Guest Blogger - Christine Lai - Aroma Therapy

For this Saturday I would like to introduce Christine as my guest blogger. She is one of my bestie. She would like to share today's topic -- Aroma Therapy.
What's the definition of Aroma Therapy
Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile plant materials, known as essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for the purpose of altering a person's mood, cognitive function or health. The effectiveness of aromatherapy is yet to be scientifically proven, however some evidence exists that essential oils may have therapeutic potential.

The History of itThe concept of aromatherapy was first mooted by a small number of European scientists and doctors, in about 1907. In 1937, theword first appeared in print in a French book on the subject: Aromathérapie: Les Huiles Essentielles, Hormones Végétales by René-Maurice Gattefossé, a chemist. In 1910, Gattefossé burned a hand very badly in a laboratory explosion. The hand developed gas gangrene, which he successfully, and intentionally, treated with lavender oil. 
A French surgeon, Jean Valnet, pioneered the medicinal uses of essential oils, which he used as antiseptics in the treatment of wounded soldiers during World War II.
An essential oil is a concentrated, hydrophobic liquid containing volatile aroma compounds from plants. Essential oils are generally extracted by distillation. Other processes include expression, or solvent extraction.
Most common essential oils, such as lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus, are distilled. Raw plant material, consisting of the flowers, leaves, wood, bark, roots, seeds, or peel, is put into an alembic (distillation apparatus) over water. As the water is heated the steam passes through the plant material, vaporizing the volatile compounds. The vapors flow through a coil where they condense back to liquid, which is then collected in the receiving vessel.
The recondensed water is referred to as a hydrosol, hydrolat, herbal distillate or plant water essence, which may be sold as another fragrant product.

The differences between Essential Oil vs. Carrier Oil
Essential oils are distilled from the leaves, bark, roots and other aromatic portions of a botanical. Essential oils evaporate and have a concentrated aroma. Carrier oils, are pressed from the fatty portions (seeds, nuts, kernels) and do not evaporate or impart their aroma as strongly as essential oils. Carrier oils can go rancid over time, but essential oils do not.
If applied to the skin undiluted, essential oils, absolutes, CO2s and other concentrated aromatics can cause severe irritation or reactions in some individuals. Carrier oils are used to dilute essential and other oils prior to application. They carry the essential oil onto the skin.
~ She would like to introduce few various type of essential oil ~

Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavendula officinalis
Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
Color: Clear with a Tinge of Yellow
Aromatic Description: Lavender Oil is fresh, sweet, floral, herbaceous, slightly fruity.
Possible Uses: Acne, allergies, anxiety, asthma, athlete's foot, bruises, burns, chicken pox, colic, cuts, cystitis, depression, dermatitis, dysmenorrhea, earache, flatulence, headache, hypertension, insect bites, insect repellant, itching, labor pains, migrane, oily skin, rheumatism, scabies, scars, sores, sprains, strains, stress, stretch marks, vertigo, whooping cough

Rose
Botanical Name: Rosa damascena
Common Method of Extraction: Solvent Extracted or Steam Distilled (called Rose Otto)
Color: Deep Red for the Absolute, Light Yellow for the Steam Distillate
Aromatic Description: strongly floral, sweet
Possible Uses: Depression, eczema, frigidity, mature skin, menopause, stress.

Rosemary
Botanical Name: Rosmarinus officinalis
Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distilled
Color: Clear
Aromatic Description: Fresh, herbaceous, sweet, slightly medicinal.
Possible Uses: Aching muscles, arthritis, dandruff, dull skin, exhaustion, gout, hair care, muscle cramping, neuralgia, poor circulation, rheumatism.

Lemon
Botanical Name: Citrus limon
Common Method of Extraction: Cold Pressed/Expressed
Color: Pale Yellow to Deep Yellow
Aromatic Description: Aroma is similar to fresh lemon rinds except richer and more concentrated.
Possible Uses: Athlete's foot, chiliblains, colds, corns, dull skin, flu, oily skin, spots, varicose veins, warts.

Wow Christine! I suppose you've made most of us eager to go for/try out aroma therapy because I surely have the urge to do so! :D Thanks a lot for being my guest blogger today especially introducing something beautiful in life for everyone to enjoy and relax.

++
Thanks my dear!
++

Text > -babYmilZ-

Special Thanks > Christine Lai

Guest Blogger > Christine Lai