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Aromatherapy - How Does it Work
By Judith Fitzsimmons,
Certified Aromatherapist
and Co-Author of Seasons of
Aromatherapy
 Aromatherapy
is the use of the chemical
components of essential oils
extracted from plants to treat
physical, mental, and emotional
concerns. Most prescribed
medications (which are
synthetic) have their origin
from plants, so why is it
difficult for us to accept the
idea that using the raw plant
materials can be as effective?
This article looks into this
question further, and discusses
methods of using aromatherapy.
Why Do Essential Oils Work
Essential oils are frequently
referred to as the “blood
stream” of a plant. They are
typically extracted at the
location where the plant is
protected. For example, the
citrus essential oils, such as
orange, lemon, grapefruit, and
so forth are extracted from the
peel, as it is the peel that
protects the plant. When people
think about essential oils, they
think they come from the flower
of the plant. While this is true
for some essential oils, such as
Lavender and Chamomile, the
essential oil can be extracted
from many parts of the plant,
for example, from the berries of
the Juniper plant, or from the
bark of the Cedar tree.
When we extract these essential
oils from the various parts of
the plants, we are taking the
essence of the plant, including
its nutrients and chemicals;
thus the name essential oils.
These essentials contain
chemical compounds that are
valuable in healing. So why do
pharmaceutical companies make
synthetics instead of the
natural plant extracts?
Primarily, because of the cost -
it is less expensive to make a
synthetic.
Once you understand that
synthetic prescription drugs
have a chemical composition
similar to essential oils, you
will be more willing to use
essential oils with the
confidence of knowing that they
will work as successfully, in
most cases, as the synthetic
medications but without many of
the side effects.
How Can Essential Oils Be
More Effective?
There is a great deal of
research today that points to
the usefulness of essential
oils. There are even some claims
that essential oils are more
effective than synthetic drugs.
This research suggests that both
essential oils and conventional
medications work because they
are absorbed into the
bloodstream. Most oral
medications, however, have to go
through the digestive system and
may lose some of their strength
as the enzymes in the digestive
process attack the drug.
Since essential oils are
typically either applied
directly to the skin, or inhaled
through the mucous membranes,
they do not have to suffer a
loss of potency by going through
the digestive system. Thus, the
essential oils may prove to be
more helpful. How do the
essential oils get into the
bloodstream if they are not
ingested (like a pill)? Your
skin is your largest cell that
has direct access to the
bloodstream, so when you apply
essential oils to the skin (via
a carrier), you are making them
directly available to the
bloodstream where they are going
to be most useful.
Methods of Use
Now that you know how essential
oils work, let’s look at some
ways of using them effectively.
Lotion or Oil-Based
Because essential oils are so
concentrated, I always recommend
that you dilute them in a
“carrier.” The role of the
carrier is to simply carry the
essential oils into the body.
The carrier may be a lotion,
cream, oil, or even water. By
simply putting a few drops of
Lavender, Geranium, and Tea Tree
into a lotion you have an
antiseptic, antibacterial
solution that will also soothe
and rejuvenate your skin. Use
this when you get sunburn,
insect bites, cuts, scrapes,
poison ivy, or other skin
ailments.
Water-Based
Imagine that your body is aching
after a day working in the
garden, chasing the children
around the park, or playing an
extra round of golf. By putting
a few drops of Lavender,
Helichrysum, and Ylang Ylang
into a warm bath, you will get
the same relief as if you took
an anti-inflammatory, sedative,
and analgesic. These are just
the right chemicals you need to
relieve sore muscles, tension,
and stress.
Make it Simple
Once you start using essential
oils, you will want to replace
all of your everyday health,
beauty, and home cleaning
products with aromatherapy.
That’s great! But make it easy
on yourself. Start by adding
some essential oils to your
shampoo, mouthwash, dish
detergent, bath and shower gel,
laundry detergent, room sprays,
and other products that you use
on a regular basis. As you
become more proficient with
essential oils and making
blends, you will actually
replace these everyday products
with pure essential oil
products, that not only cost
less, but work just as well. For
more recipes, look for Seasons
of Aromatherapy at your local
bookstore or contact Judith
Fitzsimmons for an autographed
copy. Wishing you seasons of
good health!
Below
are some of the best resources
we have found for natural pure
essential oils.
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