AT 101 Module 1 Flashcards
How would you describe aromatherapy to someone who knew nothing about it?
Aromatherapy is the art and science of using naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote health of the body, mind and soul.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are volatile, non oily aromatic liquids occurring naturally in various parts of plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, woods and spices.
True or false - essential oils dissolve easily in water?
False
Name and briefly describe the four basic areas of aromatherapy
Medical / Clinical: practiced by doctors in France (medical) or practiced in a clinical setting involving direct supervision of the patient with diagnosable symptoms
Popular & Esoteric: Popular – feel good therapy using touch and smell
Esoteric – must understand the “healing art” of essential oils, standards of quality of essential oils and be well trained.
Holistic: aimed at treating the whole person – body, mind and soul
Scientific Study of Fragrance: study of the effects of fragrance on human psychology and behavior
What three distinct modes of action do essential oils have with regard to how they interrelate with the human body (the 3 P’s)
Pharmacological Effect: chemical changes that take place when an essential oil enters the bloodstream and brain, and reacts with hormones and enzymes,etc.
Physiological Effect: how essential oils effect systems of the body – sedate or stimulate
Psychological Effect: response to the smell of the essential oil with the limbic (memory / emotions) part of the brain
Who is known as the modern-day father of aromatherapy?
Rene Maurice Grattefosse – used lavender essential oil on burns to stop the spread of gangrenous sores
Incident –occurred in 1910
Studied for 50 years before writing his first aromatherapy book
The distinctive strength of holistic aromatherapy as a healing art is dependent upon what six principles? Briefly describe these principles.
Pharmacology of Essential Oils – whole essential oils (all constituents) must be used to optimize healing properties of each essential oils.
Holistic Principles – main difference between orthodox medicine and systems based on tradition healing is the philosophical understanding of health, disease, the healing process and the interactions of these factors.
Massage – profound psychological and physical impact – the act of soothing physical tension has a relaxing effect on psychological tension.
Therapist / Client Relationship – empathy of the therapist is important. The patient’s confidence in the therapist is important for wellbeing of patient and therapist’s success.
Realization of Complexity of Problem of Illness and Ill Health – the concept of health today has come to mean more than just lack of disease – it includes physical, emotional and psychological wellbeing.
Role of Olfaction – the effect that smell has a powerful effect on the central nervous system.
The study of how essential oils are absorbed and excreted is called?
Pharmacokinetics
What is the importance of the Latin binomial?
- Designates the exact species of the essential oils
- Essential oil may come from the same plant family but have a different chemical makeup
- Determines specific properties and contraindications of that particular essential oil
Essential oil components can be absorbed by what four routes? Explain each. Which routes are most commonly used?
Topical: via external skin using dermal application, massage, compress, mist or bath
Inhaled: directly or indirectly, with or without steam – diffusers, fans, inhaler
Internal: mouthwashes, gargles, douches, suppositories
Oral: using gel caps or diluted with honey, alcohol or dispersants
Explain the process of penetration and permeation in the topical application of essential oils.
Penetration – entry of substance into and through skin
Permeation – the subsequent absorption of the substance into the body
What factors (growing, harvest and distillation) affect the quality of essential oils?
- Age of Plant
- Altitude
- Climate
- Genetics
- Geography
- Length of Distillation
- Temperature distilled at
- # of times distilled
- Soil Type
- Time of harvest (time of day, year)
- Use of fertilizers and pesticides
Describe what is meant by Top, Middle and Base Notes.
Top notes: tend to be very aromatic, most often the essential oil you will initially smell in a blend
- evaporate quickly, are sharp, penetrating and either hot or cold, never warm
- remain in the body for 2 to 3 hours; most have a stimulating effect; however, some are sedating
Middle Notes: - “balancers” in a blend; warm and smooth with no sharp edges
- either sedating or stimulating
- remain in the body from 2 to 6 hours and usually form the bulk of the blend
Base Notes: - deepen the blend; smell weak or faint until applied (react and release their power)
- sedating action on the body
- act as fixative to stop lighter notes from dispersing too fast
- remain in the body for up to 72 hours-
Adaptogens: - adapt to what the body needs in terms of the pharmacological and physiological actions
Essential oil labels should carry the following information on the label.
Common Name Latin Binomial County of Origin Extraction Method If organic Pure or diluted Number of MLs in the bottle
What are the chemotypes for the two Basils covered in Module 1? What are the differences between the two in terms of safety?
Estragole CT and Linalool CT
