The word “aromatherapy” appears in so many places and on so many products that it is no wonder that many people are very confused about what it really means.
Unfortunately, there is no legal definition of “aromatherapy,” so sadly, it is not likely to change in the near future.
So what exactly is “aromatherapy”? Is it more than something that smells good?
The word “aromatherapy” may imply that the therapy is all about scents. But more than beautiful smells, aromatherapy uses the aromatic components of plants for its healing and health benefits.
Aromatherapy is the practice of using essential oils, volatile plant extracts, to promote and enhance the health of the body, mind, and spirit.
It is important to remember that the essential oils used in aromatherapy are all Pure vegetable oils. They don’t include synthetic oils or fragrances or other aromatics like frankincense and they don’t include many products on the market that use the word aromatherapy to denote any product that smells good, even if it doesn’t have therapeutic benefits. (Look for more information on essential oils in future blog posts.)
Another characteristic of aromatherapy is that it is a holistic therapy in the sense that the effects can be felt on multiple levels: physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and energetic. This means that aromatherapy can have benefits for everything from physical ailments to mental and emotional effects and more.
For this reason, aromatherapy is very well suited to other modalities. Therefore, you may see aromatherapists who also practice in massage, naturopathy, nursing, midwifery, kinesiology, and many other fields. Or essential oils incorporated into other modalities by a variety of professionals. (To use essential oils, any professional needs to have the proper training – many have it, but some don’t – we’ll cover how to tell in a future blog post.)
Aromatherapy, when practiced as a professional modality, is directed to the particular needs of an individual, using the detailed knowledge of the therapist to create a unique treatment program. This may include massages or other body treatments or treatments for the client to use at home.
Of course, aromatherapy can also be practiced on a more basic level at home using essential oils in diffusers, inhalers, or in massage or body oils and skin care products. They can even be used for cleaning and other uses around the home.
There are many ways to use aromatherapy to enjoy the benefits of essential oils. Look for future posts with more information on the many ways you can use essential oils.