Aromatherapy: The Integumentary System

“Use of herbs as medicines dates back to the beginning of civilized man. The earliest known written records of herbal medicines were inscribed on a six thousand year old clay tablet written by the Sumerians, who lived on the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in what is now known as Iraq”(History).

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.

Throughout history, humans have used herbs and other objects of nature to create medicine. The first acknowledged mention of apothecaries was in the Old Testament of the Bible. In the Bible it states that, “ and thou shalt make it an oil of holy ointment, an ointment compound after the art of the apothecary: it shall be an holy anointing oil.” Exodus 30:35. Even before CE (common era), apothecaries were an important part of early society. The practice of making organic medicine from herbs was also present during the Roman empire. Since the Renaissance took a lot of inspiration from old Rome, they carried on the Roman traditions of medicine made of natural ingredients. During the Renaissance, students who wanted to enter the field of apothecary would be trained as apprentices. This meant that they would be learning from a skilled employer, earning low wages for a certain amount of time. In the 1500’s, the art of the apothecary was starting to be taught in universities as

Unlike most conventional medications, essential oils are not introduced into the body and absorbed into the bloodstream, they work on our olfactory cells in the nose and our sensory cells in our skin to impact our brains to trigger specific responses. As the scents are inhaled or absorbed into

Therapeutic massage also frequently detoxifies the human body by massaging and promoting circulation in the lymph system of an asthma patient . This rhythmic massage helps to drain the lymph which in turn releases toxins.

Haven’t you ever come home from a long day and just wanted to relax into a nice warm bath? I sure have. Within the last couple decades, there has been an increased study in the science of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy, as defined by NAHA (Source 6), is “the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit”. And one of the main products that this movement has taken shape through is Bath Bombs. A Bath Bomb, as defined by the Collins dictionary, is a ball of carbonates and scent that is placed in bath water to dissolve and impart supposedly therapeutic properties to the water. It has been proven by many studies the affects that bath bombs and other forms of aromatherapy have had on peoples’ mental and physical health. In the late 1930s, a

Aromatherapy can be used to treat many problems such as nausea, body aches, anxiety, depression, fatigue, headaches, labour pain and hormonal problems (Lane et al., 2011; Medicalnewstoday.com, 2018). Aromatherapy can be used in addition to other medicine practises including those performed by allied health professionals, or on its own (Medicalnewstoday.com, 2018). For example, a study conducted by (Olapour et al., 2013) has found that aromatherapy can provide pain relief to women who have recently had a

The sense of smell is a powerful tool that humans have at their disposal. It can have an impact on one's psychological system. When smell enters the scene receptors in the nose, the signal is sent to the olfactory cortex and some parts of the limbic system. The limbic system is responsible for emotions, so it is possible that the sense of smell can have an impact on one's mental make-up. Aromatherapy can be used to treat patients with depression and anxiety using odors. However, studies involving aromatherapy are limited and these claims are not fully solidified. A study to see if aromatherapy is effective in treating depression would be a case study. Case studies provide more information over a longer period, which will allow for the patient

Herbal medicine has been traced back to Neanderthal time by researchers finding plant micro fossils in dental area of skeletons found in that time period.

Relaxing the senses is the job of an aromatherapy diffuser. The goal is to provide your home or office a pleasant, refreshing, and relaxing scent. This aromatherapy product can provide scents that are soothing and neutralize any harmful allergens for those living and visiting the home. For example, if you are a pet owner it may be beneficial to place an aromatherapy diffuser in a room that the pet sleeps or spends the majority of time in. By doing this the

Aromatherapy is when one uses natural oils that are extracted from plants such as flowers, leaves, roots, stems and other various parts of plants. These essential oils are used by either inhaling the aroma from them or absorbing the essential oil through the skin into the blood system (The Balance & Harmony of Body and Mind). Aromatherapy is said to help the body in both psychological and physical aspects from increased cognitive development, pain relief, mood enhancement, and overall whole body healing (NAHA). Aromatherapy is a growing alternative medicine just like massage therapy.

Most of the essential oils used in aromatherapy are safe and do not have adverse effects provided they are handled safely. The spa and therapy centers which use aromatherapy ask you to pay attention to some of the important factors.

It has also been found that herbs such as thyme were used to cure an ancient disease called palsy. Palsy is a disease where a person experiences involuntary tremors to his or her body. Another herb that was used to try and cure people was mint. It was used to calm the stomach and make digestion pains go away ( Harrison). Everyday herbs that people use in their kitchens have been found to help as well with diseases. Some of these herbs consist of cinnamon, bitter herbs, cumin, coriander, fennel, and many more. When people nowadays think of those things they may wonder what is being cooked up in the kitchen. Ancient civilizations did not play around with any of the blessings God had given them when it came to herbs. They found a use that would benefit civilization for every single one.

During periods of especially strenuous training or competition, athletes may be particularly susceptible to infectious illnesses - colds, flu and the like. Immune support can be provided by diffusing 'air clearing' essential oils like Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Thyme, Rosemary and Lemon into the living space to disinfect the air and prevent transmission of illness. Another highly regarded method of strengthening the immune system is applying Niaouli essential oil directly to the body after a warm shower; ten to twenty drops rubbed into the skin is recommended by one of America's leading medical aromatherapists for this

When diluted and applied to the skin essentials oils are absorbed into the bloodstream, which can aid in your health, beauty and hygiene conditions.