The Values of Aromatherapy for Readers

Preventative Medicine

One of this field’s greatest attributes for the modern health care system is its ability to offer preventative care. Today, with so many diseases of cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s that have little treatments available until they are full-blown diseases, the daily use of herbs and essential oils offer prevention. They provide immune strengthening and alkalizing of the body’s systems that inhibit the start of infection and inflammation. Using oils along with exercising and eating rainbow vegetables and fruits and grains on a daily basis leads to prevention of many diseases.

Holistic Approach

Aromatherapy works holistically as a catalyst for healing. Exercises can be done to show how the oils influence the aura and energetically balance the chakras. People with psychic vision can see the effects.

They also work to ground and center the mind. Certain aromatherapy oils can recharge mental energy or help it to relax and slow down.

We’ve already mentioned their work on the emotional level for helping everything from depression, anger, and fear to opening the heart and allowing more joy.

On the physical level, the essential oils are superb, as we have discussed in healing infections, reducing pain, and revitalizing skin.

So when you use an aromatherapy oil for a special physical condition, you receive benefits on all the levels simultaneously.

Alleviate Stress

One of the key actions of natural therapeutic essential oils is their ability to reduce stress. Oils with large ester and alcohol functional family groups, which make the aromatherapy oils soothing and toning respectively, are stress relieving. Some examples of these oils are Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea), and Bergamot (Citrus x bergamia).

An example of Aromatherapy’s application in a stressful situation is their use in Hospice, ministering to people in their last six months, essential oils for end of life care. It is a great service to offer someone who is dying a beautiful fragrance such as Neroli (Citrus aurantium l. amara) or Rose (Rosa damascena), which can reduce their fear and bring them more into the present. As Elizabeth Kubler said, “A maximum amount of personal and spiritual growth can occur in the last days of a person’s life”.

To enable the dying client to be emotionally available for this growth can be facilitated by the use of oils. The aromatherapy oils can also inspire a sense of gratitude for all their life experiences and companions. A lovely method of application is a hand or foot massage. Put 10 drops total of aromatherapy essential oils in 2 oz. of Apricot or Hazelnut oil. This aromatherapy massage will offer the advantage of the healing oils as well as the power of touch to the dying person. Using Aromatherapy in the Hospice experience can make this transition time easier and less stressful for the client and their family.

Detoxify the Body

Certain essential oils facilitate the cleansing of the blood by stimulating the lymph system. Using these aromatherapy oils in a bath, rubbing on the neck or abdomen, or as a massage oil are very valuable to alleviate the body’s system of built up toxins. Certain herbs like Burdock root (Arctium lappa) and Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) are good blood cleansers and can be taken orally in tincture form to purify the digestive system especially the liver, gall bladder and spleen.

Create a blend with:

• Grapefruit (Citrus x paradisi)
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)
• Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
• Lemon (Citrus x limon)
• Juniper (Juniperus communis)
• Orange (Citrus sinensis)
• Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
• Lime (Citrus x aurantifolia)

A blend of 3 or 4 of the above oils will arouse the lymph system especially coupled with movement or exercise, since this system has no pump like the heart. It will drain water retention, clear excess mucous from the intestines, and tonify the liver.

Individual Power over Health Issues

As you enjoy some of the above aromatherapy and herb sessions, you begin to feel a new sense of health and balance. You feel empowered in relation to your overall health. You can effectively and inexpensively keep your physical and emotional condition stable. Practicing a daily meditation and exercising with walking or yoga will augment the use of quality essential oils. You will feel the ability to deal with negative situations and people around you. As one famous teacher of aromatherapy, Paolo Rovesti, an Italian professor in Milan, Italy, stated: “Essential oils bring relaxed alertness”. This seems to me an ideal state to spend one’s life.