Treating Common Ailments with Aromatherapy
How aromatherapy could be used to treat common ailments
Treating Common Ailments with Aromatherapy
The philosophy of natural medicine holds that the body has the
ability to heal itself. It also holds that biological substances found
in nature contain a life force that is an integral part of the healing
process. Together, these two forces stimulate healing while maintaining
balance and the homeostasis of bodily systems, without disturbing
natural functions.
The life force, the molecular vibration of the plant energy, cannot
be imitated by science. Even with the advances of modern medicine, many
plant-derived substances cannot be reproduced in a laboratory. Science
still relies on plant derivatives for 80 percent of pharmaceutical
drugs. Nor can essential oils be duplicated. For example, essential oil
of rose contains 500 chemical compounds, 490 of which are in proportions
of less than 1 percent. All of the constituents of rose oil are known,
but chemists are unable to reproduce the fragrance successfully. It is
the synergy of the whole oil, including the most minuscule components,
that creates the power to heal. Each plant from which essential oils are
distilled has different medicinal properties, unique unto itself.
Natural remedies often have a beneficial effect on more than one
system of the body. This multi-action effect makes plant-based remedies
far more useful for common ailments than synthetic pharmaceuticals that
have a single action with unpleasant side effects. Aromatherapy works on
many levels of the mind and body - one essential oil can affect the
psyche and the physical body simultaneously. For example, chamomile oil
is indispensable for childhood conditions because of its broad range of
action: It is anti-inflammative and a general digestive aid, reduces
cramps, relieves gas, and calms the nervous system.
Working in harmony with the body offers many therapeutic benefits.
Unlike pharmaceutical drugs, therapy with essential oils is free of
unwanted side effects. For instance, the side effects of antibiotic
treatment disturb the natural flora that live in the lining of various
organs, causing candida (yeast) overgrowth, whereas essential oils
reduce candida overgrowth. Harmful microorganisms mutate and become
resistant to drugs, causing the rise in infectious diseases once thought
to be under control using drug treatment. Aromatherapy, on the other
hand, fights infection without creating resistance in disease-causing
microorganisms.
Aromatherapy is one of the most powerful forms of botanical medicine
because it incorporates the use of highly concentrated substances -
large quantities of plant material are used to make just a few drops of
oil - and it is effective in treating almost every aspect of health. In
this chapter, you will learn many easy and effective treatment methods
using a variety of essential oil formulas. As you learn the basic
principles of aromatherapy, you can create, blend, and customize
therapies to suit particular needs.
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