Aromatherapy Flashcards
Aromatherapy
the use of concentrated plant oils or essential oils (EOs) to help improve general health and well being
help reduce stress, enhance relaxation, relieve anxiety, and alleviate some emotion-related disorders
A person trained in the use of EOs is an ________________
aromatherapist
3 Ways to Use Aromatherapy
- Inhalation
- EO scents are breathed in
- Diffusers , steaming, drops on hand/pillowcase - Topical Application
- Apply diluted form of EO directly on to skin
- Placed in a carrier oil to avoid skin irritation
- Can be added in bath/mixed in bath salts, mixed in perfumes/lotions - Ingestion
- Pills, capsules, drinking a liquid
- Least common method (used mostly by those certified in aromatherapy)
Carrier Oils
base or vegetable oils used to dilute essential oils before applying them to skin
derived from the fatty portion of plant from seeds, kernels, or nuts
Infused oil
carrier oil mixed with 1+ herbs
Essential oil (EO)
istilled liquid from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant
- Blanket term including absolute (plant extraction by chemical solvents) and carbon dioxide (plant oil extraction by CO2 method)
Historical _______, _________, & ________ medical texts document the use of aromatic oils for spirituality and health
Chinese, Ayurvedic, and Arabic
what was one of the first aromatic practices
fumigation
Fumigation
burning of plant oils to create a great deal of smoke
- Plant oils were burned to engulf sickrooms with smoke
- Thought to combat evil spirits and rid them from a person’s body
- Hippocrates used fumigation to try to rid Athens of the Plague
Egyptians (~6000 years ago)
- EOs prepared by crushing plants with fatty oils
- Used EOs in the mummification process to aid transition into the afterlife
- Used oils in cosmetics and lotions for anti-aging properties and thought it was therapeutic for the skin and body
(protect eyes from sun, anti-aging)
Avicenna (980-1037 CE)
- Developed distillation method for oils still used today
- devised a coiled cooling pipe to condense steam and collect the evaporated essence
-methods were imported to Northern Europe during the Middle Ages and were used to fight diseases like the Black Death
Rene-Maurice Gattefosse (Late 1930s)
- French chemist who originated the term aromatherapy and defined the use of EOs as a healing discipline
- burned his hand in a laboratory experiment and plunged it into a pot of lavender oil….
….Healed with no infection or scarring
Marguerite Maury (1950s)
○ Introduced the concept of prescribing oils for people by using them in massage
○ Used aromatherapy as a holistic health system
T or F: few practicing aromatherapists in the United States are first trained as massage therapists, naturopaths, psychotherapists, chiropractors, sports medicine therapists, energy healers, Ayurvedic doctors/clinicians, and traditional Chinese medicine doctors, who then incorporate the use of EOs into their practices
F : most
T or F: EOs are powerful - could be toxic to body if taken in wrong dose
T
Safety precautions when using EOs
- Don’t apply directly to skin or mucous membranes
- Consult with a physician if you are:
○ Pregnant
○ Epileptic
○ asthma
○ high BP - Check for an expiration date
- Remember that less is more
- Do not use EOs internally based on your own judgement
Storing Essential Oils
Cool, dark place away from sunlight (UV rays decrease shelf life)
Store in a dark amber, cobalt blue or violet bottle
Keep in a cool, dry place
Store EOs in small bottles so they are exposed to less oxygen
*Citrus oils = shortest shelf life
use of aromatherapy with babies
Benefits:
- speed the development of the nervous system and brain
- help balance the baby’s developing systems
- encourage growth
**Lavender, rose, chamomile
T or F: EOs are flammable
T: Keep EOs away from fire hazards
main purpose of Aromatherapy Essential Oils
maintain health by boosting the body’s immune system via the senses of touch and smell