aromatherapy
Aromatherapy refers to any and all healing that may come from the use of aromatic oils. This therapeutic modality dates back to ancient times when aromatic oils were regarded as a sacred kind of medicine and as a source of pleasure. The Egyptians, Romans, Greeks, Toltecs and Aztecs, to name a few, not only believed that they support the body’s immunity to disease but also treated dis-ease in the mind. Following the Renaissance in Europe, Westerners generally dismissed this healing science and it wasn’t given any real medical interest again until the late nineteenth century. In the 1920’s a French perfumer, Rene M Gattefosse, coined the name Aromatherapy and dedicated his life to studying the therapeutic and cosmetic benefits of essential oils. Many physicians followed suit and began to record all of the fabulous information we have available to us today. I like to think of essential oils as the heart and soul of the plant. More scientifically speaking, essential oils are the aromatic or volatile constituents found in plants that contain their most active physiological properties. They are highly potent so please handle them with care! Be sure to purchase organic EOs that have been sustainably farmed or ethically wildcrafted.
In Ayurveda, we look at what we take in through all of our senses as they each uniquely affect our physiology and spirit. So when we are talking about smell we are thinking about how this sense affects our being. Have you ever caught a smell of something that transported you to a special time or place in your life? This is because our olfactory nerves speak directly to our limbic system and hypothalamus— eliciting memories, causing us to feel emotions and stimulating our hormone production. The affects of aromas are immediate and short-lived making them great for things like easing emotions, setting a mood and influencing skin health.
If we work together I have likely told you what aromas are best for your prakruti/vikruti. If you open a bottle of an essential oil close your eyes and observe how the aroma makes you feel. You will learn over time when to use what and I can guide you on the methods of using them that are best for you. All EOs are healers with specific actions and energetics but in general you can think of flowers for relaxing, fruits for uplifting, resins for warmth, leaves for cooling and roots for grounding. Below are the best qualities to focus on for each dosha:
VATA // sweet, warming, calming, hydrating
*Calming & warming blend: 3 drops neroli, 3 drops lemon, 2 drops jasmine, 2 drops sandalwood and 1 drop of vanilla in 1 ounce of cold pressed jojoba oil
PITTA // sweet, cooling, soothing, hydrating
*Calming & cooling blend: 5 drops sandalwood, 5 drops vertiver and 1 drop rose in 1 ounce of cold pressed jojoba oil
KAPHA // pungent, warming, stimulating and drying
*Stimulating: 4 drops bergamot, 3 drops of lavender and 3 drops of basil in 1 ounce of cold pressed jojoba oil
*Example blends inspired by Pratima Raichur’s mood oils in her amazing book “Absolute Beauty”
