Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to affect someone's mood or health. The word was coined in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after a lucky accident in his perfume laboratory. (In the accident, he lit his arm on fire and thrust it into the nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of lavender oil. Much to his amazement, the burn quickly healed without a scar.)

The main branches of aromatherapy include:

• Home aromatherapy (self treatment, perfume & cosmetic use)
• Clinical aromatherapy (as part of pharmacology and pharmacotherapy)
• Aromachology (the psychology of odors and their effects on the mind)

Materials

---

Some of the materials employed include:

• Essential oils: Fragrant oils extracted from plants chiefly through distillation (e.g. eucalyptus oil) or expression (grapefruit oil). However, the term is also occasionally used to describe fragrant oils extracted from plant material by any solvent extraction.
• Absolutes: Fragrant oils extracted primarily from flowers or delicate plant tissues through solvent or supercritical fluid extraction(e.g. rose absolute). The term is also used to describe oils extracted from fragrant butters, concretes, and enfleurage pommades using ethanol.
• Phytoncides: Various volatile organic compounds from plants that kill microbes. Many terpene based fragrant oils and sulfuric compounds from plants in genus "Allium" are Phytoncides, though the latter are likely less commonly used in aromatherapy due to their disagreeable smells.
• Hydrosols: The aqueous by-products of the distillation process (e.g. rosewater). Hydrosol used are limited to plants such as rose and camomile since most hydrosols have unpleasant smells.
• Infusions: Aqueous extracts of various plant material (e.g. infusion of chamomile)
• Carrier oils: Typically oily plant base triacylglycerides that are used to dilute essential oils for use on the skin (e.g. sweet almond oil)

More on [ Aromatherapy ]

Aromatherapy - Google News

Aromatherapy-stress relief for infertility - Examiner.com
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 10:05:31 -0000
Aromatherapy-stress relief for infertilityExaminer.comSince infertility causes a great amount of stress, aromatherapy can offer many benefits in helping to reduce anxiety and depression. ...and more »
Spa Luce Offers Calm In The Midst Of Chaos - Luxist
Sat, 04 Jul 2009 15:05:51 -0000
Spa Luce Offers Calm In The Midst Of ChaosLuxistDr. Sharon's Am I Dreaming aromatherapy kit, shown above, includes an aromatherapy oil, an aromatherapy candle, the Aromatin fragrance dispenser, ...and more »
Aromatherapy helps cool down summer yoga - Examiner.com
Wed, 01 Jul 2009 01:05:08 -0000
Examiner.comAromatherapy helps cool down summer yogaExaminer.comWhy not add some relaxing aromatherapy scents to your practice area? Releasing the right aroma into your environment can help keep you mentally and ...and more »
Insiders' guide to… aromatherapy - hellomagazine.com
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:44:39 -0000
Insiders' guide to… aromatherapyhellomagazine.comSo we asked Fiona Brackenberry, head of training and treatment development at aromatherapy skincare specialist Decleor to help us fill in a few of the gaps ...and more »
What to do when Fido is afraid of fireworks - Examiner.com
Thu, 02 Jul 2009 01:07:31 -0000
OneindiaWhat to do when Fido is afraid of fireworksExaminer.comFor more info: Some people swear by aromatherapy to help calm their pets. Many of the same scents that calm you will also calm your dog. ...Does your dog dread July 4th?Examiner.comall 96 news articles »
The Puzzle of Spaces That Soothe - New York Times
Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:59:35 -0000
New York TimesThe Puzzle of Spaces That SootheNew York Times... (a 30-bed hospital ward may offer more privacy and serenity than a semiprivate room; furthermore, one man's aromatherapy is often another's emetic). ...and more »

Subscribe to Aromatherapy RSS feed