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​Aromatherapy Fundamentals

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What is aromatherapy?

The term aromatherapy was coined by a French scientist, Rene Maurice Gattefoss'e . According to historical records, he suffered severe burns on his hand in an accidental explosion in an experiment in 1910. He instinctively immersed his hand in the lavender essential oil beside him, and found that the pain of the wound was greatly relieved, and the wound recovered well. He unexpectedly found that the essential oil has the therapeutic properties of bactericidal and analgesic.

Gatefossey began to conduct more comprehensive scientific research on plant essential oils, he pointed out: "Because of its excellent permeability, plant essential oils can reach the dermis layer of the skin, and then be absorbed by capillaries, and finally reach the blood circulation through blood circulation. The organ being treated." ​This is the physical and physiological development of early aromatherapy, and it has become an alternative complementary therapy outside of mainstream medicine.

Aromatherapy is also a part of natural therapy, using plants that are beneficial to human beings from nature, such as: roots, stems, flowers, leaves, seeds, branches, hearts, resins, peels and other parts of plants. The essential oil is extracted by pressing method, and the plant essential oil is introduced into the body by means of inhalation or massage, and exerts physical and psychological curative effects.

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What are essential oils?

The word Essential Oil, according to the British Oxford Dictionary, means "the most concentrated extraction of a substance ", and is volatile, soluble in oil and alcohol (generally insoluble in water).

 

Essential oils are extracted from different parts of plants, such as flowers, leaves, branches, hearts, roots, resins, seeds, and peels, and have the following properties:

  • Undiluted essential oils are very strong and irritating and must be diluted with a carrier oil (vegetable oil) or alcohol before use

  • For safety reasons, essential oils are undiluted and should not be used directly on the skin or massaged

  • Generally liquid, some essential oils (such as benzoin, rose Otto) will become solid below 20 degrees

  • volatile

  • Soluble in oil and alcohol, generally insoluble in water

  • Although the name of the essential oil has the word "oil", the essential oil is not oil, and it is not greasy to the touch

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What is Aroma Massage Oil?

It is a massage oil that has been diluted with Base Oil / Carry Oil (such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, etc.) and essential oil , and can be used directly on the skin and body for massage ( Massage_cc781905 -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_Oil).

​Because the massage oil is mixed with essential oils, it emits bursts of aroma during massage. That's why I call it "Aromatic Massage Oil".

In order to take care of the different needs of the body and mind, aromatherapists will prepare aromatic massage oils according to the efficacy and properties of essential oils. For example, tea tree essential oil, eucalyptus essential oil, and cypress essential oil are especially helpful for respiratory health. If we want to formulate an aromatic massage oil for respiratory health, we will first consider these essential oils.

In addition, the composition of aroma massage oil is base oil + essential oil, so the aroma concentration is reduced , and the base oil has grease, which is not suitable for aromatherapy . For aromatherapy (diffuse in a diffuser), use Essential Oil .

 

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