Aromatherapy

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy (from aroma = fragrance and therapy = treatment) is a type of alternative medicine that uses plant volatile substances known as essential or essential oils (also oleoether, olea aetherea and essential oils) and others, such as fragrant ingredients, for for the purpose of changing the mind, mood, cognitive process or health. Although the effects of aromatherapy are not documented in clinical studies, this does not mean that aromatherapy is not effective. This means that it is not classified in connection with therapeutic procedures as a treatment method and cannot be covered by public health insurance.

Effects of aromatherapy

The use of aromatherapy has a long tradition. For example, the so-called lobe cigarettes were used to relieve asthma-related problems at a time when chemical drugs were not known. At present, this method can be used as an adjunct especially to relief of upper respiratory tract diseases, colds and colds, for mental calm or vice versa, for stress relief, stress relief, headaches and to improve the quality of sleep and sleep.

Ways of using aromatherapy

- By inhalation - the components of essential or fragrant oils , but also of the waxes which the oils contain, are released by heat, through the aroma of a lamp or the aroma of a diffuser, whether conventional or electric , or by the use of fragrant sprays . Essential oils can be inhaled after dripping a few drops into boiling water or chamomile or mint tea.

- By massaging mixtures of carrier oil with the addition of essential oil in the amount of a few drops. Sunflower oil can be used as a carrier oil, which best suits its composition for use on the skin, or olive oil, which can cause the formation of comedones when used frequently (clogging of hair follicles, they look like black dots). When choosing an essential or fragrant oil, it is important to check that it is intended for use on the skin, not just for releasing ingredients through the aroma lamp or aroma diffuser.

- Baths, where selected essential oils are dripped into the water, with the proviso that the oil must be intended for uses other than aroma lamps or aroma diffusers.

Due to the content of components that are insoluble in water, the water may become cloudy, which will be barely noticeable when a few drops are used.

Essential oils are used in pharmacy and cosmetology. They are used as a so-called odor corrector, ie to induce a pleasant olfactory sensation, for their derivation effect and thus analgesic (warming up the application site, and reducing pain), eg in ointments intended for the treatment of poorly circulating skin, such as prevention of bedsores and shin ulcers , as a corrective of taste in medicinal products for which they mask an unpleasant taste, in nasal ointments to improve breathing, etc.

Although essential oils and some components of essential oils are natural, they can still have side effects and contraindications. Apart from raw materials intended for pharmaceutical purposes, no products available on the market in the Czech Republic are approved as medicinal products, do not have a defined dosage and are not used for internal use.

Some components of essential oils are unsuitable for frequent use, or for use in a higher dose for internal use or, for example, for pregnant women. Essential oils can cause an allergic reaction on the skin or mucous membranes and to a greater or lesser extent there is a risk of a phototoxic reaction. This is a hypersensitive skin reaction to light, which may include redness to browning of the skin, blistering, soreness and inflammatory reactions. It does not matter whether the essential oil is used internally or externally.

We present examples of essential oils used in aromatherapy

Eucalyptus - aromatherapy

Eucalyptus essential oil has an herbal, camphor-menthol scent and is suitable for relaxing the airways during colds and colds. Its components can be released through the aroma of a lamp, or an oil solution can be prepared in a pharmacy with raw materials for inhalation by means of hot water or, for example, mint tea.

Ylang-ylang - aromatherapy

Ylang Ylang essential oil, made of kananga fragrant, has a sweet, floral, intense scent. It is used to freshen the air, for breathing difficulties, stress and tension, in aromatherapy to relax the airways, for sleep disorders and for calming. Due to its unmistakable scent, it is used for the production of oriental and floral perfumes and for incense sticks. It is not recommended to use in higher doses due to its intense scent, so as not to increase the risk of causing headaches.

Litsea cubeba - aromatherapy

Litsea cubeba essential oil has a citrus scent and is used in aromatherapy to soothe, reduce stress and tension.

Aromatherapy - lavender

Lavender essential oil has a sweet, floral scent. Used for calming, in households to repel insects.

Lavender is used in the form of infusions (tea) for indigestion and to soothe restlessness and irritation, for mild sleep and sleep disorders, in the form of essential oil as a scent corrective for topical medicines such as ointments and creams.

Use of essential oils:

Pour water into the aroma bowl of the lamp and add a few drops of oil, approx. 5 - 10. If the aroma is not intense enough, another amount can be added gradually. A wide selection of aroma lamps can be found here.

Aromatherapy in pregnancy

When choosing an essential oil, care must be taken to ensure that it is not contraindicated for use during pregnancy. Each organism is individual and therefore its reactions to drugs, non-drugs and all possible substances are also individual. During pregnancy, some odors may be perceived more intensely, may cause nausea or headaches.

Aromatherapy according to the Zodiac

Fragrances are compiled for each sign of the zodiac.

An example is: a mixture of essential oils for the sign of Taurus

Phytos Taurus, a blend of 100% essential oils. The mixture contains basil, myrtle and rosemary. Want to know more about this sign? Read here. The mixture has an herbal, spicy scent, and can be used to harmonize the psyche, suppress stress and tension.

Rosemary - essential oil is obtained from the leaves and tips of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L., family Lamiaceae).
Aroma: herbal, spicy.
Use: aromatherapy for headaches and for mental soothing. Rosemary is used as a spice, abundantly, for example, in Italian cuisine.
Rosemary is part of the purpose-built blend of Relaxol essential oils.

A blend of essential oils for the Scorpio sign

Phytos Scorpio, a mixture of 100% essential oils. The mixture contains orange, rosewood and patchouli. Want to know more about this sign? Read here. The mixture has a citrus scent, sweet floral, can be used for insomnia, fatigue and stress.

Orange - essential oil is obtained from the fruit of the Chinese orange tree (Citrus sinensis).
Aroma: citrus.
Use: aromatherapy, refreshing, relaxing, support for insomnia, fatigue and stress.

Rosewood - essential oil is extracted from the wood of a tropical tree Aniba roseadora growing in the Amazon basin. Scent and refresh the environment with a floral, sweet scent of rosewood.
Aroma: floral, sweet, woody, captivating.
Use: aromatherapy, insomnia, sleep disorders, to relieve headaches and for mental soothing.

Patchouli - a purely natural essential oil is obtained from the young leaves of patchouli (Pogostemon cablin, family Lamiaceae), native to the Philippines.
Aroma: full earthy.
Use: to reduce tension and stress.
In the cosmetics industry, it is used in the production of perfumes. It is part of incense sticks.

The essential oil is part of, for example, a mixture of essential oils for the 3rd chakra.

For the purposes of aromatherapy, you can choose from the scents of flowers, citrus, resin, woody, etc. For each essential or fragrant oil, we state for which aromatherapy purposes which oil is suitable.

Do you know how to make a fragrant wax, candle, tincture, or whether to make an essential oil? Read more here.

If you are a fan of releasing fragrant and other ingredients by smoking, then you may be interested in the article we wrote for you.

She wrote the article for you on October 9, 2021: Mgr. Radka Brichcínová

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