| All plants contain a wide range of chemicals, from | | | | are aromatic, meaning they have a smell. The nose is |
| water, to inorganic salts, sugars, and carbohydrates, | | | | the only sense, which connects directly with the |
| and to very complex proteins and alkaloids. I will focus | | | | outside world. Ever noticed how you can smell |
| mainly on the chemical, which acts medicinally, with | | | | something, somewhere, and your mood, or body's |
| special emphasis involving | | | | feeling can change almost instantaneously? This is |
| aromatherapy.Aromatherapy is the art and science of | | | | because the nerve endings in your nose, the olfactory |
| using botanical essential oils to create a sense of well | | | | nerves, pick up the scent molecules from the essential |
| being through a physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and | | | | oils, and transport them directly to the brain. This is |
| social balance. Essential oils are really not even oils at | | | | where the reaction begins.The effects of the pure |
| all. They are the volatile and fragrant part of the plants | | | | essential oils will depend on the particular essential oil. |
| that are kept in a sac on the surface of the leaves, or | | | | For example, lavender is an excellent aroma for |
| in the bark, flowers, seeds, and stems. These oils are | | | | relaxing. It is not really known for it's antibiotic |
| also known as volatile oils.Volatile oils, if collected and | | | | properties. The story goes during the Middle Ages, the |
| extracted correctly, contain some of nature's most | | | | town of Grasse in France was spared the hardships |
| precious gifts. See, these oils are responsible for the | | | | and misery of the plague because it was the center of |
| antibiotic properties to protect the plant. These volatile | | | | the perfume industry. There were many acres of |
| oils also protect the plant by repelling insects. Some | | | | lavender fields, which surrounded the town. The |
| even stimulate blooming. So, in turn, imagine the | | | | distilleries filled the air with the lavender molecules, and |
| strength and power of each volatile oil when | | | | the antiseptic, antibiotic, and antimicrobial properties of |
| extracted. It is now 75 to 100 times more powerful, | | | | the lavender are what saved the people of the town |
| than say, dried herbs.Volatile oils, or essential oils, are | | | | of Grasse. Think they were believers?There are many |
| very easily transported and distributed throughout the | | | | different pure essential oils, all of which can affect your |
| entire body. Not only will they act locally, where applied, | | | | body's reaction in some way. It is best to be very |
| but they will also act on the whole body. Whether they | | | | educated, and do your research on what essential oil |
| are taken internally, or applied externally, they will soon | | | | you would need for your condition. Aromatherapy can |
| show up in the urinary system, the lungs, and possibly | | | | be very beneficial in one's life for enhancement and |
| in the secretions of your sweat, tears, and saliva. | | | | improvement. Ensure you only buy top quality oils, from |
| Essential oils can even make their way through the | | | | reputable suppliers. You should easily be able to find |
| placenta into the foetus. Essential oils, besides being | | | | out the following 4 details: what is the country of origin, |
| antiseptic, also stimulate the production of white blood | | | | botanical species, what part of the plant was distilled, |
| cells, thus increasing your body's own natural defence | | | | and how was the oil produced? If you cannot find out |
| system. Their ease of distribution is how they can | | | | the answers to these questions, go somewhere else. |
| affect the entire body once they enter it.When | | | | Aromatherapy works, but only if you have good oils |
| essential oils are applied externally, part of their effect | | | | and a little knowledge. |
| is from the nose. See, all essential oils, or volatile oils, | | | | |