Alternative 101: AROMATHERAPY BY HEATHER K. PEAKE romatherapy is the use of fragrant plant oils to improve mood and promote physical and emotion- al well-being. Fragrance has been used for a variety of purposes over the centuries, but the practice of aromatherapy is new. It started, literally, by accident. In the 1930s, French chemist Rene- Maurice Gattefosse burned his hand in a lab accident and unthinkingly plunged it into a container of pure lavender oil. To his amazement, the pain and redness instantly vanished, and the burn healed in a day or two. Gattefosse and Aromatherapy resources - WEB - The Aroma Web www.aromaweb.com . Amateur Aromatherapy dialspace.dial.pipex.com/town/avenue/as07 /menu.shtml Canadian National School of Aromatherapy home.ica.net/~cnsa/ - ASSOCIATIONS - National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (800) 809-9850 - BO0KS - Essential Oils Valerie Anne Wormwood Aromatherapy: An A-to-Z Patricia Davis Aromatherapy Workbook Marcel Lavabre PO Box 17622, Boulder, CO 80308 (800)556-6735 www.naha.org American Alliance _of Aromatherapy PO Box 309, Depoe Bay, OR 97341 The Complete Book of Aromatherapy and other European scientists began to experiment with the healing power of essential oils. By the 1970s, it had won enough converts to be taught in medical schools in both England and France. Aromatherapy arrived in the United States in the 1980s, when it started to gain popularity as a non-invasive treatment for a wide spectrumof physical and emo- tional ailments. _The growing demand for natur- al products and remedies brought it into the com- mercial main- stream in the 1990s. Proponents of aromatherapy sing its praises in South Burlington Individuals and Couples BOB GREEN M.A. LlCENSED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR (802) 658-2390 (800) 830-5025 gestion to sexually transmitted diseases, but the scientific jury is still out. Certainly, some of the claims are true. Peppermint and ginger have long been known to soothe stomach upsets. Tea tree oil combats skin problems. Lavender has been shown to help insomnia. But the more exorbitant claims — that scent alone can stimulate the immune system, improve memory, kill bacteria or cure infertility or impotence — have never been proven. Part of the problem is that we don’t know exactly how the sense of smell works. Is our response to scent purely emo- tional, or can it actually set off a physiological change? Research is ongoing, but until the mechanism of scent is understood, the bigger promis- es of aromatherapy will remain anecdotal. ' The oils The heart of aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, either alone or in blends called “synergies.” Essential oils are substances that live in between the cells of plants and act as a sort of regu- latory system. Depending on the plant, they help it adjust to it (802) 586-7793 curing everything from con- photo Jordan Silverman R its environment, fighting off parasites and disease, attract- ing insects to promote pollina- tion, sending out toxins to dis- courage predators or weeds, and in some cases, even send- ing up a cloud of vapor to pro- tect the plant from the sun. Steam distillation is the pre- ferred method of extracting oil. Using a series of vats, water is boiled and the steam forced up through the plant matter, exud- ing the oil. The resulting vapor is collected and the oil separat- ed out. While it can be extracted from the flower, leaves, bark, stems and roots, it still takes an enormous amount of plant mat- ter to produce a small amount of oil. It takes 150 kilograms — more than 300 pounds — of lavender to make one kilogram (just over two pounds) of oil. For roses, the requirement is 2000-3000 kg for the same yield. The purest oils are priced fl accordingly. The art There’s no state certification process for aromatherapists, but those who call themselves “certified” have often complet- ed an on-site or distance learn- ing course of study or a apprenticeship. An aromather- Maryanne Southam Doctor of Oriental Medecine Licensed Acupuncturist (NM #496) Chinese Herbalist Licensed Massage Therapist (NM #384) P.O. Box 52 Craftsbury, VT 05826 KAISER PERMANENTE 5“"”" |V\l’alL!lf‘(J7I:r\l\.(NVC NDRTHt:AST DIVISION “$- Carol Thayer, MD Kerri Ashling, MD PO Box 1160, RD2 - Fairfax, VT05454 PHONE: 802/324-9595 FAX: 802/324-2867 Vilomin Connection Burlngton. VT 05401 Open Mon-Scat l0-b Vitomin Connection Best selections 5 E Offers the .com E o_rI_tlI_e&t_. mail order 1.800.760.3020 ,,,.,R,_,,,,,,,,,,,,) tax 802.862.2459 Here are some synergies from www.aromaweb.com to get you started. (The ingredi- ents should be available at your local health food store or co-op.) Calming Bath Oil 1 tablespoon sweet almond carrier oil 2 drops German Chamomile essenflalofl 3 drops lavender essential oil 2 drops patchouli essential oil Combine the essential oil first, and then, when drawing the bathwater, add to the carrier oil and pour into the tub. Swirl it around the water before jumping in. High Stress Massage Oil 15 drops Clary sage essen- tial oil 10 drops lemon essential oil 5 drops lavender essential oil 1 oz. Sweet carrier oil Combine all ingredients. Makes a good foot and leg massage, or with a little help, a good all-over massage. insomnia Oil sweet almond carrier oil 12 drops bergamot essential oil 3 drops lavender oil 3 drops cypress oil Combine all. Put a couple of drops behind your ears just before bed, drawing any excess oil down your jawline. apist can suggest what kind of oils might work best for you, as well as whipping up blends and synergies suited to your needs. If you want to learn aro- matherapy on your own, there are dozens of books, maga- zines, web sites that can walk you through the basics of the chemistry of essential oils, recipes, and safety guidelines. Oils and synergies can be healing touch hypnosis meditation interactive imagery ]AC_KlE LEVIN, RN, MS clinical nurse specialist in holisitic nursing integrates mind-body modalities into your current plan of care enhancing health, healing and well-being. 802-660-8345 home, hospital, office visits STRESS RELIEF