Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of plant-derived, aromatic essential oils to promote physical and psychological wellbeing.
Essential oils are extracted from the flower, fruit, leaf, seed, bark or root of a plant or tree and just one drop can have powerful health benefits. Essential oils are usually created through the process of distillation, which separates the oil and water based compounds of a plant by steaming.
It was the Egyptians who first made extensive use of plants with distillation methods dating back 3,500 B.C. Essential oils were used as medicine, cosmetics and in the burial of rulers and pharaohs. Cleopatra, who was famous for her beauty, had the first spa near the Dead Sea where she used essential oils for her personal beauty treatments.
Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said that “the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.”
The term “aromatherapy” was first used in the 1930’s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé who after an accident in his laboratory discovered that lavender oil relieves pain and assists minor burns in healing.
Essential oils contain naturally occurring chemical compounds that act in specific ways; some are stimulants or depressants, others have anti-inflammatory properties, still others are expectorants and diuretics. Many essential oils have antiviral, antiseptic, antibacterial, and even anti-carcinogenic properties.
In her book “Health through God’s Pharmacy”, published in 1980, Austrian Herbalist Maria Treben claims that “there is a plant for every illness.”
Nowadays, numerous studies and books are being published about the healing power of essential oils. Aromatherapy has become a fundamental component of alternative and holistic medicine.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and if there’s one thing you hear more than anything it’s how important self-care is to overall wellbeing. What does that mean? Just as every person is an individual, what feeds our soul and nourishes our spirit—and what we need at this moment in our life—looks very different for each person and may change throughout our lives. The challenge is finding and creating habits that fit best with your lifestyle. The great news is that establishing one good habit feeds another. For example, if you exercise more, you are more likely to get better sleep, which will in turn help to clear your mind and regain your focus.
Looking for the perfect gifts for Mom or an important lady in your life? Our Mother’s Day Gift Guide features Organic Lavender Essential Oil. Lavender is known for its relaxation benefits and skincare support. As one of the most popular essential oils, Organic Lavender is a great beginner oil and a must for everyone.
Some of our favorite blends include Lavender: Restful Ease™ & Real Love®
Looking for more ideas? We’ve collected a number of DIY recipes and ideas that would make great gifts for Mom.
