Aroma Therapy:(holistic spa therapy subject)
Aroma therapy is an ancient art
The value of natural plants has been recognized for more than 6000years,for their healing, cleansing, preservative and mood enhancing properties, as well as for the sheer pleasure of their fragrances. The origin of Aroma Therapy can be traced through the religious, medical and social practices of all the major civilizations. It’s likely to be the Chinese who found the remarkable powers of plant around 4500BC. However the Egyptians has the credit of recognizing and fully exploiting the Physical and spiritual properties of the aromatic essences. Modern archeologists excavated the evidences of wide usage of aroma essences for the mummification of dead bodies in Egyptian Mummies. By around 3000BC the priests used the aroma essences for therapeutic usage and clamed the healing is happening by Gods grace. They kept the powers of plants as a secret and eventually commons also start using the essences as perfumes and medicines in their daily life. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine has used many plant extracts for his surgical usages. How ever the fall of Roman Empire maid a set back of the development of Aroma Therapy in Europe.
Essential oils
The vital element in any aroma therapy treatment is pure essential oil. Essential oils are plant extracts and they are not like cooking oils. Cooking oils are far heavier than essential oils and it is highly inflammable. They evaporate quickly, so they are usually mixed with other oils and this technique is commonly known as blending. Essential oils can be expensive and it is measured in drops while used for therapies.
How the essential oils work
Essential oils are composed of tiny molecules, which are easily dissolved in alcohol, emulsifiers, and fats. This quality allows them to penetrate the skin quickly and work into the body by mixing with the fatty tissues. As these highly volatile essences evaporate they are also inhaled thus entering the body via millions of sensitive cells that line the nasal passages. These send messages straight to the brain and affect emotions by working on the limbic system, which also controls the major functions of the body. Thus in an aromatherapy treatment, the essential oils are able to enhance both your physical and psychological well-being at the same time.
Aromatherapy Massage
Basically, aromatherapy massage is the most effective way to introduce aroma oils to the body. The international association for developing and controlling the practices, Aromatherapy Associates, maid a standard operational procedure for aromatherapy massage and is based on Swedish massage. It’s a sensual massage mostly focusing on slow movement to manipulate major skeletal muscles of the body. Choosing the proper blend for body, face, and for inhalation is part of this treatment and is mostly done by the client with the guidance of the therapist. Setting the therapy room and fixing the accurate temperature, choosing the room freshener, lighting arrangement, flower arrangements, warm towel applications, and communication through the treatment are also very crucial for the highest result of the treatment.
