Aromatherapy Oils and how they work
Posted in Aromatherapy, alternative therapies, beauty at home on 07/09/2009 08:15 am by admin
How the Oils Work
In the Therapy Angel Luna Online Studies Introduction to Aromatherapy course we briefly touched on this subject, but if you are to become a professional Aromatherapist you need to be fully conversant with this to help tailor your treatments accordingly.
Inhalation
Aromas stimulate the olfactory nerves at the back of the nose, which send messages to the olfactory bulb which is in the third ventricle of the brain (the limbic system). This part of the brain looks after our thirst, hunger and sex drives.
The pituitary gland and the hypothalamus are both situated in the same area with responsibility for the release of hormones into our systems that control body functions and release emotions and memories. So stimulating these nerves can have a direct effect on the body and the mind. The pituitary gland is head of the endocrine system and regulates the production of hormones by all glands.
The hypothalamus is part of the neurological system that controls the autonomic nervous system, ie controls all the involuntary muscles such as the heart, lungs etc. It also works with the pituitary gland to regulate female sex hormones and is related to the control of the appetite.
So the inhalation of essential oils has a powerful effect on the hormones in the endocrine system and is particularly useful in the treatment of hormonal conditions.
Absorption
Essential oils that are absorbed into the skin go directly into the blood stream; so this can be achieved in many ways such as in the bath/shower, compress, massage and applied neat onto the skin. Inhalation of oils can also be absorbed through the lungs as they enter into the bloodstream in the surrounding blood vessels.
Essential oils go directly into the bloodstream and boost the levels of vitamins, minerals, proteins and acids that are naturally produced in the body. They are really clever in that they seek out where the body is deficient in some way help with the chemical balance. Additionally essential oils that are absorbed through the skin can trigger our immune system by locating molecules in the body and sending a signal to our cells to attack and invade organisms.
What you do need to be aware of is that the absorption rates vary in individuals and the oils. Although it only takes a minute for the oil to penetrate into the skin, the absorption rate varies from the bloodstream and into the relevant organs depending on the size, circulation and general health of the individual – which can be from 70 minutes to 6 hours. It might be useful for you to record on the treatment card how the client felt soon after and then following the treatment.
The body then gets rid of the oil through urine, faeces, perspiration and exhalation which can take from 3 to 14 hours. It is believed that the oils do not leave toxins when expelled unlike more traditional type medicines.
Room Burner (oil burner, diffuser and vaporiser)
Room burners are specially made for use with essential oils, there any many different retail outlets that offer them in different shapes, themes, sizes and designs. However, a couple of useful tips: make sure the bowl element of the burner is fairly deep; the candle chamber is large and has sufficient ventilation to allow the excess heat to escape. The base of the burner should be thick, or have a raised rim to life the centre of the base from the surface to avoid unnecessary damage. A glazed burner does not crack, burn or stain and easy to keep clean – I personally had a beautiful clear glass burner that broke because I had forgotton to refill it with water - so this is always something to take into account. Night candles should be used, and to speed up the aroma process add a little warm water to the bowl.
This particular system is really good for psychological conditions, headaches and respiratory problems and good for airborne viruses and bacteria. I personally like a burner with added lavender essential oil after a long day at work as it helps me to chill and wind down. The obvious other benefit is that it makes any room smell nice.
Therapy Angel Luna Online Home Studies
The above information has been taken from our new Advanced Aromatherapy Course which is due to be published soon. As with all of our courses this one will be comprehensive, easy to follow and fun. Because we intend to include more on massage, we plan to introduce a short video to demonstrate the specific hand techniques that are used during the treatment.
We know that studying can be hard going, so we have taken this into account by incorporating pictures, diagrams and soon to be introduced short videos for our new courses.
Before Therapy Angel Luna Online Studies was set up, extensive research was undertaken, therefore we can guarantee that the courses are the best by being more interactive, using plain English and fun. The Therapy Angel Luna Online Home Study Group has so many years experience in holistic therapies, Palmistry and Tarot, Marketing and Learning and Development.
We offer practical advice when you get started in your new profession, how many other course providers offer that service. We operate a 7 day money back guarantee if you are not happy – we are that confident about our products.
So why not train today in Aromatherapy, Angel and Crystal Therapy, Professional Tarot and Palmistry reading, Crystal and Reiki Healing today. It is an opportunity to earn extra money in something you love to do – or even start a new full time career. The earning potential is so great, it is fact that today many people prefer less traditional methods of medicine and advice.
Coming soon - New courses in Advanced Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage and Hopi Ear Candles.
