Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being. It is the ancient science of healing, relaxing and energizing by the use of plants and their parts and one of the diciplines of alternative medicine. The word aromatherapy is derived from two words aroma which means smell and therapy which stands for healing.

Origins of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy had been around for 6000 years or more. The Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used aromatherapy oils. The Egyptian physician Imhotep recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead nearly 6000 years ago. Imhotep is the Egyptian god of medicine and healing. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. He used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.

Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity with the use of aromatic oils. However, as currently defined, aromatherapy involves the use of distilled plant volatiles, a twentieth century innovation. The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after an accident in his perfume laboratory. In the accident, he set his arm on fire and thrust it into the nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of NOx Ph232 or more commonly known as lavender oil. Immediately he noticed surprising pain relief, and instead of requiring the extended healing process he had experienced during recovery from previous burns -which caused redness, heat, inflammation, blisters, and scarring- this burn healed remarkably quickly, with minimal discomfort and no scarring. Jean Valnet continued the work of Gattefossé. During World War II Valnet used essential oils to treat gangrene in wounded soldiers.

Aromatherapy today; it is used and developed scientifically in may areas such as skin and hair care formulations, stress management, reducing errors in factories, providing a more comfortable period for people who received long-term hospital support, alternative drug synthesis due to its phytochemical properties, antimicrobial protective systems and many more.

Important Details of Aromatherapy
In addition to essential oils, aromatherapy encourages the use of other complementary natural ingredients including cold pressed vegetable oils, beeswax, hydrosols, herbs, milk powders, sea salts, sugars (an exfoliant), clays and muds.

Products that include synthetic ingredients are frowned upon in holistic aromatherapy. It is important to note that perfume oils also known as fragrance oils (and usually listed as "fragrance" on an ingredient label) are not the same as essential oils. Fragrance oils and perfume oils contain synthetic chemicals and do not provide the therapeutic benefits of essential oils.

• Antibacterial: In vitro testing has confirmed antibacterial effects in certain oils including rosemary, clove, lime, cinnamon, and tea tree oil.

• Antiviral: Supported for tea tree oil, lemongrass, sandalwood, peppermint, ginger, thyme, and hyssop in in vitro testing against Herpes.

• Antifungal: Supported by in vitro testing for lavender, thyme, clove, juniper, and tea tree oil.

• Anti-inflammatory: Reported in in vitro assays of clove, cinnamon, sage, eucalyptus, black cumin and bay leaf.

• Anxiolytic: Reported in animal models using oils of lavender, rose and angelica.

Widely Used Oils

Basil is used in perfumery for its clear, sweet and mildly spicy aroma. In aromatherapy, it is used for sharpening concentration, for its uplifting effect on depression, and to relieve headaches and migraines. Basil oil has many chemotypes and some are known to be emmenagogues and should be avoided during pregnancy.

Bergamot is one of the most popular oils in perfumery. It is useful for skin conditions.

Black pepper has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains. Skin application is useful for bruises, since it stimulates the circulation.

Citronella oil, obtained from a relative of lemongrass, is used as an insect repellant and in perfumery.

Clove oil is a topical analgesic, especially useful in dentistry. It is also used an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, and antiemetic.

Jasmine is used as an aphrodisiac.

Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, and to soothe headaches and migraines.

Lemon oil enhances your mood and relaxes you.

Rose is used as an aphrodisiac and skin tonic.

Sandalwood oil is used as an aphrodisiac.

Tea tree oil and many other essential oils have topical (external) antimicrobial (i.e. antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral or antiparasitic) activity and are used as antiseptics and disinfectants.

Common Practices of Aromatherapy Baths
Using oils in baths is a simple, effective and pleasant way to relax and receive the therapeutic effects. Water itself has therapeutic value which enhances the powers of the oils. To use, add 6 to 10 drops of essential oil, (or a blend), to the surface of the water which has already been run, add no other substances, e.g. foam or bath oil, then immerse yourself for about 20 minutes, whilst you inhale the vapour. (Again reduce the amount of oils used in baths for babies).

Compresses
Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil to 100 ml. of warm water then soak a piece of clean cotton in the water, wring out the excess and place the cloth on the affected part.

Inhalations
Add 5 to 10 drops of essential oil into a bowl of steaming water, then place a towel over your head and the bowl and inhale the vapour for a few minutes.

Vaporisation
All essential oils are antiseptic and evaporate easily, so they make very good air fresheners. Different oils create different atmospheres. For example, relaxing sandalwood or clary sage are good for parties; or peppermint clears your mind when you need to work. There are many vaporisers on the market, from the simple bowl of water on the radiator with a few drops of oil on the surface, to vaporiser light bulb rings and specially made vaporiser bowls which sit above candle holders.

The best way of dispersing essential oils is to use a diffuser, as most other forms of vaporiser drive off the most volatile "high notes" first, leaving the slowly evaporating "base notes" to linger.

Massage
Massage has been around for thousands of years. The word “massage” comes from the Greek root “masso" to touch. Today it is the most popular spa treatment. Touch is a very important part of human contact. It helps us feel connected and loved by those around us.

Massage uses touch through rubbing or kneading of parts of the body to aid circulation, relax the muscles, or provide sensual stimulation.

There are many health benefits to receiving massage therapy on a regular basis:
 Relieves stress
 Encourages relaxation
 Improves circulation
 Improves posture
 Lowers blood pressure
 Helps manage pain
 Relaxes muscles
 Improves flexibility
 Improves breathing
 Relieves tension headaches
 Strengthens immune system
 Decreases depression

Authorship

Beck, Mark (1999), Milady's Theory and Practice of Therapeutic Massage. 3rd ed. Albany: Milady Publishing Company
Thomson, Ann (1999), Tidy's Physiotherapy. 12th ed. Woburn: Butterworth-Heinemann
Fritz, Sandy (1995), Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage. St. Louis: Mosby - Year Book, Inc.