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Aromatherapy is one of the oldest industries in the world. It dates back to 400 B.C. and originated in Egypt. Egyptians used aromatherapy for medicinal, cosmetic, and embalming purposes. Cleopatra bathed in jasmine and rose essential oils and controlled the mining of Dead Sea Salts for her personal use.
Pure essential oils are the pure essence of a plant, root, stem, or flower that has been extracted through distillation. Essential oils should not be ingested. There are over 300 different essential oils used today. Perfume or fragrant oils are not the same as an essential oil. Early perfumes were based on essential oils. Chemical perfumes were first developed in France around the beginning of the 20th Century. Perfume oils and fragrant oils may be lovely to smell but do not contain natural, therapeutic ingredients. Products at Comfort Spring Station with essential oils state the essential oil in product description.
Aromatherapy is based on the use of pure plant essential oils to promote physical and emotional well being. Modern research is still being conducted to discover what the physiological response is to essential oils. For example, Dr. Tanapee Hongratanaworakit of the Faculty of Pharmacy at Srinakharinwirot University in Bangkok, Thailand, reported in 2006 that massaging the skin with oil containing the essential oil ylang-ylang is relaxing and lowers blood pressure. Different essential oils bring different responses. Historically, lavender is known for relaxation and stress reduction while peppermint is known to be invigorating.
Most essential oils should not be applied undiluted to the skin. Adding a few drops to your bath water or five drops to 100 drops of a base massage oil such almond oil can add therapeutic properties. If you have never tried an essential oil before, dilute it and try a patch test before applying to the whole body. Using essential oils on babies, senior citizens or anyone with a compromised immune system should only be done after consulting with a medical professional.
Essential oils during pregnancy should be avoided and used only with the advice of your doctor. Certain essentials oils including pennyroyal, rue, savin, mugwort,sage, tansy, thuja and wormwood could stimulate contractions of the uterus that would lead to a miscarriage. Others are thought to promote and regulate menstruation. These include cedarwood, myrrh, peppermint, rose and rosemary and should be avoided during pregnancy.
Lavender is the most famous essential oil and usually the first essential oil people investigate. There are so many uses for lavender; it is used in many skin care products, sachets, potpourri, candles and cooking.
Properly diluted, essential oils are generally recognized as safe in hundreds of household applications. It is believed that various essential oils can heal wounds and cuts faster, reduce inflammation, moisturize and tone the skin, regulate hormone levels in the body, balance emotions, aid in digestion, repel insects, help with depression, reduce anxiety and stress, increase oxygen intake, and aid meditation and yoga practices.
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