Happy Chinese New Year, Good Health & Happiness 2009
Why not take a change of direction and study Aromatherapy this year?
'ArÓmata' is an ancient Greek word that was used to describe all perfumes, perfumed drugs, ointments and incense.
Aromatic
plants, incense and perfumes
have held a special place in the history of Mankind and were used for both leisurely and serious purposes. Perfumes were seen as the messengers of the Gods by ancient religions and much incense was burnt in ritual fires to gain favours from the Heavens. A text from the 2nd century AD, reveals that Zeus lived in a heavenly attic in the sky which had many trap doors that selected what could come into his realm, one of the doors was reserved for sacrificial smoke.
It may be difficult for the modern mind to grasp how a perfume may be embued with healing powers or why the use of aromatic scents (perfumes) in healing was or still is so polular. Yet, it is well known that many infectious diseases are transmitted through the air, so it should not come as a suprise that people have associated air that smelled good with good health and air that smelled bad with illness. Furthermore, the effect of a beautiful natural scent on the Human Psyche often works as a catalyst that can help ease deep stress as well as provides a gentle sense of wellbeing.
In ancient medicine, the perfumes that oozed out of trees (resins and gums) were of special importance as they appear to come out of the plant with the same ease as does blood from blood vessels, and consequently, each one was given individual healing powers. The two most important of these plants were, Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) and
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) and were rated above other perfumes in Ancient Egypt; also Mastic (Pistachia lentiscus), Balm of Judea (Commiphora opobalsamum?) and Therebentine were all used to anoint the
body and heal the sick. Aromatic plants are indeed, the 'fragrant
breath' of the Earth. Aromatherapy is the modern form of 'ArÓmata' as it includes healing with special scents (perfumes) and fragrant oils (essential oils from aromatic plants).
Prevention
of Illness:
Prevention
of illness is the best form of medicine there is.
The increasing pollution of the environment, undoubtedly,
puts the
human body under attack and in many instances makes it harder to recover
quickly from some diseases. This re-enforces the need for a preventive medicine
that promotes natural healing, whenever possible. Nature
in its wisdom has provided many plant remedies that can help maintain
or restore wellbeing. Essential oils,the fragrant substances
from aromatic plants used in aromatherapy, have prophylactic and antiseptic
properties that can strengthen the body's natural defences. The essential
oils also have many other physiological and psychological therapeutic
properties and are known to be well assimilated by the body.
Article continued
below under Essential Oils, the 'moderators'
of perturbed emotions; Stress and the Power of Scents....
PROFESSIONAL DIPLOMA IN HOLISTIC AROMATHERAPY
(IFA
accredited)
The
SoHA diploma is an in-depth study course open to all which allow
successful students to work as an aromatherapist in the private
health sector and the state Healthcare system in the UK.
Essential
Oils, the 'moderators' of Emotions & Stress
Essential
oils can help reduce stress and ease mental problems of anxiety,
anguish and anger as well as help diminish the acuteness of certain
stress-related ailments (e. i. asthma, eczema, indigestion, etc.).
The
natural release of stress-hormones from the 'Fight or Flight'
mechanism helps free extra energy when in difficult or dangerous
situations. Once the crisis is past, the 'fight or flight' mechanism
does not automatically go back to normal and in many instances,
it takes a personal effort on the part of a person affected, to
bring the 'stress mechanism' back to normal.
If
reflexes stay in constant 'crisis-mode', it may lead to on-going
release of stress-hormones, which can lead to a vicious cycle
of hyperactive stress-responses (irritability, defensive attitude,
irrational emotions, etc) and unwanted restlesseness. People's
life can become deeply affected as they find it more and more
difficult to ease acute anxiety, properly relaxe or sleep through
feeling always 'on-the-go'.
Aromatherapy
is known to gently energise the body and combined with Massage
and other Therapies, it can help improve immune defence and optimise
health and wellbeing. The versatility of the essential
oils gives aromatherapy a truly holistic treatment for both Mind
and
Body through the power of its wonderous scents.
Furthermore,
smells are the 'memory anchors' that map-out daily events. Long
term memory, emotions and the olfactory system are closely associated
as they are all controlled by the limbic system. Memories of stressful
events or shocks are usually accompanied by an underlying emotional
‘charge’ that can add to existing inner tensions.
The
scents of essential oils are known to ‘moderate’ difficult
emotions arising from current and
past
events and can help ease inner tensions by providing a deep sense
of relaxation. Some of the essential oils have calming and hypnotic
properties which are helpful in trying to reduce acute anxiety,
panic attacks and related umpleasant stres-related physical symptoms.
Eco-Concerns
The
use of essential oils in aromatherapy is also 'eco-friendly' as
many of the plants can be cultivated by means that respect the
natural growth process of plants (organic and permaculture cultivation).
However, there are now a number of wild plants on the list
of endangered species such as Sandalwood (Mysore-India), Rosewood
(Rain Forest/Brazil) and Cedarwood (Morrocco) and others rarer
plants which aromatherapists should avoid using. SoHA supports
the ethical use of essential oils for aromatherapy.
For
more information on courses availability or to enrol email
info@holisticaroma.co.uk
or ring in the Uk 0207 284 1315,
outside the UK 0044 207 284 1315
