Aromatherapy, Holistic Treatments and Home Care
by Skincare-news.com team
Travel back in time to discover the history of aromatherapy and holistic treatments and how you can incorporate these ancient practices into your life, whether in the pleasant privacy of your home or in a luxurious spa environment.
Aromatherapy’s Long History
The first use of aromatherapy – formally defined as an alternative therapy that uses volatile liquid plant materials or essential oils and other scented compounds from plants and flowers for affecting a person’s mood or health - has been traced back to the Stone Age where scented oils extracted from plants and flower petals were combined with olive and sesame seed oils and fragrant plants and florals.
Since then scented oils have been used by people all over the world throughout history. Egyptians started using essential oils 5,000 years ago. They used fragrant oils for massage, bathing, and medicinal purposes. When going into battle, they even used essential oils for enhanced aggression. Incense was burned in religious ceremonies and they used cedar oil to embalm the dead. There was no clear distinction between the use of oils and medicine. An aromatherapy massage served as a daily healing method. Cleopatra used essential oils to make custom blended perfumes - the secrets to her seduction of Julius Caesar as well as Mark Antony. She used the oils for sensual massages and lavish bathing rituals. She perfected the use of many essential oils such as rose, lavender and neroli for beauty purposes and was also one of the first women of the world to discover the healing and aesthetic properties of milk and honey.
Aromatherapy, a phrase coined by a French chemist in the mid 1920’s has also been used for many centuries in India, Greece and Italy. These cultures used daily bathing combined with aromatherapy as a way to keep illness away. For bathing, 10 to 20 drops of an essential oil like lavender or ylang ylang oil can be used for relaxing and getting the body ready for restful sleep.
Traditional forms of healing using aromatherapy were moved aside with the rise of modern medicine and synthetic drugs. And it wasn’t until the early 1980’s that Americans began to discover the uses of essential oils and began using them in many cosmetics and household products.
Getting Started with Aromatherapy
Everyone has fragrances they enjoy and those they dislike, fragrances that bring back memories, ignite passion and calm our moods. Traditionally, frankincense, patchouli and sandalwood are suggested aphrodisiacs. Studies have shown that pumpkin and vanilla are favorites of men and remind them of home. Lavender and chamomile are suggested for calming anxiety, and eucalyptus and peppermint are great as reviving oils in products like foot lotion and stimulating shampoos.
If you’re trying aromatherapy for the first time, begin with several simple steps. First, as the saying goes - stop and smell the roses. And for that matter, stop and smell everything - plants, herbs, flowers and fruit. Secondly, take note of fragrances that are pleasing to you, that you don’t like and possibly affect your mood or your skin. Third, buy an aromatherapy oil and try it out. Put a few drops in your bath, on your pillow or mix it with an unscented lotion. There are certain oils that are designated to take you to a place of relaxation and oils that will revive or “wake up” the senses. Try them out to see how well they work for you. If they do, seek out skin care treatments and products that use the oils you like. Even if the oils do nothing for your senses, you may enjoy the fragrance and can find your favorite scent in candles, incense and burning devices.
All About Holistic Practices
Holism is defined as the approach to healing that recognizes the emotional, mental, spiritual and physical elements of each person and attempts to treat the person, concentrating on the symptoms. Examples of holistic therapies include massage, Ayurveda and reflexology. Some of these practices haven’t originated from Western medicine and lack scientific evidence to verify their claims. But holistic ideologies are used in skin care treatment centers around the world.
There are several national and international spas that are strictly holistic and use aromatherapy type of products in all of their treatments, whether it’s for the face, body, or nails. Information about these spas and holistic wellness centers is readily available on the Internet and in spa magazines. Hydrotherapy, hot stone massage and relaxing European facials, using oils and steam to calm the skin are popular treatments at these types of spas. The mission of these spas is to use a combination of internal body cleanses, spa treatments with a heavy dose of essential oils, organic foods and teas. Good for a day, week or month of wellness.
Whatever type of spa you attend, even if it’s a medical spa - ask your esthetician or massage therapist to begin your facial or massage with some aromatherapy. Lavender, vanilla or a blend of relaxing oils is a great way to begin your session. Take three deep breaths, inhale the oils and relax your senses. Though you may not fall asleep, you’ll certainly feel more relaxed, especially during more aggressive treatments like chemical peels, which typically have an acidic smell, displeasing to the nose. Request a facial massage at the end of your treatment. You can repeat use of a relaxing oil or try something else like bergamot or eucalyptus to perk you up. Some oils can be put directly on the skin, whereas others should be mixed with a massage cream or oil before use. If you’re pregnant, check with your doctor about what oils you can use. A good rule of thumb is not to use any essential oils in your first trimester.
Aromatherapy in nail care is a great way to achieve extra relaxation or invigoration, depending on what oils or products are used. Peppermint is fantastic for the feet - it stimulates, cools and refreshes. However, never put pure peppermint oil on the skin - it can irritate quickly with an uncomfortable burning sensation.
As a side note, many skin care companies use essential oils, along with extracts of plants and florals in their products. Companies that use over 50% of these ingredients are considered botanical brands. No matter the amount of essential oils or extracts used as ingredients, the use of preservatives is necessary.