Aromatherapy Research Paper

Going back to 400 BC some of the most famous Greeks and the fathers of many aspects of modern medicine used essential oils. Hippocrates understood the importance of treating the mind, body, and spirit of his patients and was a firm believer in using both aromatherapy and massage as a part of medical treatments.

Aromatherapy is used as an alternative medicine which consists of essential oils extracted from a wide variety of components such as: trees, shrubs, grasses, herbs and flowers. Each component is stored in a specialised oil and on average an essential oil contains one hundred components including alcohols, ketones and aldehydes (Worwood, 1991). Essences are also used in general medicine they are used as flavouring agents and therapeutic ingredients, they are used in a number of medication including antiseptic creams and ointments. Aromatherapy aims to improve an individual’s health or mood through non-invasive and non-toxic treatment/therapies. The evaporation of essences from the components surface is known to be a defence mechanism against infection by bacteria and fungi which contribute towards stimulating the body’s own natural healing mechanisms. There are a combination of aromas which include: massage, aromatic baths and other treatments that all work to regulate, balance and heal (Tisserand, 1977).

Reflexology is an alternative treatment that rests on the applying pressure of specific areas on the feet, hands and ears. All these pressure points are believed to correlate with internal body functions and organs. Applying pressure on these pressure points encourages proper energy flow throughout the body and facilitates self-healing.

There have been many studies by massage and how it affects the body and mind. It has been discovered that thoughts produce various chemical reactions in the body which further bring about weakness or pain. Just as how a depressed individual may feel tired and have frequent body aches. Massaging various areas of the body will release these troublesome chemicals and bring about relief and positivity.

Reflexology is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on the soles of the feet and sometimes the palms of the hands. The "zone therapy" theory behind reflexology was first introduced in 1915 by an ear, nose and throat doctor named William Fitzgerald. It was later developed into modern reflexology by American physiotherapist Eunice Ingram. Practitioners believe that certain regions on the hands and feet correspond to other parts of the body, including internal organs and glands, and applying pressure to these points can encourage health in the corresponding areas through natural energy pathways. Although reflexology is not proven to directly affect the course of disease, many who receive it report relief of physical symptoms.

This workshop offers the opportunity to create new pathways to wellness by integrating the ancient wisdom of the 7 Centered Energy Chakra System with traditional Dance/Movement Therapy.

Foot reflexology is a relatively new method developed in the 1930’s by Eunice Ingham, a physiotherapist from America. It was developed from Zone Therapy and the research and findings of Drs William Fitzgerald and Joe Shelby Riley in the early 1900’s.

Many Civilizations have practiced Reflexology. Evidence of this has been documented on four continents, Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. The most common theory is that the earliest form of reflexology originated in China as much as 5,000 years ago. Part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Chinese Reflexology is the ancient art of working pressure points on the feet, hands and ears that correspond to different parts of the body. The Chinese are also known to have used Reflexology in conjunction with acupuncture. Dr. Wong-Wei, a Chinese Doctor in the fourth century BC evidently used to position acupuncture needles in the patient’s bodies and then apply very firm pressure with his thumbs to the soles of their feet. This pressure was maintained for several minutes until the desired therapeutic effects were achieved. Dr. Wong-Wei maintained that as the pressure was applied and held healing energy was released into the patient’s body.

Our olfactory system allows us to detect chemical in the air that begin to dissolve once they are inhaled through our nose and processed through our limbic system. What is fascinating for such a matter of fact sense, is memory. Through our sense of smell, exists a powerful gateway to past experiences. A particular smell can trigger an immediate recall of situations that are within the deepest reaches of our memory. Smell is a worthwhile sense to command. Since we know if its ability to connect us emotionally through memory, therapeutics is worth exploring. Aromatherapy is the careful use of scented oils to relax the senses. The practical implications of aromatherapy are that the olfactory system triggers an endocrine and hormonal response via the hypothalamus. This regulatory exercise, while quite natural can be stimulated by synthetic scents, which have been shown to register physiological and psychological benefits. Many concentrated oils come from natural plants and have application for daily relaxation or mediation all the way to chemotherapy or child birth.

Dolores Krieger RN and Dora Kunz discovered the nursing technique called therapeutic touch and it emerged in the early 1970s. Therapeutic touch is energy therapy that is said to facilitate healings and reduce any pain or anxiety a person is facing. Therapeutic touch is an interpretation of multiple ancient healing practices that is supposed to reduce a person’s suffering. This is a healing technique is also commonly used as a nursing technique that does not have any type of contact. In the online articled named, Further Notes on Therapeutic Touch, the author Kevin Courcey, R.N., states that, “…the original protocol was based on actual physical touch [3], subsequent research claimed that similar results could be obtained without touching the

Chakra is a Sanskrit word for wheel. Each of these energy wheels rotate at their own speed and have their own unique vibration, colour, angel and crystals associated with each one as well as their own individual characteristics. Even though the chakras have their own individual vibration, colour and characteristics they all work together to support a

It is believed that essential oils have been used on the body since 2000 years b.c, however the term aromatherapy was not introduced untill the 1920s.

Acupuncture is one of the oldest forms of traditional medicine deriving from Ancient China, almost 3, 000 years old. Working with energy, or alternatively known as Qi (Pronounced Chee – our natural life force) flowing through various pathways, Acupuncture is a practice which is used to remove blockages in the energy field of one's “life force”. When a person is experiencing sickness and severe health ailments it is believed that there may be an obstruction, blocking the flow of Chi – which is responsible for controlling the function of the vital organs. Chi flows through the body’s skin, muscles and internal organs. This practice has grown in fame and is being used worldwide to treat diverse pains and ailments – with staggering proven results.

Chakras are energy centers within the human body that help to regulate all its processes, from organ function to the immune system and emotions. It's the Sanskrit word translates to wheel. If you don’t know what they look like, here’s a picture:

Reflexology is the theory that the human body can be healed from disease or imbalance through pressure to specific points on the hands, feet, and ears (http://www.doubleclickd.com/reflexology.html). This alternative form of healing is doubted by many, although there are studies that support its theory.