Aromatherapy is part of phytotherapy because it uses essential oils and water-based colloids extracted from plants, being known as holistic therapy because it addresses the body, mind and soul of the patient, in order to support health and physical, emotional and spiritual balance.
History has proven that in the ancient cultures of China, Greece, Arabia and Egypt, aromatic oils extracted from plants were often used, and massage with aromatic oils from traditional Indian medicine (ayurveda) is an art used for over three thousand years. A large number of manuscripts show that the Middle Ages are closely related to the activity of pharmacists, herbalists and alchemists, and during the “great plague”, aromatics were the best antiseptics at hand and the only effective remedies (frankincense, pepper, lavender, hops, pine, thyme). in the 19th century, the interest in finding and cultivating new plants producing volatile oils, perfumes being made entirely of natural essences, increased massively. However, the name aromatherapy was introduced only after the first world war, by the French chemist René Maurice Gattefosse, and in 1938 his colleague, M. Godissart founded a specialized clinic in Los Angeles. In our century, more and more research is being done in the field, hoping that aromatherapy, together with other forms of complementary medicine, will replace the classic, expensive treatments, which can have so many adverse effects.
Essential oils are volatile liquids obtained by distilling different parts of plants: leaves, bark, seeds, fruits, roots, flowers and resins, being 75-100 times stronger than these. They are administered strictly externally and before using them it is recommended to apply a test on a small portion of the skin with a diluted amount. In choosing and buying them, great care must be taken to ensure that they do not contain synthetic elements, because adverse reactions such as: headaches, dizziness, vomiting may occur. They can be used by:
- inhalation – directly from essential oil bottles or by putting 2-3 drops in hot water;
- vaporization in the inspired air, either through scented lamps with a flame in which the candle inserted should be stearin-based and not wax-based, or modernly through ultrasonic aroma diffusers, which also have monochrome or colored lights for chromotherapy;
- adding to massage oils (2-3%), or a few drops in bath water, taking into account that lighter skin is more sensitive, so women will react faster to the treatment than men, and baths should not last more than 15-20 minutes;
- green or dry plants scattered around the room;
- use of soaps with essential oils, which, due to the fact that they are applied to wet skin, will allow a quick absorption;
- compresses – applied especially to painful places after they have been soaked in a bowl of hot water where 3-5 drops of essential oil have been added;
- scented sticks and candles, which are not as strong and effective and cannot be guaranteed to be natural.
Allopathic medicine has not approved the results of aromatherapy, relating these effects to conditioned reflexes, although it has been shown that inhaled molecules from these extracts stimulate the olfactory nerve, sending messages to the limbic system of the brain, which controls, among other things, states, memories and the ability to learn and will induce reactions physiological response, for example lavender induces relaxation.
We use aromatherapy associated with medical massage in the office because volatile oils refresh the air in a room by adding negative (beneficial) ions to the air, stimulate the functioning of various organs, increase the power of concentration, calm or energize, bring peace, joy, good mood and they have a disinfectant and antibacterial role. The only risks in using volatile oils are allergic reactions. we always take into account the tastes of the beneficiaries, because it is known that aromatherapy has no effect if the patient does not appreciate the respective smell.
The influence of aromatherapy on the mental state
The mental state is influenced by the use of essential oils, so we will use them targeted to increase relaxation at the office:
- energy and quick thinking: lemon, lavender, juniper, eucalyptus, black pepper, angelica, cedar, thyme, nutmeg, black pepper;
- anti-stress: lavender, rose, juniper, hyssop, rosemary, sage, incense;
- antidepressants: lavender, lemon, basil, cedar, cypress, juniper, rose, pergamuta, sage, frankincense, ylang ylang;
- joy: rose, sandalwood, neroli, ylang ylang;
- happiness: basil, orange, lime, geranium;
- peace-harmony: incense, myrrh, rose, bergamot, laurel;
- calm: angelica, coriander, clove;
- optimism: cypress, cloves, ginger, lemon;
- confidence and self-respect: ginger, jasmine, grapefruit, pine, lavender, sandalwood, cypress;
- creativity; sandalwood, geranium, juniper, cypress, vanilla.
The influence of aromatherapy on physical condition
Since a healthy mind works well in a healthy body, we combine aromatherapy with massage at companies, taking into account the healing properties of essential oils:
- aphrodisiacs: rose, sandalwood, lavender, vanilla, ylang ylang, neroli, orange, black pepper, musk, patchouli, juniper, nutmeg;
- air purifiers: mint, eucalyptus, sweet cumin, juniper, lemon, neroli, cedar, pergamuta;
- disinfectants, antiseptics, antibacterials: pine, fir, spruce, lavender, lavender, lemon, mint, basil, eucalyptus, tea, cypress, thyme, ginger, juniper, oregano, pergamuta, rosemary, sage, incense, rose, ylang ylang;
- anti-inflammatory: juniper, mint, angelica, tea, black pepper, rosemary, sandalwood, incense;
- analgesic / calming: lavender, angelica, lavender, pergamuta;
- sedatives: juniper, nutmeg, sandalwood, vanilla, rose, ylang ylang;
- antivirals: pine, fir, spruce, mint, eucalyptus, cypress, coriander, lavender, cloves, lemon, bay, oregano, rosemary, sage;
- antibiotics: thyme, oregano;
- detoxifiers: black pepper, juniper, rosemary, lime, lemon, geranium, fennel, mint, grapefruit.
In a busy day at work, 15 minutes of therapeutic massage at the office, combined with stretching and joint mobilizations, accompanied by aromatherapy and relaxing music will definitely increase the tone and work capacity of the employees!
Hannemaria Strete