The Divine Mine

Sometime between 7000 and 4000 BCE, Neolithic tribes were preserving the plants' aromatic and healing properties in melted animal fat. As a healing art, aromatherapy dates back to more than 5000 years to ancient Egypt. Almost every native culture used some form of essential oil. The Greek attributed the sweet oils to Divinity and took information from the Egyptians, discovering the tremendous value of myrrh in treating battle wounds. The Romans used oils to fight infections and also for pure pleasure in their baths and massages. Julius Caesar used oils to control his epilepsy.

In the 14th century, during the Bubonic Plague, one-third to one-half of the population was destroyed. Aromatics were the only source of relief. People wore pomanders around their neck or burned oils like frankincense, pine or cedar in their homes. Amazingly, many perfume makers and alchemists who worked directly with the oils were spared.

At the beginning of the 18th century, essential oils were being used continuously in medicine. This continued until the early 20th century and brought about the discovery of many new, synthetic drugs.

In the 1920's, a French chemist and doctor, Rene-Maurice Gatefosse, first used the term Aromatherapy to describe the use of essential oil in treatments. He experienced a bad burn in the lab and quickly immersed his hand in a vat of lavender oil. He documented the tremendous results he achieved, which was rapid healing without scarring. He compiled many other findings and wrote a book on aromatherapy in 1928.

Jean Valret, a medical doctor following Gatefosse's research, realized many remarkable results treating numerous pathological disorders. His work led to the aromatherapy being recognized as an effective holistic therapy.

Madame Marguerite Maury, a biochemist and beauty therapist, wanted to apply oils externally to serve both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. It was through her efforts that massage was reintroduced in the field of aromatherapy.

Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, stated that the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day.

Essential oils are the "life force" or essential spirit of the plant. The essential oil is one way plants communicate with each other as their scents are carried through the air. The oil is also part of the plant's defense mechanism.

Essential oils are extracted from the roots, flowers, leaves and stalks of plants and some trees.

Essential oils are very concentrated, so they are to be used sparingly. Depending upon the plant from which the oil came, the volume of plant material required for an ounce of oil will vary greatly. For instance, to make one ounce of rose oil, at least SIX HUNDRED pounds of rose petals are needed! The petals have to be harvested by hand. As expected, rose oil is very expensive. In contrast, peppermint grows very easily, contains more essential oil and can be harvested by machinery.

Oils vary in price from $5 to $800 or more per ounce. Many conditions affect the price, including seasonal growing conditions, condition of the soil, as well as harvesting and extraction methods.

Aromatherapy is used to affect the emotions of a person and to relieve physical ailments. Essential oils are used to relieve stress, improve sluggish circulation, ease pain, reduce swelling or cleanse the body of impurities. Some essential oils are used to treat viral or bacterial infections, burns, hypertension, respiratory conditions, insomnia, depression and many other illnesses.

The most common ailments where aromatherapy may be used as an adjunct to mainstream medical treatment are:

Bladder infections
Bronchitis
Common colds and flu
Migraine and headaches
Depression
Stress-related conditions
Anxiety
Flatulence and digestive problems, such as indigestion
Skin conditions, such as acne and eczema
Insomnia
Laryngitis and tonsillitis
Menopausal symptoms
Muscle strains and sprains
Nausea and motion sickness
Toothache and gum disease
Yeast and fungal infections

Clients must first complete a personal history form. This form inquires about any current health concerns, current medications, dietary habits, etc. It is pertinent that this form be completed accurately and in its entirety for your safety. It will be used to determine the appropriate selection of essential oils for you at that time. This information must be updated each time a client comes for a session. Aromatherapy can be employed in many different forms. Massages, inhalations, soaks, compresses, liniments, neat ( undiluted on the skin) or salves. The aromatherapy session will include the application of essential oils, usually in what is called a "carrier oil" base. A carrier oil is a vegetable oil that is used to help your body safely absorb the essential oils. After a session, the oils should be left on the skin as long as possible. This will allow the body time to absorb the maximum benefit of an aromatherapy session

An aromatherapist does not diagnose, prescribe or treat any specific illnesses. Aromatherapy supports the person as a whole, supporting its ability to achieve balance and good health.

Some benefits of aromatherapy include: stimulation of the immune system, soothing of many types of pain, releasing of toxins, calming of the nervous system, improvement of blood and lymph circulation and relaxation.

Side effects of aromatherapy are rare and usually subside within a few hours. Most are topical in nature and resolve themselves in a short amount of time. Clients experiencing adverse reactions should contact their aromatherapist immediately for consultation. And a plain vegetable oil should be applied to quickly dilute a diffuse the situation. Do not use water!! Water causes the oils to absorb more quickly, thus worsening the irritation. To avoid any complications, clients must accurately complete the personal history form in its entirety and see that this form is kept current. Doing so ensures that the proper essential oils are selected for maximum benefit and minimum side effects.

Because the essential oils used in aromatherapy are now freely available from many sources, such as chemists, health food stores and even some supermarkets, and because they are 'natural' and come from plants, some people assume that they are all safe. Essential oils can have strong properties and may assist some people, but they may cause a negative reaction in others, so care must be taken when using any oils. Many oils can have potentially serious side effects, including neurotoxicity (poisonous to nerves) and effects on menstruation, cause skin reactions, allergies, liver damage and induce uterine contractions. Overexposure by inhalation can produce headache and fatigue.

The following are basic guidelines for care when using oils. If in doubt, always contact a trained aromatherapist.

Never eat or drink essential oils or use them internally unless under the guidance of a trained professional aromatherapist. Make sure they are stored safely away from small children. Don't use undiluted oils on the skin - there are some exceptions, such as lavender, but these should be administered only under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist. Some oils can trigger menstruation and uterine contractions and therefore should not be used by pregnant women without guidance. If pregnant, women should always check with a professional aromatherapist before using any essential oils. People with asthma, epilepsy or high blood pressure should consult a trained aromatherapist before using essential oils. Care should be taken with some oils if you have hypertension (high blood pressure), epilepsy, highly sensitive skin or allergies. In these cases, always consult a trained aromatherapist. Some oils can reduce or change the effectiveness of some types of medications. Always check with a trained aromatherapist if taking any medications.



	Aromatherapy History Sometime between 7000 and 4000 BCE, Neolithic tribes were preserving the plants' aromatic and healing properties in melted animal fat. As a healing art, aromatherapy dates back to more than 5000 years to ancient Egypt. Almost every native culture used some form of essential oil. The Greek attributed the sweet oils to Divinity and took information from the Egyptians, discovering the tremendous value of myrrh in treating battle wounds. The Romans used oils to fight infections and also for pure pleasure in their baths and massages. Julius Caesar used oils to control his epilepsy. In the 14th century, during the Bubonic Plague, one-third to one-half of the population was destroyed. Aromatics were the only source of relief. People wore pomanders around their neck or burned oils like frankincense, pine or cedar in their homes. Amazingly, many perfume makers and alchemists who worked directly with the oils were spared. At the beginning of the 18th century, essential oils were being used continuously in medicine. This continued until the early 20th century and brought about the discovery of many new, synthetic drugs. In the 1920's, a French chemist and doctor, Rene-Maurice Gatefosse, first used the term Aromatherapy to describe the use of essential oil in treatments. He experienced a bad burn in the lab and quickly immersed his hand in a vat of lavender oil. He documented the tremendous results he achieved, which was rapid healing without scarring. He compiled many other findings and wrote a book on aromatherapy in 1928. Jean Valret, a medical doctor following Gatefosse's research, realized many remarkable results treating numerous pathological disorders. His work led to the aromatherapy being recognized as an effective holistic therapy. Madame Marguerite Maury, a biochemist and beauty therapist, wanted to apply oils externally to serve both therapeutic and cosmetic purposes. It was through her efforts that massage was reintroduced in the field of aromatherapy. Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, stated that the way to health is to have an aromatic bath and scented massage every day. Essential Oils Essential oils are the "life force" or essential spirit of the plant. The essential oil is one way plants communicate with each other as their scents are carried through the air. The oil is also part of the plant's defense mechanism. Essential oils are extracted from the roots, flowers, leaves and stalks of plants and some trees. Essential oils are very concentrated, so they are to be used sparingly. Depending upon the plant from which the oil came, the volume of plant material required for an ounce of oil will vary greatly. For instance, to make one ounce of rose oil, at least SIX HUNDRED pounds of rose petals are needed! The petals have to be harvested by hand. As expected, rose oil is very expensive. In contrast, peppermint grows very easily, contains more essential oil and can be harvested by machinery. Oils vary in price from $5 to $800 or more per ounce. Many conditions affect the price, including seasonal growing conditions, condition of the soil, as well as harvesting and extraction methods. What can aromatherapy be used for? Aromatherapy is used to affect the emotions of a person and to relieve physical ailments. Essential oils are used to relieve stress, improve sluggish circulation, ease pain, reduce swelling or cleanse the body of impurities. Some essential oils are used to treat viral or bacterial infections, burns, hypertension, respiratory conditions, insomnia, depression and many other illnesses. The most common ailments where aromatherapy may be used as an adjunct to mainstream medical treatment are: Bladder infections Bronchitis Common colds and flu Migraine and headaches Depression Stress-related conditions Anxiety Flatulence and digestive problems, such as indigestion Skin conditions, such as acne and eczema Insomnia Laryngitis and tonsillitis Menopausal symptoms Muscle strains and sprains Nausea and motion sickness Toothache and gum disease Yeast and fungal infections What is an aromatherapy session like? Clients must first complete a personal history form. This form inquires about any current health concerns, current medications, dietary habits, etc. It is pertinent that this form be completed accurately and in its entirety for your safety. It will be used to determine the appropriate selection of essential oils for you at that time. This information must be updated each time a client comes for a session. Aromatherapy can be employed in many different forms. Massages, inhalations, soaks, compresses, liniments, neat ( undiluted on the skin) or salves. The aromatherapy session will include the application of essential oils, usually in what is called a "carrier oil" base. A carrier oil is a vegetable oil that is used to help your body safely absorb the essential oils. After a session, the oils should be left on the skin as long as possible. This will allow the body time to absorb the maximum benefit of an aromatherapy session Does aromatherapy "cure" conditions? An aromatherapist does not diagnose, prescribe or treat any specific illnesses. Aromatherapy supports the person as a whole, supporting its ability to achieve balance and good health. Benefits & possible side-effects Some benefits of aromatherapy include: stimulation of the immune system, soothing of many types of pain, releasing of toxins, calming of the nervous system, improvement of blood and lymph circulation and relaxation. Side effects of aromatherapy are rare and usually subside within a few hours. Most are topical in nature and resolve themselves in a short amount of time. Clients experiencing adverse reactions should contact their aromatherapist immediately for consultation. And a plain vegetable oil should be applied to quickly dilute a diffuse the situation. Do not use water!! Water causes the oils to absorb more quickly, thus worsening the irritation. To avoid any complications, clients must accurately complete the personal history form in its entirety and see that this form is kept current. Doing so ensures that the proper essential oils are selected for maximum benefit and minimum side effects. Special note of caution Because the essential oils used in aromatherapy are now freely available from many sources, such as chemists, health food stores and even some supermarkets, and because they are 'natural' and come from plants, some people assume that they are all safe. Essential oils can have strong properties and may assist some people, but they may cause a negative reaction in others, so care must be taken when using any oils. Many oils can have potentially serious side effects, including neurotoxicity (poisonous to nerves) and effects on menstruation, cause skin reactions, allergies, liver damage and induce uterine contractions. Overexposure by inhalation can produce headache and fatigue. The following are basic guidelines for care when using oils. If in doubt, always contact a trained aromatherapist. Never eat or drink essential oils or use them internally unless under the guidance of a trained professional aromatherapist. Make sure they are stored safely away from small children. Don't use undiluted oils on the skin - there are some exceptions, such as lavender, but these should be administered only under the guidance of a qualified aromatherapist. Some oils can trigger menstruation and uterine contractions and therefore should not be used by pregnant women without guidance. If pregnant, women should always check with a professional aromatherapist before using any essential oils. People with asthma, epilepsy or high blood pressure should consult a trained aromatherapist before using essential oils. Care should be taken with some oils if you have hypertension (high blood pressure), epilepsy, highly sensitive skin or allergies. In these cases, always consult a trained aromatherapist. Some oils can reduce or change the effectiveness of some types of medications. Always check with a trained aromatherapist if taking any medications.