Practical Aromatherapy: A Look At The German, English And French Techniques
Essential oils are profoundly effective natural medicines whose popularity has grown significantly in the last decade
. The body of scientific evidence supporting their very diverse therapeutic actions is growing rapidly, validating the interest of the natural medicine community in their use. At the same time, many people are just not sure what they should be doing with these little bottles of great smelling liquids. People new to aromatherapy get the idea that there's something valuable here, but not sure how to make use of them in their own lives. Here's a look at the three major schools of aromatherapy, which will serve as an important starting point for the beginning practitioner.It's crucial to see beyond what is commonly understood as aromatherapy in the U.S. The word often conjures images of aromatic spa treatments, with clients bathed in rose petals. But the true definition of the word means something much more: the entire branch of botanical medicine utilizing the volatile aromatic constituents of plants. Really, aromatherapy is a major aspect of herbal medicine, with an incredible healing potential.
Since the advent of the "modern aromatherapy revolution", three major "schools" of use have evolved, each with their preferred method of therapeutic essential oil use. These schools are named after the country in which this method is favored: the German, English and French methods of aromatherapy -- relating respectively to inhalation, topical application and ingestion of essential oils.
The method favored in Germany is inhalation, perhaps the most commonly imagined route of administration of essential oils. The applications are actually much more diverse than one would expect purely from inhalation, however. At one end of the spectrum, we have inhalation for affecting mental conditions: reducing anxiety and improving rest. Oils for this are generally soft and floral -- lavender is the primary culprit, and chamomile being so popular in Germany that there's even a variety called "German Chamomile". Inhalation is also a wonderful way to receive healthy, natural stimulation that's been proven to sharpen our focus.
Inhalation also serves to treat conditions of infectious illness, and support the immune system as to not catch a cold or flu in the first place. Via inhalation, essential oils have been shown to appear in the bloodstream at measurable levels. One can imagine then that this method can treat the whole body: the oils first penetrate the lining of the respiratory system, both eradicating microbes and preventing transmission of these microbes from one cell to the next. Within the bloodstream, oils like Eucalyptus have been shown to make our white blood cells do their job better, and many oils have been shown to alter our body's cell walls in a way that makes it harder for a virus to infect that cell.
The leap to topical application is not a big one. In some ways, it's hard to even discern the two -- even when you're breathing in oils, they're coming in contact with your body. The basis for the English method is aromatherapy massage. As with inhalation, the therapy ranges from helping transform psychological and emotional conditions, to treating infectious illness. Relaxing aromatherapy massages can have a dramatic effect on one's well-being. Further, massage is an excellent way to support the immune system, by helping the lymph system flush both with massage strokes and therapeutic oils selected for the purpose. Further, chest and sinus rubs can really break up congestion and help relieve many cold and flu symptoms.
Probably the most quickly growing market in aromatherapy is therapeutic skin care with essential oils. This use is not really an aspect of the English method, but most certainly involves the topical application of oils! Essential oils have a great range of therapeutic actions for the skin. They're natural cleansers, inflammation reducers, antioxidants, and many of them even stimulate regeneration of tissues. Recent scientific inquiry has found some oils actually prevent the development of skin cancer, while others reduce the appearance of aging.
Then we come to the French school of aroma-medicine, primarily utilizing essential oils taken internally in very small amounts. The concept has been very controversial, though this controversy seems unfounded. It's not that taking oils in this manner is dangerous, it's that ingesting essential oils without knowing what you're doing can be dangerous -- there's a big difference. Knowledge is crucial using this method, as it limits the margin for error.
The French method makes a lot of sense, it that first you would visit a doctor to receive a prescription of oils, then visit a dispensary to acquire your therapeutic grade products. The oils would be matched to the symptoms of the illness, and these therapies involve ingesting amounts on the order of 1 to 3 drops at a time, perhaps 1 to 3 times daily -- and then only as long as the symptoms persist. The intention is to make use of what some therapists believe to be the most beneficial application of essential oils: the treatment and prevention of infectious illness. If you're interested in this method, the best and safest way to proceed is with the assistance of a natural medicine professional trained in this type of essential oil use.
As a beginning aromatherapy practitioner, it's helpful to know all the possibilities of therapeutic essential oil use. As your knowledge grows, you'll find specific recipes and directions within each of these three major techniques. Simply knowing about them will give you a head start in your education involving this wonderful world of botanic medicine.
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