{"id":932,"date":"2014-08-30T01:59:56","date_gmt":"2014-08-30T05:59:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/illuzone.net\/illu\/?p=932"},"modified":"2019-05-18T22:43:45","modified_gmt":"2019-05-19T02:43:45","slug":"article-video-beginners-guide-to-aromatherapy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/illuzone.net\/article-video-beginners-guide-to-aromatherapy\/","title":{"rendered":"ARTICLE & VIDEO | Beginner’s guide to Aromatherapy."},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 1<\/span><\/h3>\n

[dropcap]A[\/dropcap]romatherapy is the use of plant oils in treatment. Although the word aromatherapy was first used in 1937 the principles on which it is based are very, very old. The use of infused aromatic oils, made by macerating dried plant material in fatty oil, heating and then filtering date back to the first century.<\/p>\n

The lungs and the skin\u00a0are both vital to the practice of aromatherapy, as these are the two routes by which essential oils enter the body.<\/p>\n

Essential oils evaporate on contact with the air, so when breathed in they are carried with the inhaled air through the nose and into the lungs. The two primary bronchi, which first bring air into the lungs, divide into smaller passages, which in turn divide and subdivide into tubes of every decreasing size The smallest being called the bronchioli. The bronchioli then lead to the even smaller alveolar ducts, which look like tiny balloons or bunches of grapes. These alveoli, supply oxygen to the blood and remove waste matter in the \u2018exchange of gases\u2019. The walls of the alveoli are made of the thinnest tissue in the body, and through this fine membrane fluids can pass. The surface of the membrane is always moist, so that oxygen and other soluble particles dissolve before passing through it.<\/p>\n

The importance of this process is to understand that the particles of essential oils that have been breathed in can pass directly through these thin-walled structures, and enter the bloodstream for circulation to other parts of the body.<\/p>\n

\"chart1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What are essential oils?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Essential oils are the base materials of the aromatherapist. They are the pure cells of a plant extracted by distillation.<\/p>\n

We use the term essential oil loosely to describe all the oils used in aromatherapy, but strictly speaking only those extracted by distillation should be called essential. Some oils are extracted by pressure (most citrus oils) and should be called \u201cEssence of\u201d. Some are solvent extracted (most floral oils) and should be called \u201cAbsolute of\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"carrieroil\"<\/a>
Carrier Oils from Mountain Rose Herbs<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Essential oils are very highly concentrated, and should only rarely be used undiluted. They are very volatile and evaporate quickly. They should be kept in airtight bottles in a dark and quiet place. They are damaged by sunlight, temperature changes and even loud noise.
\nEven though they are called oils, they are light and non-greasy. They dissolve easily in fatty oils, but not in water.<\/p>\n

Essential oils are highly complex chemically and this makes them both versatile and safe, since many properties act together to balance them out. Some people are surprised by the many therapeutic properties mentioned for a single oil, but this reflects the complicated chemistry of the oil.<\/p>\n

How you apply essential, or aromatherapy, oils has an impact on their healing capabilities. Because they are so highly concentrated, it is not often recommended that you apply essential oils in their pure form directly to the skin.<\/p>\n

Baths- A few drops of oil directly in water<\/p>\n

Massage- A few drops of essential oil added to massage oil or any carrier oil (almond, jojoba, coconut etc)<\/p>\n

Vapor Inhalation- 5 drops in steaming water. Inhale the steam using a towel tent over the head<\/p>\n

Lotion\/Cream\/Salve- Essential oils added to these products are absorbed through the skin<\/p>\n

Compress-Add essential oil to warm water. Dip in a cotton cloth and wring it out. Place this on the body.<\/p>\n

\"bath\"<\/a><\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t know where to start with aromatherapy, I buy all of my supplies from Mountain Rose Herbs<\/a>. You can find them on my blogroll. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

Part 2: the dark side<\/span><\/h3>\n

Although essential oils are natural products, it is still necessary to follow certain precautions when using them. Essential oils are very concentrated and volatile, this is why they work so well! There are certain essential oils that should never be used in aromatherapy. They are all either narcotic, toxic, capable of causing miscarriage, likely to provoke epileptic seizures or can seriously damage the skin.<\/p>\n

Dangerous Essential Oils<\/p>\n

These oils should Never be used:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Aniseed Pimpinella anisum
\n\u2022 Arnica Arnica montana
\n\u2022 Boldo Leaf Peumus boldus
\n\u2022 Calamus Acorus calamus
\n\u2022 Camphor Cinnamomum camphora
\n\u2022 Cassia Cinnamomum cassie
\n\u2022 Cinnamon Bark Cinnamomum zeylanicum
\n\u2022 Costus Saussurea lappa
\n\u2022 Bitter Almond Prunus amygdalis
\n\u2022 Bitter Fennel Foeniculum vulgare
\n\u2022 Elecampane Inula helenium
\n\u2022 Horseradish Cochlearia armorica
\n\u2022 Jaborandi Leaf Pilocarpus jaborandi
\n\u2022 Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
\n\u2022 Mustard Brassica nigra
\n\u2022 Origanum Origanum vulgare
\n\u2022 Origanum (spanish) Thymus capitatus
\n\u2022 Pennyroyal (European) Mentha pulegium
\n\u2022 Pennyroyal (North American) Hedeoma pulegioides
\n\u2022 Pine (dwarf) Pinus pumilio
\n\u2022 Rue Ruta graveolens
\n\u2022 Sage Salvia officinalis
\n\u2022 Sassafras Sassafras albidum
\n\u2022 Sassafras (brazilian) Ocotea cymbarum
\n\u2022 Savin Juniperus sabina
\n\u2022 Savory (summer) Satureia hortensis
\n\u2022 Savory (Winter) Satureia montana
\n\u2022 Southernwood Artemisia abrotanum
\n\u2022 Tansy Tanacetum vulgare
\n\u2022 Thuja (cedarleaf) Thuja occidentalis
\n\u2022 Thuja Plicata Thuja plicata
\n\u2022 Wintergreen Gaultheria procumbens
\n\u2022 Wormseed Chenopodium anthelminticum
\n\u2022 Wormwood Artemisia absinthium<\/p>\n

\"fir<\/a>
Geranium Oil: Do not use during Pregnancy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In addition to the above list, there are a number of oils that do have valuable therapueutic properties, but need to be used with caution.<\/p>\n

Oils that should not be <\/span>used by people with epilepsy<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Fennel (Sweet) Foeniculum vulgare
\n\u2022 Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
\n\u2022 Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis<\/p>\n

(plus Sage and Wormwood, from the previous list)<\/p>\n

\"geranium-oil-764667\"<\/a>
Geranium Oil: Do not use during Pregnancy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Oils that should not be\u00a0<\/span>used during pregnancy<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Basil Ocimum basilicum
\n\u2022 Birch Betula alba, B. lenta, B.alleghaniensis
\n\u2022 Cedarwood Cedrus atlantica
\n\u2022 Clary Sage Salvia sclarea
\n\u2022 Cypress Cupressus sempervirens
\n\u2022 Geranium Pelargonium asperum
\n\u2022 Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
\n\u2022 Jasmine Jasminium officinale
\n\u2022 Juniper Juniperis communis
\n\u2022 Marjoram Origanum majorana
\n\u2022 Myrrh Commiphora myrrha
\n\u2022 Nutmeg Myristica fragrans
\n\u2022 Peppermint Mentha piperata
\n\u2022 Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis
\n\u2022 Tarragon Artemisia dranunculus
\n\u2022 Thyme Thymus vulgaris
\n\u2022 Camomile Anthemis nobilis, et al.
\n\u2022 Lavender Lavandula vera
\n\u2022 Rose Rosa centifolia, R.damascena<\/p>\n

\"lemon-oi\"<\/a>
Lemon Oil: Do not use for prolonged periods<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Essential oils with a <\/span>risk of chronic toxicity<\/span><\/h3>\n

Do not use these oils for more than a few days at a time<\/p>\n

\u2022 Basil Ocimum basilicum
\n\u2022 Cedarwood Cedrus atlantica
\n\u2022 Cinnamon Leaf Cinnamomum zeylanicum
\n\u2022 Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus
\n\u2022 Fennel (Sweet) Foeniculum vulgare
\n\u2022 Hyssop Hyssopus officinalis
\n\u2022 Lemon Citrus limonum
\n\u2022 Orange Citrus aurantium
\n\u2022 Nutmeg Myristica fragrans
\n\u2022 Thyme Thymus vulgaris<\/p>\n

\"clove-oil\"<\/a>
Clove Oil: Can irritate the skin<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Skin Irritants<\/span><\/h3>\n

Always dilute these oils to 1% before using
\n\u2022 Angelica Angelica archangelica
\n\u2022 Black Pepper Piper nigrum
\n\u2022 Cinnamon Leaf Cinnamomum zeylanicum
\n\u2022 Citronella Cymbopogon narus
\n\u2022 Clove (all parts) Eugenia caryphyllus
\n\u2022 Ginger Zingiber officinalis
\n\u2022 Lemon Citrus limonum
\n\u2022 Lemongrass Cymbopogon citratus
\n\u2022 Lemon Verbena Lippia citriodora
\n\u2022 Orange Citrus aurantium
\n\u2022 Nutmeg Myristica fragrans
\n\u2022 Peppermint Mentha piperata<\/p>\n

\"bergamot-oil\"<\/a>
Bergamot Oil: Can cause sunburn or sun damage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Photosensitising oils<\/span><\/h3>\n

Do not use on skin before sun exposure
\n\u2022 Angelica Angelica archangelica
\n\u2022 Bergamot Citrus bergamia
\n\u2022 Lemon Citrus limonum
\n\u2022 Orange Citrus aurantium<\/p>\n

I certainly don\u2019t mean to scare anyone away from using essential oils, but I think a lot of us (myself included) think we can just go around using essential oils without a care in the world, without realising that they are incredibly strong and can have harmful effects if used improperly. It\u2019s easy to think of the as just fancy scented oils, that you can add to whatever you want. For example, if you add lemon or orange oil to your body lotion recipe and use it every day, you run a risk of toxic levels building up in the body over time. Also be careful about gift giving. I was going to make peppermint shower scrub as a Christmas gift last year, until I researched peppermint oil and found it can cause spontaneous abortion!<\/p>\n

Honestly if you are nervous, I would contact a Certified Aromatherapist(which is where I got these lists). I have been using essential oils myself for many years, with no ill effects, but I always research an oil before I use it.<\/p>\n

Article source part 1.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Article source part 2<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Update:<\/span> <\/strong><\/h2>\n

Aromatherapy Massage Techniques – Complete Series<\/span><\/h3>\n