SpiritNetwork Insights
by Francine Milano
Aromatherapy is the art and science of using the therapeutic properties of essential oils to promote the healt and well-being of the body, mind and soul. It has been used all over the world since ancient times and has gained recent notoriety because humanity is now turning back to more holistic and ecological ways of healing the Earth and all the creatures on it.
It's claims of addressing healing on all levels are not in question, at least not in my mind, but is it safe for everyone? Whether you buy the raw materials and create the products yourself or buy the finished products, ther are precautions to be aware of that you won't find on any label.
Essential oils are substances produced from a botanical source, many of which are already familiar to your household, like basil, rose, chamomile, lavendar and some other that are a bit more exotic like ylang-ylang, tea tree and jasmine. These oils are extracted from the aromatic molecules of a plant or part of it. Many people consider the oil to be the "spirit" of the plant. Unless the oil is used as an inhalant, chances are the finished product or remedy has been acheived by diluting the essentials in other substances. Some of these include oils of larger quantities (jojoba, canola, grapeseed and almond) known as carrier oils, distilled water and perfume dilutent bases to name a few.
Because the essentials are 70 times more concentrated than the plants they were extracted from, many are irritating to the skin. Always wash your hands thoroughly when handling these oils in their pure form and care should be taken by aromatherapists in their dilution for external use.
Most poisonous plants are not aromatic plants, but 10%-15% of all essential oils used in aromatherapy are toxic. So why are they produced? These oils when used in small concentrations are very efficient little workers. Buy your products (especially those made for ingestion) from someone reputable or other reliable sources. It is also very important that you study before making any concoctions yourself.
When I first started to study aromatherapy, I noticed that many essentials were not recommended for pregnant women, some only during the first trimester. Because many products don't list complete ingredients, it is difficult to know what to avoid. I personally recommend that pregnant women avoid all aromatherapy during pregnancy.
While certain oil blends can be used for symptoms ranging from infections to depression, aromatherapy should never take the place of needed medical attention. Syptoms are the affect of underlying problems. While aromatherapy is very effective, in many cases it should be used in conjunction with your homeopath or allopathic doctor when treating acute problems. Note to homeopathy clients: Your homeopath shuld be advised of what you are using. Some substance can cancel-out your current homeopathic acute or constitutional remedy.
Does there have to be a problem to use aromatherapy? Absolutely not. It isn't just to fight flu or clear up skin conditions. Aromatherapy's natural and synthetic chemical-free products can be a part of daily living. Some blends are for calming the mind and relaxing the body as well as promoting circulation and good digestion. There are aphrodisiacs, sedatives, stimulants, antiseptics, analgesics, and even insect repellants and the product line for these and other blends are numerous. They include moisturizer creams, facial masks, hand and body lotions, toners and afterbath splashes, deodorants, breath fresheners, lip balms, shampoos, spritzes, perfumes and colognes, massage and body oils, inhalants, bath crystals & oils, soaps, aftershaves, candles, incense and more......
Like most products, aromatherapy is perfectly safe when made and used properly. Many commercial products are using it's name on it's labels. Keep in mind that they probably contain all the synthetic garbage it always did. If you feel aromatherapy is for you, some good products can be found in health food stores and new age type shops as well as private aromatherapists.
Rev. Francine Milano is an intuitive medium, artist and web designer.
For a personal reading, her homepage is http://spiritnetwork.com/psychic
For web design, please email ethers@spiritnetwork.com