Background:  Since the beginning of the earliest of the earliest ages of humanity, olfactory has been used by many cultures in religious rituals as well as aromatic medicine.  Their emergence came from the temples of Egypt, which is considered the birthplace of medicine, perfumery and plant medicine more than 6,00 years ago.  The use of aromatics were never lost in India, and practiced over 10,000 years in Ayurvedic medicine.  Sixty years ago, aromatherapy started its resurgence in Europe where health professionals practice it.

 

Uses:  In aromatherapy the essential oils or volatile oily substances are highly concentrated extracts, which contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics and antiseptics, and can have either powerful or subtle effects.  Essential oils are considered the soul or spirit of the plant and are used in perfumery, cosmetics and pharmacy.  Generally, essential oils are used in healing, though most products sold on the market are aromatic chemicals which have no use in healing and can in fact be detrimental to the bodys balance.

 

In Ayurveda:  Aromatherapy is an important therapy in Ayurveda and is mainly used for treating the mind.  Recent research conducted in Europe and Soviet Union reveals that effects of odors on the psyche may be more important than scientists have suspected.  Aromatic oils are usually applied externally unless diluted properly.  Essentials oils can be placed on special areas on the skin, like between the eyebrows (crown chakra), the temples for headaches, root of the nose for sinus conditions or on the wrists, behind the ears and neck where they can be easily smelled.

 

3 Types of Essential Oil:  Although there are many different kinds of essential oils, there are primarily three different types:  Flower aromas, spicy and pungent aromas and fruity sweet and sour fragrances.  Their energetics are much like herbs in terms of heating, cooling or neutral.  Flower fragrances like rose, jasmine or gardenia are usually sweet or bitter in taste and cooling in energy.  They calm the nervous system by decreasing irritability and anger.  Spicy oils like clove, cinnamon or ginger are pungent in taste and heating in energy.  Their action is more stimulating and circulating and tends to clear the head.  Fruit fragrances like bergamot, lemon or grapefruit are neutral to cooling in energy and can uplift, relax or stimulate. 

 

In terms of the biological humors of Vata, Pitta and Kapha, we recommend just a few of the following oils:

 

Vata -  warming and sweet smelling oils are best.  Can be balanced with spicy, fruity and flower fragrances.  Best oils are, bergamot, rose, jasmine chamomile, cinnamon, lavender, neroli, and sandalwood.  Good for anxiety, nervousness or fear.

 

Pitta -  cooling and pleasant smelling oils are best.  Also cool and spicy or bitter fragrances.  Sandalwood, rose, lavender, mint, chamomile, and lemongrass are best as these reduce Pitta conditions of anger, irritability and excess emotional intensity.

 

Kapha -  hot and spicy oils are best, like cinnamon, clove, ginger, sage, veviter, cedar, frankincense and myrrh.  These reduce Kapha conditions of lethargy, attachment, depression and mental stagnation.  Flowery-sweet smelling fragrances should be avoided.