Aromatherapy is the abbreviation of "aromatherapy", and its name comes from Latin aromatherapy. "Aromatherapy" means fragrance, aroma, that is, an invisible but audible fine substance that permeates into the air, referring to the aromatic volatile components of plant essential oil and also referring to the essential oil itself; "Therapy" refers to the treatment of diseases, or is interpreted as "conditioning" and "adjuvant therapy". It was a Frenchman who first put forward the professional concept of "aromatherapy" and described the treatment with plant essential oil. This is an adjuvant therapy, or "natural therapy", which means similar to general medical treatment, but it does not replace traditional medical treatment.
Aromatherapy is also a generalized "aromatherapy SPA", that is, aromatherapy, massage and bathing are used to regulate people's physiology and psychology.
Aromatherapy generally belongs to the category of "health care" from the perspective of modern industry. However, because the material products of aromatherapy are based on "essential oil", and the essential oil is extracted from a variety of plants with "herbal" properties, it acts on the human body and has the functions of sterilization, anti-inflammatory, endocrine regulation, improving the metabolic level and immune ability of the body and local physical therapy and treatment. Therefore, in some western countries, aromatherapy has been included in the conventional "medical" category.
But at the stage of China, we can only position aromatherapy as "health preservation", "health care" or "natural therapy"; The professional orientation of aromatherapists can only be "aromatherapy" series, not "doctor" series; The purpose and function of aromatherapy can only be limited to the scope of "regulating body and mind, preserving health and protecting health", and cannot involve the propaganda and practice of "therapy" and "treatment". As for the future, it remains to be seen whether oriental aromatherapy can be included in the category of "medical treatment" like some western countries. Aromatherapy is an auxiliary therapy, which uses essential oil extracted from aromatic plants to obtain comprehensive curative effects of body, mind and spirit. Essential oil contains ketones, esters and other chemical components, which determines its therapeutic characteristics. It can improve anxiety, pain, fatigue and wound healing through direct inhalation, bathing and massage. Essential oils, like drugs, mainly affect the limbic system of the brain through inhalation, penetrate into the body through the skin, and may also cause skin allergies. It is recommended to use it under the guidance of a professional therapist. Many studies have provided evidence of the efficacy of essential oils, but there are still controversies on the safety and efficacy besides methodological disputes, such as the interaction between essential oils and drugs, side effects and contraindications, which need to be discussed and confirmed in order to provide scientific basis for the use of essential oils and improve the possibility of correctly using aromatherapy in health care.
Thousands of years ago, people used natural plants to achieve health care, cure diseases and enhance sexual interest. After the refinement of the times, it has evolved into the so-called aromatherapy today. The most important components are extracted from flowers, leaves, fruits, branches and other parts. Because of its characteristics of sedation, sterilization and convergence, it has been widely used in bath, skin care, massage and other beauty cultures for a long time, even today. With modern people suffering from various pressures from the environment, emotions, body and spirit, leading to the emergence of civilized diseases, experts have found that using plant sources as daily health care can effectively improve people's stress and promote health, and there are no side effects. It is no wonder that there will be another popular trend around the world. Extract essential oil to obtain the integrated curative effect of body, mind and spirit. Essential oil is extracted from roots, stems, leaves, flowers, seeds and skins of plants, and distillation is the most commonly used method. Because the aromatic molecules are very small, they can easily penetrate into the blood, tissues and secretion system from the skin, so they have amazing and rapid curative effects. Moreover, because some small molecules of essential oil act like hormones, they interact with the hormones of the human body and directly affect the physical and mental reactions. Using natural plant extracts, through the skin, meridians, nervous system, hormone system, blood system and immune system, it helps the human body to alleviate and regulate metabolism, so as to promote physical health and psychological pleasure. Essential oil contains more than 100 components, and its chemical composition determines its therapeutic characteristics. Chemical components or molecules in essential oils are inhaled into olfactory buds through the nose, or transmitted from nerve stimulation to the limbic system of the brain. The amygdala in the limbic system deals with emotional reactions, while the hippocampus can restore memory and play an important role in the process of fragrance transmission. When inhaling fragrance, the sense of smell immediately spreads to the limbic system to start memory, and the smell is combined with emotional response, and then manifested in behavior, which is happy, angry, relaxed or anxious. When the fragrance reaches the hypothalamus of cerebral cortex, it will affect the functions of autonomic nervous system and endocrine system. Mr. Hao Bin, a well-known expert in psychological counseling and stress management in China, once said in an interview: "Science has proved that proper use of essential oil can eliminate tension and anxiety and establish an optimistic and positive attitude."
Many studies provide evidence that essential oil can improve sexual emotional state. Burnett, Solterbeck and Strapp(2004) reported that lavender and rosemary essential oils can relieve anxiety in healthy adults. Other researchers have also found the effects of smoked herbs and rosemary essential oil on improving mood. Soaking feet with lavender essential oil can also improve the fatigue of patients with advanced cancer (Koharaetal .,2004). Wilkinson (1995) applied chamomile to patients receiving palliative care, and found that the quality of life and anxiety of patients in the experimental group were significantly improved compared with those in the control group. Aromatherapy originated from ancient civilizations such as ancient Egypt and prevailed in Europe in modern times. It uses essential oil to relieve mental stress and improve health. At first, it was mainly used for refreshing or religious meditation. "Aromatherapy" is a new term in modern times. Rene Maurice gattefosse, a French chemist, published her research results in a scientific journal on 1928, and started aromatherapy under this name for the first time.
It was invented in 1937 by French chemist Renee Maurice Gateforth. By chance, he found that peppermint or lavender oil had special therapeutic effects.
Once he accidentally burned his hand in his perfume laboratory. In a panic, I immediately poured peppermint oil from the bottle beside me and applied it to my hands. His hand healed quickly without scar. He thinks this is because of the special effect of peppermint oil.
This experience aroused his interest and began to study the therapeutic effects of some "essential oils". These oils come from natural materials and are of high purity. They are made by distilling the flowers of plants. He called this new method "aromatherapy".
Essential oils with chemical fragrance have been used for a long time. Ancient Egyptians used essential oil massage after bathing and treated mummies. The Greeks used it in medicine and cosmetics. Gattefoss'e's experience also confirms the scientific basis of plant essential oil, that is, "because of its excellent permeability, plant essential oil can reach the deep tissue of skin, then be absorbed by tiny blood vessels, and finally reach the treated organ through blood circulation."
Aromatherapy evolved from the French terms aromatherapy and therapy. Specifically, the petals, branches and leaves of plants with high fragrance are extracted, absorbed through human pores, infiltrated into deep endothelial tissues and fat parts, and even directly entered the blood, which plays its therapeutic role through blood circulation.
It can also absorb its nutrients through the human digestive system, and then transport it to various organs of the human body through blood to maintain and enhance the body's resistance.
Aromatherapy can even stimulate the cerebral cortex through human vision, touch and smell, enlighten people's thinking, provide spiritual comfort for human beings, release various psychological and mental burdens and diseases, and enable people to establish a positive attitude towards life. It is called "Aromatherapy SPA" in a broad sense, that is, it uses aromatherapy, massage, bathing and other methods to absorb phytohormones into the pituitary gland through the five sensory functions of the human body, such as smell, taste, touch, vision and hearing, so as to regulate human endocrine, thus regulating human physiology and psychology, restoring physical and mental harmony and eliminating it.
As early as 4500 BC in China, plants have been found to have the efficacy of treating diseases, while Egyptians discovered the physical and spiritual characteristics of aromatic plants. The Greeks not only used essential oils for medical treatment, but also used them as sedatives and stimulants, as well as for bathing and massage. Later, people used them to deodorize the human body and prevent infectious diseases. In fact, they also play a role in reducing mortality.
In the 17th century, the efficacy of essential oil was recognized by the public and continues to this day. This aromatherapy handed down from ancient times has evolved into a therapeutic essential oil that combines the sense of smell (five senses) and is used for massage to help relax and rejuvenate. Use the advantages of essential oil in treating common diseases to promote health and happiness, and apply it to all aspects of life. Aroma means-fragrance, fragrance, an invisible but audible fine substance that permeates the air. Treatment-medical treatment of diseases. Aromatherapy is an adjuvant therapy, which means that it is similar to orthodox medical treatment, but it is not a substitute for orthodox medical treatment.
Aromatherapy is to use the aromatic smell of pure natural plant essential oil and the healing ability of the plant itself, through special massage methods, through the absorption of olfactory organs and skin, to reach the nervous system and blood circulation, so as to help people get physical and mental relief, achieve the purpose of skin care and health promotion, and make people's body, mind and spirit achieve balance and unity. In the process of massage, the essential oil permeates the skin surface through the special massage techniques of China Meridian Acupoint Massage and Lymphatic Detoxification. Because the molecules of essential oil are much smaller than those of skin, it is easy to penetrate into human body, and it can flow to the whole body through blood circulation in about 20 minutes to 6 hours, while its residue is excreted through the excretory system. When essential oil circulates in the body, part of it will be absorbed by human organs, muscles, cells or nerve fibers, thus triggering the therapeutic function of essential oil.
Because smell is related to mood, different aromatic smells will affect our mood. According to everyone's mood, personality and physique, choose different aromatic essential oils to achieve the function of reconciling body and mind.
The basic principle of aromatherapy is to use the therapeutic power of plants to keep healthy, beautify, treat the body and stabilize the mood. Effective aromatherapy can create an atmosphere, enhance creativity and improve work efficiency. In addition to body care, aromatherapy has many benefits and has become an indispensable part of daily life. Aromatherapy is a natural medicine and a popular alternative therapy in the world. The central substance of phytotherapy is plant essential oil, which stimulates the cerebral cortex through vision, touch and smell, enlightens thinking, relieves psychological and mental stress and makes people feel comfortable. Aromatherapy can not only establish a positive attitude towards life, but also enhance the communication ability between people. Modern aromatherapy began at 1937. Modern aromatherapy uses the aromatic gas and healing power of pure natural plant essential oil to reach the nervous system and blood circulation through olfactory organs and skin absorption pipes with special massage techniques, thus helping people to get physical and mental relief and achieve the effects of skin care and health promotion.
Modern science and technology can better extract beneficial chemical components from plants, making its curative effect as much as 70 times that of plants, and the extracted refined oil has fine molecules, and its inhalation and absorption capacity is several times that of ordinary cosmetics. Therefore, it has a rapid and remarkable curative effect. The special massage techniques of aromatherapy, including lymphatic drainage, neuromuscular massage and acupoint massage, are a healthy and balanced way of combining essence and spirit, which has three effects: essence-stimulating human potential vitality (balance therapy)
Qi-using the sense of smell to make the mind comfortable (respiratory therapy)
Relaxing the mind after reducing the burden (consciousness therapy)
At present, plants used in aromatherapy are taken from flowers, leaves, seeds, resins, roots and fruits. Compatibility between curative effect and volatile speed of aroma must be considered when blending. Aromatherapy is mainly carried out in two ways: smell (inhaled through the nose) and direct contact (absorbed through the skin). Using the sense of smell, aromatic essential oil is mainly used to transmit aromatic molecules to the brain through the nose, prompting the chemicals in the nervous system to release information, resulting in calming, relaxing, promoting or stimulating effects. In direct contact, massage or essential oil components are directly added to skin care products, and after penetrating into skin tissue, they are transported to the whole body through the circulation of blood and lymph, thus producing the effects of balance, calmness, excitement, beauty and skin care. Essential oil enters through pores, penetrates into dermis in 3 minutes, enters blood and lymph in 5 minutes, and is completely excreted in 4- 12 hours. Essential oils can be divided into:
Highly volatile oil: volatility, permeability and irritation. It is mainly refreshing and effective for emergencies. Its volatilization time is less than 20 minutes.
Medium volatile oil: medium volatile, with calming and stabilizing effects. Its volatilization time is within 20-60 minutes.
Low-grade volatile oil: the volatilization is slower than the first two, and it can balance and inhibit each other's volatilization when matched with high-grade and middle-grade volatile oils. It has the functions of calming, soothing and relaxing the nervous system. Its volatilization time is 1-4 hours.
SPA aromatherapy
massage
Applicable symptoms: facial care, whole body massage, muscle tension, stiff shoulders, weight loss and chest strengthening, dysmenorrhea, abdominal pain, constipation, cramps, etc.
Suggested usage: Face: Add 1-4 drops of essential oil to 5ml of natural oil, stir well and massage.
Body: Add 5-8 drops of essential oil to 10ml basic bath/massage essential oil, and then massage after stirring evenly.
Note: The prepared essential oil should be used up as soon as possible to avoid deterioration.
Bathing method
Applicable symptoms: general functional conditioning, neurasthenia, fatigue relief, rheumatic joint pain, poor circulatory system, anxiety and depression, mental stress, etc.
Suggested usage: Bathing: Add 5-8 drops of essential oil to 10ml basic shower gel, and then take a bath after stirring evenly.
Bathing: Add 5-8 drops of essential oil to the bathtub filled with warm water, and then take a bath after stirring evenly.
Precautions: Take a bath with essential oil, and the water temperature is moderate, so as to prevent the essential oil from volatilizing too quickly. Avoid splashing eyes when soaking.
Fumigation method
Applicable symptoms: can calm mood, improve mental state, insomnia, increase memory, purify air, maintain air quality and enhance lust; It can also disinfect, avoid respiratory infection and prevent colds.
Suggested usage: Add 8% full water to the incense burner or incense pot, then add 5-6 drops of essential oil, light the smokeless candle at the bottom, and burn continuously for four hours.
Note: If there are a large number of indoor terraces, drop more essential oil or high-concentration essential oil as appropriate.
Sniffing method
Applicable symptoms: improve respiratory problems, nasal congestion, asthma, waking up, dizziness, nausea, etc.
Suggested usage: Drop 2-3 drops of essential oil on the handkerchief and inhale directly.
Note: You can choose a handkerchief with a darker color to avoid the essential oil from discoloring the handkerchief.
Aromatherapy classification:
According to different genres, aromatherapy can be roughly divided into the following categories:
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