How
The term
Aromatherapy
can be misleading as it is not only the effects of smell which may exert an action.
The best and most simplest explanation is,
"therapy that uses Pure Essential Oils that exert their action through both chemical
and psychological mechanisms".
Pure Essential Oils are extracted from plants. They are the volatile component and
have varying constituents which results in different physiological effects in the body.
These essential oils when used for massage or topical application enter the body
and can be found in the bloodstream. They can be absorbed via the skin as well as
inhaled via the lungs and olfactory system.
Can a substance really enter the bloodstream by these mechanisms? Yes. Think
of people who are addicted to sniffing illegal or harmful substances to get high.
Orthodox medicine uses the skin as means of absorbing drugs with nicotine patches.
What we breathe in and put on our skin can end up in our blood stream and affect
our health. One reason why it is so important to throw away synthetic fragrances and
start making pure choices.
The Power of Smell
There are millions of olfactory receptors in the epithelium of the nose. When a
molecule (odour) comes into contact with cilia which is part of the olfactory
receptors, an olfactory response is initiated. You smell a scent. When you can
no longer smell the odour it is the result of mucus secretions which inhibit
continued stimulation of cilia by the same odour. When an odur is irritating as
can occur with pepper, the nose and eys may water due to stimulation of nasal
and lacrimal receptors also.
A human being has a poorly developed sense of smell when compared with dogs.
Smell though can cause strong emotional reactions as it is processed by the limbic
system of the human brain. Scents can trigger memories, impact on our moods and
even make us feel nauseous. A sensory connection made to a particular smell can
invoke an emotional reaction due to memory association. This is known as a
"learned odor response" and can cause a strong reaction. Someone allergic to
seafood that reacts with vomiting may start wretching at the smell of fish. A familiar
smell of home could make a traveller feel homesick or the scent of Eucalyptus makes
someone feel calm as their mother rubbed this oil on their chest before bed when
they were a young child. The body responds to scents as it had previously, because
these responses are affected by brain chemistry.
The Power of Skin
The skin performs many functions and varies in thickness in different areas of the body.
Some areas have sweat glands, hair follicles and others do not. Skin is an excretion
organ as well as having absorptive properties. It helps to maintain homeostasis by
regulating body temperature and plays a role in the synthesis of Vitamin D. There are
so many reasons why we should take care of our skin and the best way to start is to stop
using products that unbalance the natural skin microflora and provide an easy transport
route to the bloodstream for harmful chemicals or toxins.
Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin, hair follicles and sweat glands, then
enter the bloodstream. Applying essential oils directly to the skin and then covering the
area with a dressing or wrap as Day Spas do, will make absorption greater and reduce
evaporation. Some essential oils can actually increase the absorption rate of other
ingredients in a preparation due to their constituents. Sesquiterpenes found in some
essential oils have been shown to increase the skin's permeability.
During massage the skin generates heat due to the rubbing action and an increase in
circulating blood. Blood vessels dilate as a consequence and oils are absorbed more
readily. Having a bath and warming the skin before topical application of oils will also
improve the absorption rate and time. Skin which is finer, such as on the face, or that
of older or very young individuals will also have better permeation. Most oils should be
avoided on broken skin. It has also been found the greater the area of skin coming into
contact with essential oils, the higher the rate of absorption.
Use your
AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE BAR
for a FULL BODY MASSAGE