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The Power of Aromatherapy Essay examples

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The Power of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy: Purpose

Definition. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils to help the mind, body, and soul. It has physiological, emotional, spiritual, and psychological properties
(http://www.dawn21.com/MessageMag/Aromatherapy.html). Today, it is a science that includes three fields: esthetic, commercial, and clinical (http://www.dawn21.com/MessageMag/Aromatherapy.html). Some categorize it as a holistic or alternative science. This is an ongoing debate, and the answer depends on who you are asking. Aromatherapy finds its origin in ancient Iraq; some evidence has been found of its use in Iraq some sixty-thousand years ago (http://www.sentex.net/~aquarius/mags/harts/iss95/aroma.html). In the East, herbal …show more content…

A list of the components of essential oils is as follows:

Table of Components of Essential Oils:
Aliphatic Chains: These are slightly antiseptic and bactericidial, analgesic, expectorant and stimulating.
Sequiterpenes: Antiseptic, bactericidal, anti-inflammatory, calming and slight hypotensors, some are analgesic and/or spasmomytic.
Diterpenes: Expectorant, purgative, some are antifungal, and antiviral, some appear to have balancing effect on hormonal system.
Alcohols: Anti-infective, strongly bacterial, antiviral and stimulating; they are generally nontoxic in use and do not cause skin irritation.
Phenols: They are antiseptic and bactericidal. They stimulate the both the nervous system and the immune system, they activate the body's own healing process.
Aldehydes: Antiviral, anti-inflammatory, calming to the nervous system, hypotensors, vasodillators and antipyretic; their negative properties-when used incorrectly-can cause skin irritation and skin sensitivity.
Ketones: Cicatrizant, lipolytic, mucolytic, and sedative, some are also analgesic, anticoagulant, or stimulant. Organic Acids and Esters Antifungal. anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, cicatrizant and both calming and tonic, especially to the nervous system. Like alcohol, they are gentle in action, and being free from toxicity they are "user friendly".
Oxides: The only known well to aromatherapy is 1,8 cineole, otherwise known as eucolyptol; it may also be regarded as

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