A year ago or this year I told someone that I like to read about essential oils. I don’t know if that someone still remembers it, but I remember telling it to that person.
During that time I didn’t know much about aromatherapy, what I only know is that I like to learn about essential oils because I love natural perfumes.
A few months after that, a challenging situation started to happen in my life, and while experiencing it, I thought it was the right time for me to pursue learning about aromatherapy, and eventually started my blog Love Natural.
Also, I started to treat my rashes using essential oils. I eventually started my collection of essential oils. Although I’ve been reading articles about essential oils and making soaps using oils, I didn’t immediately understand and realize the joys of creating blends and soapmaking.
While researching essential oils, I’ve seen a paper that presents the classifications of essential oils. I am aware that essential oils can be used in different ways, but I did not know that they are categorized. Good thing is that I have seen the research paper.
While reading the classifications in the review article, I realized that there are a lot of things to learn and that gets me excited because that would enable me to expand my knowledge about essential oils. I am not sure if I can learn all of these this year or next year, but I’m willing to research more, look at different articles and see more videos so I can learn the aromatherapy classification.
Aromatherapy is the term we use when we pertain to the usage of essential oil for a certain purpose. Aroma means ‘scent’ and therapy means ‘treatment’ hence aromatherapy. If we look at the word aroma and its meaning, we would think that it only pertains to one kind of aromatherapy, which is olfactory aromatherapy, because this category focuses on how a fragrance of the oil is being processed by our sense of smell to achieve a certain effect. That’s why if I’m going to pick an umbrella term for the classification of aromatherapy, I think it would be more appropriate to use essential oil therapy. The term aromatherapy that we commonly use refers to the use of essential oils for different purposes, but with one common goal – to be well and help in the preservation of good health. Since the common term used for essential oil therapy is aromatherapy, we would be following the norm and using the word aromatherapy.
Classification of aromatherapy
1. Cosmetic aromatherapy
This kind of therapy refers to utilizing essential oil for beauty regimens, and hair and skin care. The oils used here are expected to cleanse, moisturize, dry, tone, purify, protect, and restore skin (1, 5), as well as to condition, and moisturize. (3) Also the oils chosen are used to stimulate the scalp and hair growth. (4) Others also include in this category the use of essential oil when taking a bath to rejuvenate and revitalize (1)
Cosmetic aromatherapy or using essential oil for skin care is not a new practice. In the bible, we can read that Esther underwent a preparation period and used myrrh oil before she was presented to the king and became a queen.
“Now when every maid’s turn was come to go into king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purification of the women;)
Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king’s house.” – Esther 2:12-13
2. Massage aromatherapy
When we experience muscle soreness we use some topicals to find relief from the inflammation. We also prefer to have a massage to feel more relaxed. The combination of massage and essential oil provides us a total relaxation as we feel the warming or cooling effect of the oil as we are being massaged. It’s a plus factor if the oil that’s been used is aromatic. Massage aromatherapy focuses more on pampering our body to feel more relaxed or find ease from muscle tension and relieve pain. Using essential oils during the massage is effective in easing muscle sores because its therapeutic properties take effect when the skin absorbs the oil. Moreover, some say that using essential oil during a massage can be detoxifying (6)
3. Medical aromatherapy
The word ‘aromatherapie’ was first coined by Rene-Maurice Gatte-fosse. He discovered the healing effects of essential oil when he had a laboratory accident (2) To treat his hand he used lavender oil. And this has led him to further research essential oils. Moreover, there are doctors like Dr. Jean Valnet who recognized that essential oils can be used as a form of treatment for select illnesses and hence use them when treating his patients. It was said that the army surgeon used it to treat burns and war injuries of his patients. (2)
If you look at different researches you can find that essential oils are a good medication for skin concerns such as rashes, itchiness, warts, and scarring. It is also helpful for managing nausea, as well as coughs, and congestion. Several oils are also antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal.
In a nutshell, medical aromatherapy means treating clinically diagnosed medical ailments by using essential oils (3)
4. Olfactory aromatherapy
In olfactory aromatherapy the method of application of essential oil is inhalation. Oils with a pleasurable odor have various effects. Some scents can make us calmer, and feel more relaxed which is needed by people who are stressed and experiencing anxiety. Several aromatic oils are aphrodisiacs and hence can boost libido or sexual desire which is suited for people who are having problems with arousal. Also, scents can unlock odor memories (1) which can be helpful for people suffering from amnesia.
Essential oil odors can make us feel calmer, euphoric, and stimulated, (1) it also triggers us to feel satisfaction, happiness, and relief. (4) The scent of the oils causes our body to release neurotransmitter and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenalin, and endorphin (3)
Aside from the calming and relaxing effect that the scent of the essential oil can give us, it can also enhance mental alertness, impact our emotions, and can have positive effects on hormonal, and glandular. It can also act as an immune booster. (4) Moreover, some oils can serve as air purifiers, hence keeping us protected and safe from being exposed to viruses, and bacteria.
5. Psycho-aromatherapy
Different literature usually connect psycho-aromatherapy with aromachology. While both of them deal with the study and effects of aroma may it be natural or synthetic, Psycho-aromatherapy focuses on the study of natural essential oils ( Perry and Perry 2006, as cited by Ali et al., 2015)
While I was reading about olfactory aromatherapy and psycho-aromatherapy, it seemed to me that they are almost the same because both of them affect emotions as well as memory after inhaling the essential oil. However, if I will identify the difference between the two, olfactory aromatherapy focuses more on what the scent does to your body. While psycho-aromatherapy, studies about what the essential oil scent can make you feel, and affect your mood as well as what it influences or urges you to do because of the emotions or moods you have after smelling the essential oil’s odor.
Personal oil preference
If I will choose one oil that I could say can meet all those categories, I would say it’s Lavender.
It’s my favorite essential oil because it’s the best oil that I know. Even different literature attests to that.
Is lavender oil can be used for
Cosmetic aromatherapy YES
Massage aromatherapy YES
Medical aromatherapy YES
Olfactory aromatherapy YES
Psycho-aromatherapy YES
If you look at the description of the classification and know the therapeutic properties of lavender, you would see that the answer to all of them is Yes.
There are many essential oils, but through experience, reading, and learning about oils and aromatherapy, I discovered and realized that lavender is the most applicable to me.
For a novice in aromatherapy, I know that there are a lot of things to learn about the classification of oils and aromatherapy, and I’ll be delighted to know more.
Envision your direction 💋❤
References:
- (1) Ali B., Al-Wabel N.A., Shams S., Ahamad A., Khan S.A. Anwar F. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2015; 5(8): 601–611. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.007
- (2) Aromatherapy and A-Z. Patricia Davis. C.W. Daniel Company Limited. 1988
- (3) https://ebrary.net/194030/health/classification_aromatherapy
- (4) https://shiora.com.sg/blogs/tips-for-you/different-types-of-aromatherapy-shiora-singapore
- (5) https://www.medindia.net/alternativemedicine/aromatherapy/aromatherapy-types.htm
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