What is Aromatherapy?
‘Aromatherapy’ has become in our society synonymous with Spa, relaxation, smell nice and Feel good concept. But in reality, Aromatherapy is a format of Biological Pharmacy is really about the chemical compositions of the plants and how does it affect the body through cellular interactions. It is very unique in that it is volatile enough to be able to released it’s molecules in the air, thus we are able to smell it, but the ability for the plant to emit a smell and the ability for that smell to interact with our human psychology needs is unique only to Aromatherapy and that is what makes this a very multi dimensional form of therapy.
Many have confused Aromatherapy with the use of Medical Aromatic Plants. Aromatherapy is used in the form of pure essential oils which must be distilled either from steam distillation, carbon or macerations from the actual plant. The criteria then is that as little interference in terms of solvents or any other by product should be introduced as this will affect the absorption abilities, the shelf life and possibly the performance abilities of the essential oil.
The use of Medical Aromatic Plants on the other hand is a more generalized use of the plants such as in Tincture, in TCM principal of Herbal double boiling, in poultices or extracts forms. In itself it is a form of alternative medicine but should not be confused with Aromatherapy.
