Fundamentals of Aromatherapy

Question 1

Define Aromatherapy

Answer 1

Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils for improving and maintaining health and beauty.

Question 2

Describe the origin of the word “aromatherapy”

Answer 2

The English word aromatherapy is derived from the French word “aromatherapie” which was first coined by Rene Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist in the 1930’s.

Question 3

How did Rene Maurice Gattefosse contribute to the development of aromatherapy?

Answer 3

• discovered the healing properties of Lavender when he was badly burned in an explosion
• created a system of aromatherapy that was based on modern, scientific thought and experimentation
• developed aromatherapy as a medically based therapy utilizing essential oils
• the properties of essential oils were proven and researched and could be seen as equal to conventional drugs of the time

Question 4

How did Robert Tisserand contribute to the profession of aromatherapy?

Answer 4

• wrote the first book on aromatherapy in English, called “The Art of Aromatherapy”
• combined medical applications with a holistic and esoteric view of essential oils

Question 5

What are the three distinct modes of action of essential oils

Answer 5

• pharmacological
  
  • concerned with the chemical changes that take place when an essential oil enters the blood stream and brain and reacts with hormones and enzymes etc.
• physiological
  
  • the way the essential oils affects the system of the body, that is, whether it is sedated or stimulated
• physchological
  
  • takes place in response to the smell of the essential oil with the limbic part of the brain

Question 6

Explain the two main routes in which essential oils enter the body

Answer 6

1. topically
   
   • massage is the most common topical application of essential oils, can also be applied via mist, a bath, or in a cream or lotion
   • the molecules are so small that they are immediately assimilated into the circulatory system on contact with the skin
   • essential oils remain in the system anywhere from 4 - 10 hours
   • essential oils are expelled through the body through the lungs, skin, and excretory
2. inhalation
   
   • the unique molecules penetrate the limbic system in the brain
   • even if the sense of smell has been lost (due to the cribform plate severing the olfactory neurons) aromatherapy is still effective on the pharmacological and physical level

Question 7

Describe the limbic system

Answer 7

• the “old brain”
• responsible for memory and emotion

Question 8

Why is it best to use essential oils externally only?

Answer 8

• due to the high concentration of the essential oils
• potential damage can be caused to the mucous membranes and delicate stomach lining
• ingestion is not as effective as topical application or inhalation because the essential oils are broken down by gastric juices by the time they reach the specific site

Question 9

What are the four classifications of aromatherapy?

Answer 9

1. Medical Aromatherapy
2. Popular and Esoteric Aromatherapy
3. Holistic Aromatherapy
4. The Scientific Study of Fragrance

Question 10

Medical Aromatherapy

Answer 10

• the style of aromatherapy practiced by doctors in France.
• French doctors have pioneered the clinical treatment of infectious diseases using essential oils
• often taken internally in capsule format while being closely monitored by a physician
  
  • injestion of essential oils is not recommended in North America

Question 11

Popular and Esoteric Aromatherapy

Answer 11

• is associated with feel good therapy
• involves the two senses that are often neglected in today’s society: touch and smell
• the therapeutic implication of aromatherapy has given commerical advantage to hair and skin products because they contain essential oils, but they will not be as effective
• understand the “healing art” aspect of aromatherapy
• develop standards for the quality of essential oils

Question 12

Holistic Aromatherapy

Answer 12

• treating the whole person: body, mind, soul
• may include identification and treatment of disease but does not focus exclusively on symptoms
  
  • instead, focuses on the development of wellbeing and enjoyment of life as a system of self-responsibility
• utilizes the pharmacological, psychotherapeutic, and metaphysical properties of essential oils

Question 13

The Scientific Study of Fragrance

Answer 13

• aromachology
  
  • the scientific study of the effects of fragrance on human psychology and behaviour
  • coined in 1989 by the Sense of Smell Institute - a division of the Fragrance Foundation
    
    • the non-profit, educational arm of the international fragrance industry
  • emphasizes controlled scientific study
  • deals only with psychological effects of fragrance and considers both natural and synthetic odorants
  • driven by corporate sponsorship
  • ultimately endeavours to identify fragrance applications that have commercial value

Question 14

What is the distinctive strength of holistic aromatherapy as a healing art dependent on?

Answer 14

• the pharmacology of essential oils
• incorporation of holistic principles with the use of essential oils
• the massage
• the therapist-client relationship
• the realization of the complexity of the problem of illness and ill heath
• the role of olfaction

Question 15

Pharmacology

Answer 15

• nature is effectively disintegrated so that the actions of isolated chemicals on isolated parts or functions of the body can be observed as precisely as possible in a variable world
• most pharmacological research has focused on finding the “active” principle or constituent
  
  • trace constituents are often seen as a problem that should be removed
• if we focus exclusively on the pharmacology of essential oils, there may be a tendency for biochemical standardization of essential oils which would lead to the loss of the natural biodiversity
  
  • it is important that the whole essential oil be used to optomize the healing properties of each essential oil

Question 16

Holistic Principles

Answer 16

• the main difference between orthodox medicine and traditional medicine is a philosophical understanding of health, disease, the healing process and the interaction of these factors with the individual
• needs to incorporate the holistic principles that are a basis of other traditional systems such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine
• the history of the traditional use of essential oils
• analytical scientific research based on the chemistry of the essential oil and the “signature” of the essential oils

Question 17

Massage

Answer 17

• massage is possible the only situation in which a person can be touched in a caring way by someone who is not close to us and not feel uncomfortable
• the absence or withdrawal of physical affection in early life, and even as an adult, may be responsible for many types of disturbed behaviour such as depression, violence, aggression, and hyperactivity
• physical benefits include stimulation of the circulatory and lymphatic system, reduces high blood pressure, stimulates the immune system, reduces muscular tension, and releaves joint pain
• the healing process in massage has often been underrated
  
  • massage is one of the truly preventative holistic therapies as it is able to effectively induce a state of relaxation by easing muscular tension
  • not only is muscular tension directly related to physical pain, but often relates to psychological tension and repressed emotions
  • the act of soothing muscular tension has a reflex effect on psychological tension

Question 18

Therapist-Client Relationship

Answer 18

• conventional medicine tends to be more reactive because patients generally don’t seek medical treatment unless they feel something is physically wrong.
• the empathy of the therapist is an important ingredient in the success of a treatment.
  
  • a trial with analgesics and dental pain showed that identical tablets had widely differing effects when one group was given the tablets impersonally and the other had a smiling nurse who briefly touched each patient’s shoulder and expressed care. If such brief interventions are of value, the influence of the personality of the individual administering the treatment is enormous
• the patient must have confidence in the therapist
• a holstic approach acknowledges that the therapist and the client each play an essential role in the healing process

Question 19

Complexity of the Porblem of Illness and Ill Health

Answer 19

• health is more than just lack of disease or infection
• complimentary medicine is based upon the importance of physical, emotional and psychological well being as an ability to cope positively with a variety of pressures and stressors
• immunity and resistance to disease are linked to attitude and behaviour

Question 20

Olfaction and the Brain

Answer 20

• smell is the only sense in which the receptor nerve endings are in direct contact with teh outside world
• fragrance researchers are discovering that odours can and do impact mood, emotions, stress, and blood pressure
• olfactory nerve cells are the only type of nerve cell in the body that can repair themselves if they are damaged
• the largest part that plays a role in our sense of smell is the olfactory epithelium
  • located in the posterior top portion of the nose
  • it covers an area about the size of a large postage stamp
  • contains over 6 million olfactory receptor neurons (can regenerate every 30 days)
• One end of the olfactory neurons, protruding from the cilia in the mucus layer on the nose, is in direct contact with the environment
  the opposite end of the olfactory neurons join together to form bundles that travel through the cribform plate to the olfactory bulb located in the brain
• only a few molecules are needed to have a substantial effect, such as the recreation of memories and associations
• the use of essential oils has an influence on the hormonal response due to their influence on the hypothalamus and may also impact corticol areas of the brain that are associated with memory and learning

Question 21

What are essential oils?

Answer 21

• volatile, non-oily, aromatic liquids occuring naturally in various parts of plants, herbs, flowers, fruits, woods, and spices
• contain the life force of the plant and have the ability to strengthen our immune system and to stimulate our bodies natural healing abilities
• highly complex substances made up of many different chemical constituents
  
  • it is the design and number of constituents in an essential oil that make it impossible to reproduce synthetically.
• most essential oils are comprised of 100-600 naturally occuring chemical components
• contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics, and antiseptics
• boose immune system by stimulating or balancing the production of white blood cells
• stimulate the secretion of neurochemicals such as endorphins and serotonin
• only 15% of plants contain volatile oils
• can be found in specialized secretory structures either on the surface of the plant or within the plant tissue
• highly concentrated
  
  • should be diluted prior to use
• vary in price depnding on the amount of plant material required, the extraction process, and the availability of the plant from which the essential oil is extracted
• should be kept in dark glass bottles as they are extremely photosensitive

Question 22

Where are essential oils found?

Answer 22

• glandular trichomes
  
  • modified epidermal hairs
  • can be found on the surface of leaves, stems, and parts of flowers
• epidermal cells
  
  • diffuse through the cytoplasm and cell walls of the plant to the outside
  • yeild of essential oils from this plant is usually very low
• Secretory Cavities and Ducts
  
  • found throughout the entire plant
  • large intercellular spaces taht are formed by the separation of walls of neighbouring cells
    
    • spherical spaces are called cavities
    • ducts are elongated spaces
• Oil cells
  
  • cells that occur within the plant tissue and differ from cells adjacent to them both in content and size
  • can be found throughout the whole plant

Question 23

Summary of the main properties of essential oils

Answer 23

1. “life force” of the plant
2. viscosity can range from runny to the very viscouse resinous oils
3. range in colour from clear to dark brown
4. highly volatile
5. flammable
6. natural complex chemotypes
7. extremely concentrated
8. mix well with carrier oils
9. soluble in alcohol and ether
10. partially soluble in water
11. sensitive to light and heat
12. growing conditions and distillation process will determine the quality of the essential oil
13. price will vary according to the amount of plant material used and availability of that plant

Question 24

Components of an essential oil profile

Answer 24

1. Common Name
   
   • the name the essential oil is normally identified and retailed by
2. Latin Name
   
   • designates the exact species
   • determines the specific properties and contraindications of an essential oil
3. Family
   
   • refers to the family of chemical constituents the essential oil belongs to
4. Extraction
   
   • refers to the method of distillation for each particular essential oil
5. Note
   
   • refers to whether the essential oil is a Top, Middle, or Base note
6. Blending Factor
   
   • the strength or power of the aroma of each essential oil on a scale of 1 - 10 with one being very strong and 10 being very weak
     
     • a very powerful smelling essential oil could be rated as low as 1 and you would use less of this in a blend
   • there are other factors besides strength of smell to take into consideraton when determining the quantity of each essential oil blend

Question 25

Notes

Answer 25

A perfect aromatherapy blend would have a combination of top, middle, and base notes

1. Top Note:
   
   • tend to be very aromatic
   • will most often be the essential oil you will initially smell in a blend
   • evaporate quickly and don’t last as long as other notes
   • sharp, penetrating and either hot or cold, never warm
   • remain in the body for 2 - 3 hours
   • most have a stimulating effect
2. Middle Note:
   
   • balancers
   • warm, and smooth with no sharp edges
   • either sedating or stimulating
   • last in the body for 2 - 6 hours
   • usually form the bulk of the blend
3. Base Note:
   
   • deepen a blend
   • when smelled directly from a bottle will often appear weak or faint, but will be potent
   • sedating
   • can last in the system for up to 72 hours
   • act as a fixative to stop the lighter notes from dispersing too quickly
4. Adaptogens
   
   • some oils, regardless of what “note” category they fall into, are adaptogens
   • simply adapt to what the body needs in terms of pharmacological and physiological actions

Question 26

What should be listed on the label of an essential oil?

Answer 26

1. common name
2. latin binomial
3. botanical name
4. part of the plant used
5. counry of origin
6. extraction method
7. main chemical consituents
8. if organic
9. if pure or diluted
10. the number of mLs in the bottle

Question 27

Toxicity

Answer 27

• dose dependent
• the degree of toxicity depends on the route of application, and oral administration carries the highest risk
• the main reason an essential oil will pose a toxicity risk is oral overdosing
• understanding the chemistry of an essential oil is essential to understanding essential oil toxicity

Question 28

Contraindications in Blood Pressure

Answer 28

High Blood Pressure

• although certain essential oils were contraindicated for hypertension in the past, new reasearch shows there is no evidence of any essential oils exacerbating hypertension
• previous research was primarily done by injecting an animal will fairly large doses of essential oil diluted in ethanol - which does not typically represent a reaction in a human with hypertension

Low Blood Pressure

• some essentialoils have the potential to lower blood pressure
• no evidence that any essential oils exacerbate hypotension

Question 29

Contraindications in Pregnancy

Answer 29

• because substances with a molecular weight of less than 1000 can cross the placenta, all essential oils have the capability of crossing the placenta as their molecular weight is below 500
• in some ways this can put the fetus at greater risk, but in other instances it may be protective

Question 30

Which essential oils should be avoided in pregnancy?

Answer 30

• anise
• anise star
• araucaria
• atemisia vestita
• atractylis
• birch
• black seed
• buchu
• calamint
• carrot seed
• cassia
• chaste tree
• cinnamon bark
• costus
• cypress
• dill seed
• fennel
• feverfew
• genipi
• hibawood
• ho leaf
• lanyana
• lavender
• mugwort
• myrrh
• myrtle
• oregano
• parsley leaf
• pennyroyal
• rue
• sage
• savin
• tansy
• thuja
• western red cedar
• wintergreen
• wormwood
• yarrow
• zodoary

Question 31

Which essential oils should be used with caution during pregnancy?

Answer 31

• basil
• boswellia papyrifera (also used in frankincense production)
• champaca absolute
• lemon balm
• lemon leaf
• lemongrass
• may chang
• melissa
• myrtle
• nasturtium
• tea tree
• thyme
• verbena

Question 32

Citral

Answer 32

• fetal toxin in certain essential oils
• early fetal development is stimulated by citral which inhibits retinoic acid synthesis
• it interfers with tissue morphogenesis in animals
• have produced malformations in chick embryos when injected into fertilized hen’s eggs
• in rats citral is non-teratogenic by inhalation but slightly teratogenic in oral dosing