Aromatherapy 101

Important note: Essential oils are great tools for promoting wellness, but they are never a replacement for medicine or a substitute for medical care!

What is aromatherapy?

Aromatherapy is the use of plant oils, including essential oils, used to promote psychological, physical and spiritual well-being. Aromatherapy essential oils begin to work when their aromas are absorbed into the body, either by being absorbed through the skin or inhaled into the lungs. The natural chemical constituents of aromatic oils send messages to stimulate the brain into producing a reaction, whether this is mental or physical.

What is an essential oil?

An essential oil is a liquid that is distilled (most frequently by steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils contain the true essence of the plant it was derived from. They are highly concentrated and a little goes a long way. Essential oils are not the same as perfume or fragrance oils; while essential oils are derived from the true plants, perfume oils are artificially created fragrances and contain synthetic substances that do not offer the therapeutic benefits. An important note about essential oils: just because they’re natural, doesn’t mean they’re always safe. For example, pregnant women need to avoid certain essential oils during their pregnancy. And babies and elderly people may react to certain EO’s as well.

Essential oils can be layered in many different combinations to create different scent profiles with different aromatherapeutic properties:

Important note: Essential oils are great tools for promoting wellness, but they are never a replacement for medicine or a substitute for medical care!