Aromatherapy, the ancient practice of using essential oils for the treatment and maintenance of good health, is both a science and an art.

Essential oils are distilled at precise temperatures from various parts of a plant, according to Lynn Longmuir, registered aromatherapist and essential oils therapist with Healing Scents Holistic Clinic in Victoria.

Lavender, for instance, comes from the flowers of the lavender plant, while frankincense comes from its source tree’s resin. Each oil has specific biochemical properties that can be used therapeutically. Most are mainly “stimulating” or “calming,” although some are considered “balancing.”

The molecules from essential oils reach your primitive brain — your limbic system — and can cause neurochemical changes and emotional responses. The first effect pertains to the “science” of aromatherapy by lowering blood pressure or increasing productivity. The latter is the “art” aspect of the complementary medicine; the response depends on a person’s environment and background. Most of us have a gut reaction to certain smells, Longmuir notes, and it’s not always easy to figure out exactly why we react a certain way.

It’s this balance between science and art that can make aromatherapy such a useful part of your health arsenal, says Sandra Kuehl, a certified aromatherapist with Good Scents Holistic Solutions in Pictou, N.S.

While proponents of aromatherapy insist it benefits both mood and health, there is not much documentary evidence supporting those claims.

A much cited study from Japan found that worker productivity was improved when the distillation of lemon was present in the workplace, while another study showed that rats that inhaled certain scents (lavender, in particular) experienced a reduction in stress hormones. The fact that aromatherapy has been used for such a long time by so many cultures is proof enough for many supporters of the practice.






@page_break@When you visit an aromatherapist, he or she will go over your health history and usually create a blend of essential oils to address any issues you may have, according to Carol Kostiuk, a certified aromatherapist with Quintessence Aromatics Inc. in Saskatoon and a practising registered nurse. To ensure your aromatherapist is accredited, check with the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists. At the very least, Kostiuk recommends, ask an aromatherapist where he or she studied.

Depending on your region and preferred treatment — usually a massage or a facial — a visit to an aromatherapist can cost anywhere from $50 to $150. Most health insurance plans don’t cover aromatherapy, but some will include it in blanket complementary health coverage.

You can also try aromatherapy on your own. Kostiuk warns against using the lamp rings found at many body-product and home shops.

Those devices burn the oil, disrupting its beneficial properties, she says. A proper diffuser has an air pump and a glass nebulizer, which gently diffuses the scent into the air.

If a diffuser isn’t practical, you can mix distilled water and a few drops of essential oil, which then can be spritzed into the air when necessary. If you are suffering from a cold, for example, Longmuir says, try rosemary or eucalyptus oils.

Avoid aromatherapy if you have a serious underlying health condition (such as epilepsy) or you are pregnant.

And don’t assume that aromatherapy will provide all the answers when it comes to good health. As Kuehl points out, it’s a complementary health therapy: “It’s only one part of one’s lifestyle. You have to take care of yourself in other ways, too.” IE