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Uncommon scents

Vegetarian Times, March, 2001 by Trisha Blanchet

Stimulate your senses with the age-old art of aromatherapy

When cold and flu season hits, Kevin Skiest doesn't head for the medicine cabinet. "During the winter, I spray eucalyptus oil around the bedroom and sometimes put a few drops on my pillow," explains the 43-year-old father of two from West Haven, Conn. "It seems to open up my sinuses so I can get a good night's sleep." He also swears by ginger oil as a congestion solution. "You just hold your head over a steaming pot of water with a few drops of ginger added. It really clears your head."

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Skiest is one of the million or so Americans who have embraced aromatherapy, the use of distilled plant extracts to enhance relaxation and other moods and treat common ailments. The highly concentrated essential oils are derived from familiar plants, such as peppermint, rosemary, lemon and rose, as well as less commonly known species like neroli (orange blossom), bergamot, marjoram and clary sage. Each has its own powerful fragrance and, some practitioners say, a unique language that speaks to our senses.

"Just as music and art are soothing and beneficial, so are scents," Skiest says. As we become more adept at harnessing the hidden properties of these botanics, some experts argue that problems like insomnia, stress, headaches and even the common cold may be just a whiff away from extinction. But even if the therapy can't eliminate ailments altogether, many believe it can at least make the healing process faster, easier and far more pleasant to live through.

Taking Root

Despite their New Age reputation, aromatics have been used in health care since ancient times. The Egyptians and Babylonians used incense in religious ceremonies to drive away evil sprits and illnesses. Throughout Asia, people burned fragrant woods and spices to purify homes, heal the sick and strengthen soldiers before battle.

The ancient Greeks and Romans further believed that scented water and incense could boost health and prosperity. The Greek physician Hippocrates--widely considered to be the father of modern medicine--was one of the earliest health professionals to recognize the power of the olfactory nerves in fighting sickness. "One of his beliefs was that a daily aromatic bath and a scented massage were the way to health, very much a principle of today's aromatherapy," writes Danielle Ryman in her book, Aromatherapy (Bantam, 1993). "He was aware of the antibacterial properties of certain plants."

But many practitioners argue that what we now call aromatherapy technically began in 1920, when French chemist R.M. Gattefosse badly burned his hand while working in the laboratory. He quickly plunged his hand into the nearest liquid he could find, which happened to be a container of lavender essential oil. Gattefosse was surprised to discover that within days the pain had vanished and no scars had formed. He coined the term "aromatherapy" and devoted the remainder of his career to exploring the healing properties of essential oils.

Eighty years later, that discovery has snowballed into a $520 million retail industry, which provides the public with scented candles, potpourri and other nose-friendly products, some of which carry an aromatherapy label. But buyer beware, warns Jade Shutes, president of the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA) in Seattle, Wash. "There is a clear difference between true aromatherapy and mass-market scented products," Shutes says. "We do use aromatic extracts for medicinal purposes. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of misconceptions about what aromatherapy is." Unlike man-made products intended only to provide a pleasant odor and ambiance, genuine aromatherapy oils are derived from natural botanical sources and are designed to improve health, treat ailments and improve quality of life.

Botanical Basics

Aromatherapy has two primary health benefits, Shutes explains. On the psychological side, essential oils from plants have been shown to have, tremendous soothing and stress-relieving capabilities. They also enhance physiological health by boosting the immune system's ability to heal wounds, fight colds and coughs and relieve the achiness of muscles, stomach and head.

"Our bodies are meant to heal themselves," says Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, founder and director of the Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy in Tampa, Fla. "Essential oils can help by enhancing and encouraging the healing process. While they don't directly stimulate the immune system, they do fight off infections, kill germs and thin out mucus." All essential oils have antiseptic properties and some, such as garlic and eucalyptus, are antiviral as well.

How you administer the oils depends on the nature of the problem, Sheppard-Hanger says. Typically, people suffering from respiratory ailments, such as clogged sinuses or bronchial infections, benefit most by inhaling certain oils or diffusing them into the air. For inhalation, add six to 12 drops to a pot of steaming water, then lean over the pot, cover your head with a towel and take several deep breaths. To diffuse oil into the air, mix about 10 drops in seven tablespoons of water and add the mixture to a spray bottle. Then you can spritz the mixture around the room to set a specific mood, such as in the bedroom to relax you before sleep. Just keep in mind that aromatherapy sprays are short-lived, since the fragrance dissipates relatively quickly into the air. Popular oils for respiratory problems include eucalyptus, cedarwood, basil, frankincense, lavender and sandalwood.

Uncommon scents

Vegetarian Times, March, 2001 by Trisha Blanchet

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