People have been enjoying the scent of various plants and their fruit since ancient times. Although, archaeologists have unearthed proof that peppermint was used for medicinal purposes as far back as 8,000 years BCE, and it is still being used to relieve heartburn. It was the Egyptians who first began the practice of aromatherapy in about 2,000 BCE, and modern day science is finding that those same ingredients do assist in healing.
Aromatherapy is simply the inhaling the fumes from a heated quantity of certain oils that are known to be beneficial to human health. Just about any mood that a person could want, or need, can be assisted into being through the sense of smell. Because of this, people often keep a diffuser burning in their homes to keep a particular sense of well being in the air.
Think about the times you've been to a dinner party, or holiday festivity, and how hungry you got smelling the food while waiting for the meal to be served. Even with an assortment of side dishes being offered, you could detect and name each one without looking. It's the herbs and seasoning used for spices that causes you to become hungry, even if you might not have been before you arrived.
Just the smell of someone peeling an orange can start changing your mood and make you feel more refreshed and cheerful. When you dine out at a restaurant there are often peppermints brought to the table at the end of your meal. Peppermint helps aid in digestion. The menthol in cough drops is the reason they work as a decongestant.
The oils used in cleaning products have a dual purpose of being natural cleansers while refreshing the air with scents that are used in cold and cough remedies. A romantic atmosphere is created when roses are brought as a gift because the oil in them gives off properties that spark a sense of supportive and gentle uplifting. Cooking with vanilla is usually thought of as a flavoring, but the aroma causes a calming sense of balance and comforting.
Another herb used in both cooking and massage therapy is marjoram. When rubbed on the skin it is invigorating, and has the benefits of clarifying and purifying the mood. When the oils of Frankincense and Myrrh are used in combination, the result is that of being calm and centered, which provides the mood for visualization and meditation.
Furniture is built from cedar which is actually a very soft wood and not as well suited for such items as oak would be. However, cedar oil is used for the ability of its aroma to make people feel more centered from an inner strength. When a person is stressed out or dealing with anxiety, cedar oil is used to relieve that feeling of being completely without the power to control their own lives.
Many of the ingredients found in plants, including their oils, are used in modern day medicine, and could be interpreted as an example of wisdom being handed down through the ages. These good smelling compounds are used in providing the people of today which a relaxing means of improving their lives through the world of aromatherapy.
The author, manager of The Ananda Apothecary, regularly employs pure essential oils and flower essences in her professional wellness practice.
