm. Not true! There are plenty of plants that are beneficial. There are also many plants that can cause serious harm. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can actually cause a burn to the skin if not properly diluted and applied. Not all essential oils are safe for small children, in pregnancy, or for people with sensitive skin. Some essential oils are even toxic.
• Essential oils must always be warmed prior to use.  This is not necessarily so. Many essential oils provide a good aroma without heating them. They are also quite flammable, so never use an open flame to directly heat an essential oil.
• Essential oils are responsible for all scented products . This is not true. Synthetic scented oils are chemical formulations created in a lab. Essential oils are natural extracts from various aromatic plants and are not produced synthetically.  

The term "aromatherapy" was coined in 1937 by French chemist and perfumer Rene Maurice Gattefosse. While he was not a big believer in the natural health movement, he was interested in the properties of essential oils. In 1910, he suffered a lab accident in which he burned his hand quite badly. The first thing he thought to do to treat his burn was to use undiluted lavender oil on it. The pain stopped and his hand healed without infection or scarring.    

It is through Gattefosse that the world learned that small amounts of essential oils are absorbed by the skin and through inhalation and have an impact on the chemistry of the body. During World War II, as a result of Gattefosse's experiments, Dr. Jean Valet used essential oils to treat wounded soldiers with very good success.  

Today, aromatherapy is used extensively as a holistic approach to health and wellness. Some people simply enjoy the scents of essential oils. Others learn as much as possible about the chemistry of essential oils, about anatomy and physiology and how the body reacts or responds to the use of essential oils. Many studies have proven the efficacy of essential oil use in a great many settings, and as Western medicine begins to embrace a holistic approach to medicine, aromatherapy will expand its role in our health and well-being. 

As you can see, there is a great deal to learn about aromatherapy. The more you learn, the more you can incorporate this holistic, natural, and healing element into your life.