Aromatherapy WorkshopLevel 2 Complementary Therapies

What is Aromatherapy?

Aroma - Scent or smell Therapy – Treatment

A holistic therapy – treating both body and mind.  An ancient art of using essential oils for therapeutic and

cosmetic treatments.  It is the principle of using a carefully selected blend of

essential oils, in various ways to help alleviate or prevent various conditions.

History of aromatherapy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5upO6cYke9g

Please read through the hand-out provided to get a deeper understanding of the history of aromatherapy.

Where do the essential oils come from?

Flowers

Rose

Plants

Lavender

Resins

Myrrh

Shrubs/ Trees

Juniper

What makes an essential oil?

An essential oil has the same basic properties that identify them as an essential oil. These are that they:• Do not mix with water• Mix with alcohol• Mix with mineral oil• Mix with vegetable oil• Evaporate• Have an aroma• Are not greasy

How are they made into oils?

Steam distillationIs the most common method of extraction of essential oils from plants. It involves heating the plant material with steam. The steam evaporates out the essential oils and a condenser turns the vapour to a liquid made up of the essential oil and water. The essential oil floats on the surface of the water and is siphoned off. The water left is known as Flower water.

EnfleurageThis method isn’t used much anymore. Cold fat is used as it easily absorbs essential oils. The fat is thinly spread on a glass frame and the fresh flowers are placed in layers on top of this. When the fat has absorbed as much essential oil as possible, it is washed in alcohol, the essential oils pass into the alcohol. The alcohol is then evaporated, leaving pure essential oil

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MacerationThis process involves extracting the essential oils by dipping the plants into hot fat. When the fat has absorbed as much essential oil as possible, it is washed in alcohol, the essential oils pass into the alcohol. The alcohol is then evaporated, leaving pure essential oil

Solvent extractionThe plants are covered in a solvent such as ether, benzene, petroleum or acetone and then heated gradually until the solvent extracts the essential oils from the plant. The dark paste is mixed with alcohol and cooled. The essential oils dissolves in the alcohol which then evaporates, leaving the essential oils.

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ExpressionThis is another common method of extraction. Machines are used to crush, grate or express the essential oil from the rind of the fruit.

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Hypercritical CO2This is a fairly new way of extracting essential oil, however can be a bit expensive. The carbon dioxide is heated to 33 degrees- the point where is nether gas or liquid. This draws out the essential oil and the pressure is removed in order to separate the essential oil and the carbon dioxide solvent.

Hydro- DiffusionThis is a type of steam distillation and is only different in the way in which steam is enters the container of the still. In hydro diffusion, steam is fed in from the top onto the botanical material while in the case of steam distillation, steam is fed from the bottom. In this way the steam can saturate the plants more evenly and in less time than with steam distillation.

Storing essential oils

The storage of essential oils is important as they have a limited shelf life ad this can be dramatically shortened by contact with:• Oxygen• Heat• Light• Chemicals

Correct storage of oils is:• Dark bottles• Glass container rather then plastic• Tight fitting tops that are replaced immediately after use• Storage in a cool place

How does it work?

All essential oils are volatile, but their evaporation rates vary. These evaporation rates can be used to group certain types of essential oils together. Oils with rapid evaporation rates are known as- Top notesOils with moderate evaporation rates are known as- Middle notesOils with very slow evaporation rates are known as- Base notes

Examples

Top note Middle note Base note

Clary sageEucalyptusGrapefruitLemonLemongrassTea Tree

Roman CamomileGeraniumLavenderMarjoramRosemary

NeroliRose BulgarYlang-Ylang

How does it work?

Essential oils enter the body via four basic routes:

• The skin- essential oils penetrate the skin when they are applied via massage.

• The Lungs- Oils are inhaled, the are absorbed into the lung tissue, through the capillaries and then into the bloodstream

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• The Olfactory system- this is located high up inside the nose and is responsible for the sense of smell. This system relays messages to the brain and cause a response from the body.

Eg. When we smell food, out mouth salivates It could also trigger a memory- eg. A certain perfume may remind you of someone you knowThis is a psycological effect

• The Digestive system- Oils pass through the digestive system when they are taken orally. Clients should be warned against this method as essential oils have a high risk of toxicity and irritation of the delicate membranes lining the digestive system.

Effects of aromatherapy

Aromatherapy can affect us in different ways dependant upon the mix of oils chosen.

Please ‘Essential Oils Information Pack’ page 6 and 7 for a list of physiological effects. use your

Contra actions

IrritationThis is localised an may affect the skin or mucous membranes. Irritation is also dose-dependent.

Sensitisation

This is an allergy to an essential oil. Only small amounts are needed to trigger response, therefore it is not dose-dependant

Patch tests can be performed 24 hours prior to treatment to

ensure this does not happen.

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ToxicityThis is often known as ‘poisoning’. If an oil is toxic, it means that a certain level of it can be fatal if taken orally or applied to the skin.

Some oils are known as ‘phototoxic’ which mean they can make the skin more sensitive to sunlight