Aromatherapy is the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual’s response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance his or her innate healing process. As a holistic medicine, aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment during acute and chronic stages of illness or disease. It is a natural, non-invasive treatment system designed to affect the whole person, not just the symptom or disease, and to assist the body’s natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
Essential oils (also known as volatile oils) are the basic materials of aromatherapy. They are made from fragrant essences found in many plants. These essences are made in special plant cells, often under the surface of leaves, bark, or peel, using energy from the sun and elements from the air, soil, and water. If the plant material is crushed, the essence and its unique fragrance are released. When essences are extracted from plants in natural ways, they become essential oils. They may be distilled with steam and/or water, or mechanically pressed. Oils that are made with chemical processes are not considered true essential oils. There are many essential oils used in aromatherapy, including Roman chamomile, geranium, lavender, lemon, cedar wood, and bergamot. Each type of essential oil has a different chemical structure that affects its odor, how it is absorbed, and how it is used by the body. Even varieties of plants within the same species may have chemical structures different from one another because they are grown or harvested in different ways or locations.
Source: National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy, National Cancer Institute
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