A Guide to Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

Referred to as a gift from nature to us, essential aromatherapy oils have often provided natural remedies for minor ailments, beautified our body, and has assisted in the promotion of a positive outlook. These oils are usually extracted from plants; either through their flowers, stems, bark, roots, or even the very life blood of the plant itself, more commonly known as sap. To extract these precious essences from the plant, the varying parts of the plant first need to go through a distillation process.
So, what makes essential oils so easy to obtain? A reputable essential aromatherapy book will tell you it's because they are widely available. That is because they are either grown naturally on farms or, in some cases, found growing in the wild. Either way, essential oils can be applied in a variety of physiological ways, essentially possessing the power to calm our very souls. Maybe it is the fact that civilizations were using essential oils nearly a thousand years ago. The point is, there is no doubt that essential oils provide a natural alternative of healing that's not always present in the synthetic compounds we refer to as medicine today.
Let's look at the unique history of incense as an example. The use of incense dates back more than 5,000 years, possessing a direct reference in the Bible. Frankincense was one of the gifts given to the baby Jesus by the wise men. It's also understood that the value of frankincense was at times more valuable than gold! It has been recognized as containing wonderful healing properties, including skin rejuvenation, acne treatment, and even traits that addresses bacterial and fungal infections, wounds & scaring. Incense was often used as a treatment for arthritis & joint pain. Incense was also widely used as a cosmetic, a deterent to mosquitoes, as well as sand flies & wheat moths. Of greatest note, however, was its use in spiritual ceremonies. Frankincense is believed to activate the body's ability to calm the mind, reduce breathing, & enhance meditation. And to think that this all comes from a single plant!
The Miracle of essential oils can be phrased as follows: Within essential oils, we have everything needed for both our physical & emotional healing. It is common knowledge that many of the ailments we suffer from are a direct result of destructive emotions, including fatigue, stress, loneliness and anger. These emotions can exact a negative toll on both our physical & emotional well-being, with the end result being even worse conditions if not addressed in a timely manner.
The true miracle of essential oils is that, no matter what your level of health happens to be, you're still able to experience a positive effect, even if it is to reduce the amount of pain you feel. Aromatherapy can help to reduce negative emotions and achieve a sense of emotional balance that enable you to handle any situation that can come your way. All it takes is a positive attitude of your life, coupled with aromatherapy treatments. Although the effects may seem small to nonexistent at first, applied over a period of time they can compound to begin reversing some of the negatives in your life. Wouldn't it be great news to receive the report from your doctor that your blood pressure is lower at your next examination?
As with anything, before starting an aromatherapy treatment, consult your doctor or health care professional. With that information in hand, talk at great length with your aromatherapy provider about your particular situation. Aromatherapy should be used to supplement, not substitute, any medical treatments.