Aromatherapy and Essential Oils can legitimately claim their place amongst alternative and credible therapies on a number of levels – and one of those levels is the benefits they bring to an holistic approach to good health and well-being.
Setting aside for the moment the scientifically measurable benefits of essential oils – ie tea-tree oil for instance, being one of the strongest anti-bacterial and anti-fungal agents in the natural world – our understanding of more subtle benefits to the body and mind as a whole becomes more tangible each year.
We have all heard examples of placebo medicine being used and being effective in combating illness, and it is frequently used within the medical profession with great success. If we were to suggest to someone that the relaxing effect of, for instance, Lavender would help reduce the fear of flying then given that persons faith in our suggestion, then the Lavender Oil could indeed help to reduce some of the anxiety experienced during the flight with a couple of drops on a tissue in the hand of the sufferer.
But current understanding of the mind/body connection goes further than that these days and a direct correlation between the two is accepted categorically.
Almost everyone has experienced extended periods of stress that have occasionally extended its effects to physical illness. Examination halls are traditionally hot beds of coughs and colds as the long months of studying and revision, and the stress of the pending intense examination takes its toll. Feeling run down can often open the portals to bugs and germs which leads to illness.
The causes and indeed benefits of stress are well understood. It was the anxious being stepping cautiously through the undergrowth and forests that survived in our primordial past – the fear that that rustle in the undergrowth might just be a lion waiting to pounce saved many a life – and as such that fear and anxiety is one of the things which proved an asset to us as a species. So the fight or flight response being so readily to hand is a major advantage to us as animals stepping through the perils of life. But much of that response is no longer appropriate in modern day life. We are threatened not so much by lions – but the threat of redundancy, the anxiety of loved ones well being, the stresses of personal relationships, and these are not so quickly dealt with as jumping into a tree to avoid the lion. The stresses they create can linger and produce tightening bands of mental and bodily constriction.
Why stress plays such a potential negative affect on our well being is less well understood – but certainly statistics show that people grieving suffer far greater numbers of illnesses than happily married couples. Individuals going through the throes of divorce are similarly afflicted and insurance companies know this so well they adjust for it in our life policies! Stress can lead to depression, and from depression other complications can arise, both from the subsequent personal neglect which often occurs, ie poor nutrition and self-care, but also the tangible sense of poor self-esteem and low spirits which seem to allow for opportunistic infections and illnesses.
So what does this mean for the lover of essential oils?
When we can create the opposite of the stressful state – ie induce a state of relaxation, a sense of well-being, comfort and calm, then the physiological response of the body kicks in with positive effect! In a state of relaxation blood pressure is reduced, oxygen usage is reduced, the muscles relax from a state of cramped tension and physical discomfort can thereby be reduced.
Energy can be re-channelled from tense nervous energy – energy that constricts both the body and the mind – and released out from the body bringing a more relaxed mind and a more relaxed physical body.
This otherwise ‘wasted’ energy is then not contributing to our ailments by sapping strength from our immune system – but instead positively boosting our well being and helping our bodies defend itself from the opportunistic bugs that otherwise gain entry to our systems and wreak havoc!
A traditional calming/anti-depressant oil – such as Frankincense Essential Oil -inhaled froma tissue will trigger a whole series of positive mechanisms, bringing the wandering, restless and anxious mind back to the present moment. Sitting comfortably in our chair in the evening we can be assured that the rustle we can hear is not a lion waiting to pounce from the long grasses of a savanah plain – and a comforting fragrance, which signifies our moment of relaxation and self-care ‘me-time’ will reinforce the relaxation process, and help trigger the physiological positive responses of muscle relaxation, gentle breathing and a slower heart rate.
Whilst direct inhalation is always an excellent way of enjoying the benefits of essential oils, the added benefit of massage can increase this feeling of well-being, and help bring our minds and bodies into closer alignment through the comfort of caring physical touch, stimulation to the muscles and joints and the release of the aromas through body heat and friction.
Note: All information is provided as points of possible interest to the reader and as such is not intended as medical advice. You should always consult a doctor or a chemist if you have any complaints or conditions arise. The Aromatherapy Store does not intend to provide you with anything which could be considered an alternative to proper qualified medical advice. ALWAYS treat oils with respect. They should never be taken internally, and should be kept away from babies and children. Pregnant women are als0 advised to practise particular care when using essential oils and all users should stop usage and exposure altogether if there are any concerns. Different skins react differently to oils so always be sure to test the oil (diluted) on a small patch of skin for 24 hours before embarking on exteneded usage.
The Aromatherapy Store is a site dedicated to promoting the safe and confident use of the natural qualities of essential oils and related products for the professional and amateur aromatherapist alike!
