Aromatherapy -- The Fact & The Fiction
Youīve seen those mysterious little brown bottles in the health food store. But do you really know what "essential oils" are? Have you seen outrageous claims about lavender instantly curing wounds and found yourself thinking "Whoa!"? Letīs take a look at one of the biggest fads to hit North America in years and try to separate some of the fact from the fiction.
AROMATHERAPY--WHAT IS IT?
Though the use of aromatic plant materials dates back millennia, aromatherapy is a relatively new idea. In fact, the term "aromatherapy" wasnīt even coined until the 1920s. Though youīll find people who claim aromatherapy can cure everything from AIDS to dandruff letīs first look at aromatherapy in its purest form--the use of fragrant plant materials to alter mood, create an atmosphere, and personalize a room.
Ask an aromatherapy aficionado and heīll tell you that "true" aromatherapy uses only pure, natural plant materials. But the truth is, mood can be influenced by any scent--natural or not. Ask any realtor about the use of scents and he might just suggest baking a batch of cinnamon rolls or an apple pie while showing your home to prospective buyers. An old wives tale? Some people think so but others swear by it.
IF IT QUACKS LIKE A DUCK . . .
Letīs face it--there are folks out there hawking aromatherapy as a cure for cancer, a treatment for depression, and even as an aphrodisiac. But good scientific studies on aromatherapy are rare. Even among natural health experts aromatherapy isnīt taken all that seriously. At best itīs a complimentary therapy.
And while weīre on the subject of quackery, letīs also clarify another common misconception. There is currently no standardized certification aromatherapy program in the US. When you hire an aroma expert youīve no way to be sure the person knows what he or she is doing.
OK. ITīS NOT A MIRACLE CURE. SO . . . WHATīS IT GOOD FOR?
Aromatherapy may not cure terminal illness or heal burns in the blink of an eye but itīs a wonderful way to bring natural scents into your home. Essential oils donīt have the sickeningly sweet scent of artificial air fresheners or the solvent scent of room sprays. Whether you use them to freshen potpourri, diffuse them into the air, or use them to scent your linens, essential oils are a quick, easy way to inject a bit of your own personality into your private space. Letīs look at some of the most popular uses of some of the more common oils:
The medicinal scent of Eucalyptus or Tea Tree will make your bathroom or kitchen feel cleaner, instantly. Rose in the bathroom, however, harkens back to Victorian times, when rose was the scent of choice in perfumes, face creams, and soaps.
Lavender is the classic "linen closet" scent. Try lightly spraying your sheets and pillowcases about half an hour before you retire in the evening.
Citrus oils like Orange or Lemon make a room feel happy and alive while warm, woody oils like Patchouli or Sandalwood impart a mysterious, moody feeling.
In your bedroom, the deep, exotic scent of Ylang-Ylang urgently whispers "This is a romantic space".
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