The Natural World in Essential oils
Our world is very sensory and intimately connected. It exchanges energy with a constant giving and receiving of atoms. This hapens when you walk along the beach, feeling the scent of the ocean. When you inhale the scent of a forest, you are taking in the volatile vapors released from the trees and forest plants. Forest bathing, known as shinrin-yoku (“taking in the forest atmosphere”) in Japan, has been traditionally practiced to boost immune system, reduce blood pressure, improve mood and focus. With the deep breath in the forest, the result in positive energy can last for up to a month. Only a small percentage of plants on Earth can change the air quality, fragrance, and health of the world through the scent. Perhaps this is what drew humans to research certain plants for healing, eating, or burning. Aromatic plants have been used for scent and easing ailments for thousand of years.
Modern Aromatherapy has begun with intentional distillation for essential oils. Nature speaks through essential oils. Humans share with plants the natural life cycle. To understand essential oils, in some ways, we need to understand plants. Plants have electrical transmitters that communicate with plant neighbors and other life forms including humans. In the Amazon plants are called “maestras” (“Teachers”) and according to Dr. Stanbury, the tribes there believe that “the plant spirit enters the body and teaches us”. In the group of plants that contain aromatic oils (only 10% of all plants on Earth), essential oils are secondary metabolites in the plant structure. Plants create essential oils for two primary reasons: protection and attraction. Some plants produce secondary metabolites in the form of essential oils that are toxic to an attacker; other produce volatile vapors to attract natural pollinators.
Each time you apply aromatherapy to your life, plant-derived constituents enter your body, lungs, brain and ultimately effect your energy level. Just as essential oils have protective and attractive purpose in a plant, so can certain aromas have different effects on the physical body, mental functioning, and emotional well-being of a person. The scent of a single drop of citrus or rosemary oil can rejuvenate and stimulate the mind and awaken the senses. Other, such as lavender, rose or neroli, are known for their relaxant properties. Also, some others, such as lemongrass, some evergreens, trigger the immune system to respond to pathogens in the same way a plant reacts to invader. Parallels between humans and nature allow a synergetic sharing on planet Earth. Essential oils are part of plants but are extremely concentrated. These oils are safe, more beneficial, and biocompatible when diluted in a carrier oil. Respecting the power of Nature is especially important. Read and learn more about essential oil before starting to use it. Enjoy the power of essential oils safely. Always dilute! Reminder of how connected humans are to nature is one of the most important lesson we learn in Aromatherapy.
John Muir, also known as “Father of the National Parks, naturalist and author said: “Nature is ever at work building and pulling down, creating and destroying, keeping everything whirling and flowing, allowing no rest but in rhythmical motion, chasing everything in endless song out of one beautiful form into another. I care to live only to entice people to look at Nature's loveliness.”