ESSENTIAL OIL: the fragrant 'blood' or liquid of a plant, usually flower.

(See also: ESSENTIAL OIL, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

ESSENTIAL OILS - Fluid extracts from botanical sources & preserved in pure form Some are poisonous when taken internally & many report irritations when applied directly to skin. Used in Aromatherapy usually in blends diluted with basic carrier oils.

(See also: ESSENTIAL OILS, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

essential oil: Essential oils are created by distillation; plant material is heated, and the molecules that evaporate into steam are captured. These oils are mixed, blended in a base of vegetable oil, and rubbed onto the body or added to ritual baths for magical purposes.

Also See: essential oils

(See also: essential oil, Magic, Shamanism, Paganism, Wicca)

essential oils

Fluid extracted from botanical sources and preserved in pure form. Some are poisonous when taken internally, and many report irritations when applied directly to the skin. Used in Aromatherapy, usually in blends diluted with basic carrier oils.

(See also: Essential oils, Body Mind and Soul)

Essential Oils: Natural substances extracted from grasses, flowers, herbs, shrubs, trees, resins and spices, usually through a process called steam distillation. Oils can soothe, relax, rejuvenate, heal, energize or relieve pain, thereby affecting the body's physical, psychological and emotional levels. Essential Oils used in this manner are traditionally called aromatherapy. 

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

Essential Oil

A natural oil which is extracted from plants or flowers through a very complex process that generally yields very little product, making it costly. Absolute is at least 10% pure plant juice.

(See also: Essential Oil, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Essential Oils

are the volatile essences extracted from aromatic plants by steam, distillation, expression or solvent extraction. Essential oils are applied topically or inhaled, and act on physical, emotional and psychological processes.

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

Essential Oils

Essential oils are liquids extracted (normally by steam or water distillation) from the flowers, leaves, stems, bark or roots of a plant. Essential oils contain the highly concentrated "essence" of the plant it was derived from.

Essential oils are believed to offer psychological and physical therapeutic benefits. These benefits are usually achieved through methods including inhalation and application of the diluted oil to the skin. The theraputic use of essential oils is covered by the wider term of Aromatherapy.

For profiles of individual essential oils, please refer to our  Aromatherapy Section which contains an A- Z guide to the Essential oils sold instore.

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

massage aromatherapy: Application during a massage therapy session of a vegetable oil to which an essential oil has been added.

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

ETHEREALS: see Essential oil.

(See also: ETHEREALS, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

AROMATHERAPY - the art of healing & wellness using essential oils and oil blends. Depending in the remedy, application may be internal, external or as an inhalant.

(See also: AROMATHERAPY, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

cosmetic aromatherapy: Topical use of skin- and hair-care products that contain essential oils.

(See also: Cosmetic aromatherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

olfactory aromatherapy: Direct or indirect inhalation of essential oils. Olfactory aromatherapy unlocks odor memories and encourages realignment of natural forces within the body.

(See also: Olfactory aromatherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

phytoaromatherapy: A form of aromatherapy that uses essential oils and acts simultaneously on four human features: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual.

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

ENFLEURAGE: a French perfumery term describing the process of extracting essential flower oils, with purified fat. Also known as POMMADE.

(See also: ENFLEURAGE, Witchcraft, Wicca, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Subtle Aromatherapy: Form of vibrational healing (vibrational medicine) expounded by Patricia Davis in her book of the same name. Subtle Aromatherapy is any use of essential oils with the aim of: (a) healing the physical body by affecting the subtle body (energetic body), or (b) contributing to personal and spiritual growth.

(See also: Subtle Aromatherapy, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

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)

Aromatherapy , Aroma therapy , Aroma therapies, Aromatherapies:

The use of fragrances and essences from plants to affect or alter a person's mood or behavior and to facilitate physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The chemicals comprising essential oils in plants has a host of therapeutic properties and has been used historically in Africa, Asia, and India. Its greatest application is in the field of alternative medicine. (From Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed; from Dr. Atiba Vheir, Dove Center, Washington, D.C.)

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

AROMA THERAPY

"If the day and night are such that you greet them with joy and life emits a fragrance like flowers and sweet scented herbs - that is your success. All nature is your congratulations."

Henry David Thoreaux.

The use of pure essential oils from plants dates back many centuries, and history of aroma therapy is in many ways part of the history of herbal medicine as a whole. The Arabic countries are usually credited with first discovering the process of distillation of oils about a thousand years back. It then spread to India and then the west. In modern times much research has taken place on this - from perfumery applications to medicinal uses.

Highly concentrated extracts, essential oils thus need to be treated with respect and care. Preferably used sparingly - large doses not only increase immunity and reduce effectiveness, they can prove irritating and even toxic to the skin - a large part of their effect on our moods and emotions occurs through our sense of smell.

When we breathe in air, the aroma molecules are translated into signals by the receptor cells in the nose. This signal is sent to the olfactory bulb and then on to the limbic and hypothalamic parts of the brain. Although not scientifically proven, it is believed that the essential oil aroma activates the `pharmacy' within our brains - neurochemicals as seretonin, endorphins etc. Which are `words' that our brain uses to communicate with our nervous and other body systems. Thus the aroma of a calming oil would cause release of seretonin - a euphoric aroma.

Relief from pain and other physical effects are also experienced when these neurochemicals are released. Studies done on effects of essential oils on brain waves have shown that a rhythm exhibiting calmness was produced when a oil with sedative potential was inhaled and a stimulating aroma caused an alert response. Our minds can thus play an important role in our well being.

Aroma therapy thus works through the brain, through the mind and through the emotions e.g the tender yellow flower of the Ylang Ylang tree is considered so worthy of love that it is placed on wedding beds in Indonesia. Just as to calm your mind you need to close your eyes and feel the lush coolness of an immense forest filled with cedars, trees of frankincense and sandalwood through deep breaths of the lovely, fresh scent of those trees.

(See also: AROMA THERAPY, Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Dictionary, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

2005-04-23