Background on Aromatherapy & Essential Oils

Aromatherapy seems like it should be a fairly simple concept to explain – therapy by way of using aromas. In actuality there are many complexities to the concept of aromatherapy. In North America we are not exposed to these complexities because, for most people here, Aromatherapy simply means that a person smells something nice and it makes them feel better.  In other locations and cultures, France and Germany for example, Aromatherapy is literally a branch of medicine and medical treatment. One might wonder why with our advanced medical model and options for treatment, Aromatherapy is not more prevalent here.

There are various explanations for why this is the case. The first and foremost is that naturally occurring substances cannot be patented and therefore there is little economic interest on the part of medical corporations or pharmaceutical companies to promote this as an option. That may sound like a pretty harsh indictment, but it is true. If you look into where most of our medicines come from, they were initially observed as substances occurring naturally in plants. Companies, following our culture’s belief that if a little is good more is better, extracted what was seen as the primary active ingredient and then isolated and / or chemically synthesized it. These chemical look-alikes or extraction processes are protectable, patentable, and profitable. Many naturalists believe, and have substantial evidence, that isolation and extraction from the native form is what leads to many of the side effects that occur in our modern medicines. 

The issue of not viewing naturally occurring substances as profitable also leads to the lack of research to support the efficacy of the natural substances.  There is no point pouring money into research that shows that something for free may be as good (or even better) as something that can make a lot of money. France and Germany, where medical coverage is provided at no direct cost to the consumer, is the primary source of valid research that substantiates aromatherapy and use of essential oils as effective.

Additionally, as consumers here, we have access to many items that are advertised as having “aroma-therapeutic” benefit ranging from personal care products to scented toilet paper. As an example, not everything that smells like lavender actually contains the therapeutic essence and constituents of the lavender plant. These fragrance grade aromatics may smell good, but in order to gain the true therapeutic effect of aromatherapy, the essential oils that are used must be grown, collected, handled, extracted, stored, and used in a specific manner. Another minor point to consider is that many very effective essential oils (aromas) do not smell good, but they do have a wonderful effect on the body. 

Essential oils, the source of aromatherapy, have the possibility of being used in several ways: ingested, absorbed, or inhaled. Inhalation of the vapors, for many essential oils, is one of the most direct methods of getting the active ingredients into the body. The olfactory receptors in the nose provide a very direct path to the brain centers that interpret and respond to the aromatic constituents. Certain oils applied to the skin are also absorbed readily and make their way into the blood stream. Although we may take it for granted, the skin is very active in absorption, excretion, and rejection of substances. Afterall, the skin is the body’s largest organ.

To learn more about our Practitioners, please visit our Bios page.