The document discusses the historical and contemporary uses of plant essences and essential oils in healing practices, noting their applications in aromatherapy, personal beauty, and home usage. It highlights the subjective benefits of aromatherapy, such as stress relief and relaxation, while acknowledging the limited scientific evidence supporting its efficacy. Additionally, the document emphasizes the importance of consulting qualified professionals for safe usage and potential contraindications of essential oils.

1. By Maitreyi
Natural Healing Choices
&
Fast Read (iBooks Publishing)
Please note that this presentation, its content including art work is © 2011 Healing Art & Design INC and may not be reproduced in whole or part
without explicit written permission.

2. Since ancient times, plant essences have been used for healing thru
various means. The benefits of these essences have been experienced
thru-
 Incense (refer- IncenseAndAromatherapy.com for more information on
the use of incense in aromatherapeutic healing)
 Perfumes
 Aromatic water
 Embalming ointments
 Culinary uses
The term “Aromatherapy” was coined in much recent times by the French
Chemist, Rene Gattefosse.

3.  Several medical professionals in the U.S.A. and England suppose that
while pleasant scents can be relaxing, lowering stress and offering related
effects, there is insufficient scientific proof of the effectiveness of
aromatherapy.
 Scientific research on the cause and effect of aromatherapy is limited,
although in-vitro testing has revealed some antibacterial and antiviral
effects.
 Some benefits that have been linked to aromatherapy, such as
relaxation and clarity of mind, are quite subjective and may arise from the
placebo effect.

4.  Bark
 Flowers
 Fruits
 Leaves and Twigs
 Resins
 Roots, Rhizomes and Bulbs
 Seeds
 Woods

5. An essential oil is any concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile
aroma compounds from plants, which are called aromatic herbs or
aromatic plants. They are also known as volatile or ethereal oils, or simply
as the "oil of" the plant material from which they were extracted, such as
oil of clove.
Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes
include expression, or solvent extraction.

6. Carrier oils are used to dilute the strong and concentrated essential oils.
Common carrier oils are-
 Apricot Kernel Oil
 Avocado Oil
 Grape Seed Oil
 Hemp Seed Oil
 Jojoba Oil
 Sweet Almond Oil
 Grape Seed Oil

7. Care should be taken while using essential oils, if one is also suffering from
the conditions on which the oils have an adverse effect.
A qualified and experienced Aromatherapist along with your family
physician should be able to give you a clear advice on their usage.
Always check to assure that the essential oil you wish to use does not
have any known safe-usage issues and is not going to have any
contraindications with any of your other medications (allopathic or
holistic).

8. Herbal distillates are aqueous solutions or colloidal suspensions
(hydrosols) of essential oils usually obtained by steam distillation from
aromatic plants or herbs. These herbal distillates are used as flavorings,
medicine and in skin care.
Herbal distillates go by many other names including floral waters,
hydrosols, hydrolates, herbal waters, toilet waters, aqua vitae and
essential water.
Herbal distillates are produced in the same manner as essential oils.
However, the essential oil will float to the top of the distillate where it is
removed, leaving behind the watery distillate.

9. Aroma or fragrance is classified in two ways. One method that is used is to
classify fragrance according to origin of the scent- i.e. if the origin is from a
type of plant (plant part) or animal. E.g. Woody scents, Earthy scents,
Spicy scents etc.
The second method, which was devised by the Chinese, is where a
fragrance is classified according to six scent groups which in turn were
named as per the type of emotion that was stirred up when their
corresponding incense was lighted. E.g. Tranquility incense, Beauty
incense, Luxury incense etc.

10. Aromatherapeutic healing is considered a very gentle and non-intrusive
means of healing and is supposed to be suitable for people from all age-
groups.
In addition to successfully addressing and relieving chronic long-term
conditions; essential oils are also supposed to exhibit preventative
measures for certain conditions.
One of Aromatherapy’s most known and noted benefits is in the use of
essential oils to relax and rejuvenate people i.e. in reducing stress and
relieving stress related conditions such as anxiety, hypertension,
insomnia and depression.

11. Within Health and Healing-
 Relaxation and Rejuvenation
 Stress Relief
 Therapeutic Massage
Within Personal Beauty and Grooming-
Personal beauty (in face packs, facial steams etc.)
 Perfumes and fragrances
Lotions, bath and body oils
Within Home and Garden-
 Room diffuser and sprays
 Insect and bug repellents
 Linen spray

12.  Essential Oil Diffusers
 Potpourri
 Incense
 Sprays and Atomizers
 Creams and Lotions
 Bath and Body Oils
 Culinary Uses
Essential oils are added to various carrier substances to enhance the
beneficial and healing qualities. E.g. to face packs, facial steams, culinary
usages etc.

13.  with Herbal Healing (e.g. lavender tea)
 with Reflexology and Massage Therapy (use of aromatherapeutic oils)
 with Ayurveda (essential oils are used in accordance to the Ayurvedic
healing principles)
 with Healing Foods (e.g. jasmine tea)
 with Chakra Therapy (essential oils contain within them various Chakra
energies)
 with Color and Sound Therapy (essential oils exhibit a special vibrational
synchronization with specific colors as well as specific music notes)

14. By Maitreyi
Natural Healing Choices
&
Fast Read (iBooks Publishing)
Please note that this presentation, its content including art work is © 2011 Healing Art & Design INC and may not be reproduced in whole or part
without explicit written permission.