with Parveen

• One of the founders of AMHA or

Aromatherapy for Mental Health

Association in the Philippines

• Ms. Abi Gamboa

AROMATHERAPY

Definition of Aromatherapy

• The practice of using the natural oils extracted from

flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots or other parts of

a plant to enhance psychological and physical well-

being.

• A form of alternative medicine.

• Inhaled aroma from these "essential" oils is widely

believed to stimulate brain function.

Brief History of Aromatherapy

• It is believed that the Egyptians invented the first

distillation equipment to produce essential oils.

• Hippocrates studied the effects of essential oils on

health, and promoted their use for medicinal

benefits.

• French chemist René-Maurice Gatttefossé gave

birth to the word commonly used to describe the

use of essential oils today – Aromatherapy.

• Dr. Jean Valnet, who used

aromatherapy to treat soldiers

during WWII.

Essential oils

• Essential oils are taken from a plant's flowers,

leaves, stalks, bark, rind, or roots.

• The oils are mixed with another substance (such as

oil, alcohol, or lotion) and then put on the skin,

sprayed in the air, inhaled or it can also massage

into the skin.

THE CONCEPT OF AROMATHERAPY

• Understand that treatment is centered on the administration of pure essential oils.

• Aromatherapy means more than “smelling something to feel good.”

Different methods in using essential oils

• Inhaling Essential Oils for Therapeutic Reasons.

• Aromatherapy Oils for Massage.

• Internal Consumption.

Different Essential Oils and their psychological benefits

• Bergamot oil

►A citrus fruit that is native to

southern Italy, tropical parts of Asia

and the Ivory Coast. It has a clean

and refreshing citrus fragrance.

►Effective antidote against depression, anxiety, urinary tract infections and nervous indigestion.

►Useful for anorexia nervosa as it is for compulsive eating because it helps to regulate the appetite.

►To use this, put 5 drops of Bergamot oil on a dry washcloth and place this on your chest while taking a hot shower.

►To use this for those who have anorexia, just massage the entire abdominal area with this,preferably at night just before going to bed.

• Lemongrass oil

►Sometimes called barbed wire

grass or citronella grass.

►Grown abundantly in India and

other Asian countries. In fact,

lemongrass is widely used in Asia

as an herb for their dishes.

►The scent of lemongrass also has an effect to the human senses. It helps you calm down and relieves your stress and even insomnia.

►It is being used in spas to help their customers relax and relieve their stress.

►Lemongrass Oil boosts self esteem, confidence, hope and mental strength, and it uplifts spirits and fights depression.

►To use, Place 1 drop in the palm of your hand, rub hands together, and inhale softly for up to 30 seconds or longer as desired.

• Jasmine Oil

►Often referred to as a "woman's oil" in aromatherapy.

►The aroma of jasmine essential oil has a pleasing and uplifting effect on the mind and actively fights depression. ► Jasmine oil has it’s aphrodisiac property which makes someone feels romantic and inlove.

►A combination of jasmine essential oil’s properties make it an ideal tool for inducing long, restful, and undisturbed sleep.

►To use, apply several drops to your hand then rub it. After that, smell it for a few seconds. You can also use a diffuser to diffuse the smell of the oil.

• Ylang ylang oil

►Originating in the Philippines,

ylang ylang means “flower of flowers”

or “fragrance of all fragrances.”

►Used in aromatherapy to sharpen the senses and to temper depression, fear, anger, and jealousy.

►It fights depression and relaxes both the body and soul.

►It can activate the romance within couples and can improve sexual life.

►A health booster for the nervous system.

►To use: apply a several drops in your hand or in a towel then inhale it for few seconds. You can also a diffuser for this.

• Rosemary oil

►One of the earliest plants

to be used in medicine, as well

as for cooking and for religious

rites.

►Rosemary essential oil is an excellent brain and

nerve tonic.

►It has been proven to actually decrease the level of

cortisol (stress hormone) in the saliva.

►To use: Can be diffused or inhaled directly.

• Lavender oil

►The flowers of lavender are

fragrant in nature and have been

used for making potpourri for

centuries.

►Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves and anxiety issues.

►A little Lavender can be applied to the pillow or sprayed on the sheets to induce a restful sleep, and it is also immensely effective in relieving headaches.

►To use, it can inhaled directly or with the use of diffuser. For those who suffer sleep problems, you can apply several drops of it directly to your pillow.

Guidelines in using essential oils for aromatherapy

• The oils used in aromatherapy aren’t safe for

everyone.

• Do some research before you shop for

essential oils.

• Brush up on all the ways you can use

aromatherapy.

• Aromatherapy might not work for you.

Where to buy essential oils?

• Essential oils are available in Body Shop stores,

Healthy Options and other organic stores in the

Philippines. It is also available online. These are the

some websites that sell essential oils here in the

Philippines:

►www.thecasadelorenzo.com

►www.ilogmaria.com