When aromatherapy is used for the treatment or prevention of disease, a precise knowledge of the bioactivity and synergy of the essential oils used, knowledge of the dosage and duration of application, as well as, naturally, a medical diagnosis, are required. In the Anglo-Saxon world, even among "natural" practitioners like herbalists or naturopaths, aromatherapy is regarded more as an art form than a valid healing science. At best, it is viewed as a complementary and seldom the only treatment prescribed. On the continent, especially in Fran ...

See also:

Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy - Materials, Aromatherapy - Theory, Aromatherapy - Application, Aromatherapy - Therapeutic effects, Aromatherapy - Criticism

Read more here: » Aromatherapy: Encyclopedia II - Aromatherapy - Theory

VIBRATIONAL HEALING - VIBRATIONAL MEDICINE: promotes healing by balancing the bodyÕs energy field. Can include acupuncture, homeopathy, flower essences, sound & color healing, crystals, gems, aromatherapy, and energy-based bodywork (Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Polarity Therapy).

(See also: Vibrational Healing & Vibrational Medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

The smoke from burning essential oils may contain potential carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Essential oils are naturally high in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The internal use of essential oils should be fully avoided during pregnancy without consulting with a licensed professional, as some can be abortifacients in dose 0.5–10 ml. Toxical data: LD50 of most EO or their main componen ...

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Essential oil, Essential oil - Production, Essential oil - Perfumery, Essential oil - Aromatherapy, Essential oil - Popular uses, Essential oil - Dangers, Essential oil - Raw Materials

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Main high-volume products - turpentine; orange, lemon, mint and citronella are essential oils. Prior to the discovery of distillation, essential oils were extracted by pressing, and this is still the case in cultures such as Egypt. Traditional Egyptian practice involves pressing the plant material, and then burying it in unglazed ceramic vessels in the desert for a period of months to drive out water, the water having a smaller molecular size diffuses through the ceramic vessels while the larger essential oils do not. The lotus oil in Tutankhamun's tomb, which retained its scent after 3000 years sealed in al ...

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Essential oil, Essential oil - Production, Essential oil - Perfumery, Essential oil - Aromatherapy, Essential oil - Popular uses, Essential oil - Dangers, Essential oil - Raw Materials

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aroma-spa therapy: Subject of a textbook of the same name (Anessence Inc., 1996), by massage therapist Anne Roebuck, of Toronto, Canada. aroma-spa therapy is the practice of aromatherapy as a part of spa therapy, which Roebuck describes in the introduction as therapeutic face and body treatments at a spa location.

(See also: Aroma-spa therapy , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

Aromatherapy is based mainly on the following therapeutic effects: Antiseptic effects: viricidial, bactericidal, fungicidal Anesthetic action (menthol, camphor) Central nervous system effects Metabolic / Endocrine effects Psychological effects Immunostimulator Fragrances can have a relaxing effect measured as an increase in alpha brain waves. One of the best known essential oils for aromatherapy is lavender, which is recommended by practitioners for treating wounds, to enhance memory, and to aid sleep by combating anxiety and insomnia. Other popular sc ...

See also:

Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy - Materials, Aromatherapy - Theory, Aromatherapy - Application, Aromatherapy - Therapeutic effects, Aromatherapy - Criticism

Read more here: » Aromatherapy: Encyclopedia II - Aromatherapy - Therapeutic effects

Aroma Behavior Conditioning (ABC): Combination of aromatherapy and NLP. The Myotherapy Institute Research Center (see Acutherapy) offered a program in ABC but discontinued it before early June 1996.

(See also: Aroma Behavior Conditioning , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aromatic compounds extracted from plants. It may be produced by distillation, expression, or solvent extraction. Essential oils are used in perfumery, aromatherapy, cosmetics, incense, medicine, household cleaning products, and for flavoring food and drink. They are valuable commodities in the fragrance and food industries. Essential oil is also known as volatile oil and ethereal oil. It may also be referred to as "oil of" the raw plant mat ...

Including:

• Essential oil - Production
• Essential oil - Perfumery
• Essential oil - Aromatherapy
• Essential oil - Popular uses
• Essential oil - Dangers
• Essential oil - Raw Materials

Read more here: » Essential oil: Encyclopedia - Essential oil

Raindrop Therapy: A combination of aromatherapy science, massage, reflexology, and Vita Flex. developed from the research of Dr. Gary Young and a Lakota medicine man,

Raindrop Therapy is a means of aligning bodily energy centers. It features dropping antimicrobial essential oils toward the spine. One of its purposes is to bring structural and electrical alignment to the body.

(See also: Raindrop Therapy , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

Odyssey Massage: a method that includes abhyanga, aromatherapy, Vital Touch techniques, and modes of massage called Garshana and Vishesh.

(See also: Odyssey Massage , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

Absolutes are similar to essential oils and are used in aromatherapy. The difference is that where essential oils are created through a process of distillation absolutes are extracted with the use of chemical solvents. Absolutes may be more concentrated than essential oils but can sometimes contain traces of the solvents used. This is in stark contrast to the idea of purity generally associated with aromatherapy. Absolutes are more commonly used in perfumery applications, since, if both an essential oil and an absolute o ...

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Although fragrant extracts are known to the general public as the generic term "essential oils", a more specific language is used in the fragrance industry to describe the source, purity, and technique used to obtain a particular fragrant extract. Of these extracts, only absolutes, essential oils, and tinctures are directly used to formulate perfumes. Absolute: Fragrant materials that are purified from a pommade or concrete by soaking them in ethanol. By using a slightly hydrophil ...

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Perfume, Perfume - Obtaining odorants, Perfume - Fragrant extracts, Perfume - Composing perfumes, Perfume - Description of a perfume, Perfume - Olfactive families, Perfume - Fragrance Notes, Perfume - Concentration, Perfume - History of perfume and perfumery, Perfume - Famous perfumes classified by year of creation, Perfume - Natural and synthetic aromatics, Perfume - Plant sources, Perfume - Animal sources, Perfume - Synthetic sources, Perfume - Health and ethical issues, Perfume - Use of Aromatics, Perfume - Natural Musk, Perfume - Celebrity Endorsed Perfumes, Perfume - Reference

Read more here: » Perfume: Encyclopedia II - Perfume - Fragrant extracts

Vibrational medicine: The expressions "energy healing," "energy work," and "energetic healing work" appear synonymous with "vibrational medicine." Healing philosophy whose main tenet is that humans are "dynamic energy systems" ("body/mind/spirit" complexes) and reflect evolutionary patterns of soul growth. Its postulates include the following. (a ) Health and illness originate in subtle energy systems. (b) These systems coordinate the life-force and the physical body. (c) Emotions, spirituality, and nutritional and environmental factors affect the subtle energy systems. Vibrational medicine embraces acupuncture, aromatherapy, Bach flower therapy, chakra rebalancing, channeling, color therapy, crystal healing, absent healing, electroacupuncture, flower essence therapy, homeopathy, Kirlian photography, laserpuncture, the laying on of hands, meridian therapy, mesmerism, moxibustion, Past-life Regression, Polarity Therapy, psychic healing, psychic surgery, Reiki, sonopuncture, Toning, Transcendental Meditation, and Therapeutic Touch.

(See also: Vibrational medicine , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

Sage - Aromatic sages. Salvia apiana, White sage, California white sage, a perennial at home in the mountains of Southern California, sometimes found in the desert of southern Arizona Salvia candelabrum, a blue-flowering scented sage Salvia clevelandii, Blue sage, Cleveland sage, Fragrant sage, with a very strong scent, found either delightful or disgusting Salvia clevelandii x pachyphylla x leucophylla Celestial Blue, Celestial Sage, Musk Sage. Hybrid ...

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Sage, Sage - History, Sage - Notable species, Sage - Aromatic sages, Sage - Non-aromatic sages, Sage - Chia sages, Sage - Medicinal uses, Sage - Aromatic sages

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Before perfumes can be composed, the odorants used in various perfume compositions must first be obtained. Synthetic odorants are produced through organic synthesis and purified. Odorants from natural sources require the use of various methods to extract the aromatics from the raw materials. The results of the extraction are either essential oils, absolutes, concretes, or butters, depending on the amount of waxes in the extracted product. All these techniques will to a certain extent, distort the odour of the aromatic compounds obtain ...

See also:

Perfume, Perfume - Obtaining odorants, Perfume - Fragrant extracts, Perfume - Composing perfumes, Perfume - Description of a perfume, Perfume - Olfactive families, Perfume - Fragrance Notes, Perfume - Concentration, Perfume - History of perfume and perfumery, Perfume - Famous perfumes classified by year of creation, Perfume - Natural and synthetic aromatics, Perfume - Plant sources, Perfume - Animal sources, Perfume - Synthetic sources, Perfume - Health and ethical issues, Perfume - Use of Aromatics, Perfume - Natural Musk, Perfume - Celebrity Endorsed Perfumes, Perfume - Reference

Read more here: » Perfume: Encyclopedia II - Perfume - Obtaining odorants

Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, objects, and living spaces a lasting and pleasant smell. The amount and type of solvent mix with the fragrance oil dictates whether a perfume is considered a perfume extract, Eau de parfum, Eau de toilette, or Eau de Cologne. Perfume - Obtaining odorants. Before perfumes can be composed, the odorants used in various perfume compositions must first be obtained. Synthetic odorants are prod ...

Including:

• Perfume - Obtaining odorants
• Perfume - Fragrant extracts
• Perfume - Composing perfumes
• Perfume - Description of a perfume
• Perfume - Olfactive families
• Perfume - Fragrance Notes
• Perfume - Concentration
• Perfume - History of perfume and perfumery
• Perfume - Famous perfumes classified by year of creation
• Perfume - Natural and synthetic aromatics
• Perfume - Plant sources
• Perfume - Animal sources
• Perfume - Synthetic sources
• Perfume - Health and ethical issues
• Perfume - Use of Aromatics
• Perfume - Natural Musk
• Perfume - Celebrity Endorsed Perfumes
• Perfume - Reference

Read more here: » Perfume: Encyclopedia - Perfume

30-Day Body Purification Program: Group of purification techniques whose principle is that cleansing the body's internal ecosystem with herbs and pure nutrients is the key to restoring a healthy environment in and around the body.

The program embraces: aromatherapy; food combining a la Natural Hygiene and macrobiotics; the Schuessler biochemic system of medicine (tissue salts therapy); and a visualization technique wherein one visualizes dust, toxins, and the color gray leaving one's body.

(See also: 30-Day Body Purification Program , Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

History of Herbs

The traditional definition of an herb is a non-woody plant that dies down to the ground after flowering. However, "herb" is often used to describe any plant of which any part is used for medical treatment or nutritional value. In this sense of the word, herbs have been used and studied since prehistoric mankind. Five thousand years ago, the Sumerians kept the first written record of the use of herbs. In 2700 B.C., the Chinese wrote an herb book listing over 365 medicinal plants and their uses. Herbs are mentioned in the Old Testament, and the medicinal practices of ancient Greeks and Romans rose from herbalism.

The first European book on herbs dates from the first century A.D. It refers to more than 500 plants and remained an authoritative reference into the 1600s. During the Middle Ages, the Christian church discouraged the practice of medicine. Herbalism was preserved in monasteries, by monks hand-copying manuscripts of herbs, and planting their own herb gardens.

In the 17th century, the introduction of active chemical drugs and the development of chemistry led to the decline of herbalism, although folk medicine still existed in the home and small villages. By the end of the 19th and into the 20th centuries, orthodox medicine had pushed homeopathic medicine further from the mainstream.

Herbalists today seek to help people build their health with natural sources. The philosophy is that the body is capable of healing itself given the proper conditions. Herbalism, psychic healing, acupuncture, aromatherapy, touch therapy, and massage therapy can all work with orthodox treatments to create a healthy body.

(See also: Herbs , Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

For more dictionary entries, see » Essential Oils Dictionary

Prior to the domestication of electricity, candles were a common source of lighting, before, and later in addition to, the oil lamp. Due to local availability and the cost of resources, for several centuries up to the 19th century candles were more common in northern Europe, and olive oil lamps more common in southern Europe and around the Mediterranean Sea. Makers of candles were known as chandlers. Today, candles are usually used for their aesthetic value, particularly to set a soft, warm, or romantic ambience, and for emergency lighting during electrical power failures. Scented candles are common in aromatherapy. Small candles are ...

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Candle, Candle - Usage, Candle - Religion, Candle - Measurement, Candle - Fuel and candle holders, Candle - Hazards

Read more here: » Candle: Encyclopedia II - Candle - Usage

Neroli oil is a plant oil similar to bergamot produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium var. amara or Bigaradia). The blossoms are gathered, usually by hand, in late April to early May. The oil is produced by water distillation, as the blossom is too fragile to endure steam distillation. By the end of the 16th century, Anne Marie Orsini, duchess of Bracciano and princess of Nerola, introduced the essence of bitter orange tree as a fashionable fragrance by using it to perfume her ...

Read more here: » Neroli: Encyclopedia - Neroli

Candles can be made of paraffin (a byproduct of petroleum refining), stearin (now produced almost exclusively from palm waxes), beeswax (a byproduct of honey collection), gel (a mixture of resin and mineral oil), some plant waxes (generally palm, carnauba, bayberry, or soy), or tallow (a rarely used byproduct of beef fat rendering). Candles are produced in various colors, shapes, sizes and scents. The most basic production method generally entails the liquification of the solid fuel by the controlled application of heat. This liquid is then ...

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Candle, Candle - Usage, Candle - Religion, Candle - Measurement, Candle - Fuel and candle holders, Candle - Hazards

Read more here: » Candle: Encyclopedia II - Candle - Fuel and candle holders

Alternative healthcare providers who practice colour therapy often relate the seven colours of the colour spectrum to specific areas of the body known as the chakras. Like in yoga, the chakras are believed to be specific spiritual energy centres of the body. The accredited therapeutic action of colours is related to the chakra they represent: Chromotherapy - Red. First Chakra: base of the spine In chromotherapy, red is considered to be the colour of life, of the glowing sun and of fire. Red i ...

See also:

Chromotherapy, Chromotherapy - Criticism, Chromotherapy - History, Chromotherapy - Meaning and use of colours, Chromotherapy - Red, Chromotherapy - Orange, Chromotherapy - Yellow, Chromotherapy - Green, Chromotherapy - Blue, Chromotherapy - Indigo, Chromotherapy - Violet

Read more here: » Chromotherapy: Encyclopedia II - Chromotherapy - Meaning and use of colours