Aromatherapy in Rishikesh
Because perhaps the prefix “aroma”, a common perception is that the aroma comes down to pleasant odors broadcast just for fun … Now the suffix “therapy” indicates that it is an approach to care – quite complex, for that matter – whose aromatic essences of plants are the basis. The name that has become commonly used to refer to aromatic essences is “essential oil”.
As a therapeutic method, aromatherapy is one of the tools, resources naturopathy . It is used against several diseases (cough, headache , sinusitis , asthma , digestive problems, insomnia , fatigue, sports injuries, alopecia ), but according to aromatherapists, his most notable action is likely antiseptic (against bacteria , viruses, fungi and parasites). It is also used for hygiene interior spaces (prevention and treatment of infectious diseases), in beauty and relaxation. He also lends a beneficial effect on the psychological level and to counter the anxiety . However, relatively few scientific studies supporting these applications.
Essential oils can be used internally, externally or air.
Internally. Because essential oils are irritating to mucous membranes, they are generally mixed with a little vegetable oil, honey or yogurt (they do not dilute in water). Also on the oil market prepared with alcohol, oléocapsules (with a vegetable oil-based) as well as preparations in capsules and suppositories.
Externally. The oil can be diffused into the body through the skin, it is mixed with a massage oil or ointment.
Air. The oil released into the air is absorbed through the respiratory tract, there are several modes of distribution.
Broadcasters to provide a fan spray oils and diffusion in a space large enough and is the best method for therapeutic use by air.
The passive method (porous pottery) would carry little evaporation, the particles can not act on air quality.
Heat (on a candle or a lamp) diffuses the fragrance, but can destroy the therapeutic properties of essential oils.
The fans (in the ventilation systems for houses or cars) are effective unless they are equipped with a filter that is likely to retain a portion of the particles.
What is essential oil?
The essential oil is a volatile aromatic substance produced by certain plants that can be extracted as a liquid. Although they are called oils, these substances contain no fats: a drop deposited on a paper will evaporate without a trace in contrast to a vegetable oil.
The vegetable kingdom has several hundred thousands of species and 4,000 of them produce aromatic essences, but only a few hundred do sufficient for us to extract them. Today, mining is mainly done in 3 methods.
Cold pressing for citrus zest such as orange or lemon.
Solvent extraction, including carbon dioxide, especially for fragile flowers.
Steam distillation, a process invented in the eleventh century and widely used today.
The extraction of essential oils are expensive, especially because of the vast quantity of raw material required. It takes about 35 kg of plants, on average, for a liter of essential oil. And it’s much more in the case of some plants as the rose. Hence the high price of real essential oils. Because there are also synthetic oils, suitable for perfume, but not the aromatherapy.
For thousands of years, the essential oils are commonly used in cooking, medicine, perfumery and cosmetics industry. But it’s the end of the nineteenth century in France, begins the modern history of aromatherapy. Then we have scientifically proven the ability of essential oils to neutralize the bacteria (about the same time, antibiotics were discovered, which had the effect of moving the aromatherapy field of medicine). We are indebted to René-Maurice Gattefossé in 1928, the first use of the term aromatherapy. We also see, but rarely, parfumothérapie.
