Learn about Aromatherapy (volatile and essential oils) - Aromatherapy.NaturalHealthcare.ca

What is Aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of aromatic substances (essential or volatile oils) from plants to promote the health of body, mind and spirit. Generally a pleasurable way of caring for the body, mind, and spirit.

Aromatherapy's official beginnings are incredibly well-known at this point: Rene Maurice Gattefosse accidentally discovered the medicinal use of lavender oil when he burnt his hand in the laboratory, and plunged it into a nearby container. He found that it soothed the pain and sped up the healing process.

Long before this, however, the Egyptians used essential oils in ceremonies and everyday life, from the perfumed cones they wore on their heads, to the embalming ceremonies and canopic jars. The antibacterial and antiseptic properties of the essential oils helped preserve the bodies rather than merely decaying.

The Greeks improved upon the extraction method, acquiring the essential oils through a distillation process. Hippocrates was a proponent of the medicinal properties of many herbs and oils, creating a systematic analysis of the oils and their properties. among his discoveries, Hypericum (St. John's Wort) for what he termed 'nervous unrest.' It is still used for that purpose today.

Essential oils are volatile and should be stored in dark airtight containers.

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