Center for Health and Healing

<html><head> <title>The Center for Health & Healing</title> <link rel=stylesheet href="../chhstyle.css" type="text/css"> <meta name="keywords" content="aromatherapy, essential oils, inhalation, Gattefosse, Valnet"> <script language="JavaScript">  </script> </head> <body bgcolor="#ffffff" leftmargin="0" topmargin="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0"> <base target="_top"> <a name="head"></a> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="98%"> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="95%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="500" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="5%" bgcolor="#95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="60" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff" align="left" valign="top"><a name="top"></a><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="149" height="24" border="0" alt=""></td> <td> <table width="100%" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding:0px 0px 0px 5px"> <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" align="left" valign="top"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="274" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td align="right"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="123" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td bgcolor="#95a920" width="274" align="left" valign="top" class="title">Complementary / Alternative Therapies</td> <td align="right">  <form name="form1" method="post" action=""> <select name="menu1" onChange="MM_jumpMenu('top',this,0)"> <option value="#" selected="selected">Select One</option> <option value='gen_pract.asp'>General</option> <option value='accu_pract.asp'>Acupuncture</option> <option value='acupress_pract.asp'>Acupressure/Shiatsu</option> <option value='alexander_pract.asp'>Alexander Technique</option> <option value='aroma_pract.asp'>Aromatherapy</option> <option value='art_pract.asp'>Art Therapy</option> <option value='bio_pract.asp'>Biofeedback</option> <option value='chiro_pract.asp'>Chiropractic</option> <option value='cog_pract.asp'>Cognitive Behavioral Therapy</option> <option value='cranio_pract.asp'>Cranial Therapy</option> <option value='dance_pract.asp'>Dance Therapy</option> <option value='exercise_pract.asp'>Exercise</option> <option value='feldenkrais_pract.asp'>Feldenkrais Method</option> <option value='herbal_pract.asp'>Herbal Medicine</option> <option value='homeo_pract.asp'>Homeopathy</option> <option value='hypnosis_pract.asp'>Hypnosis</option> <option value='imagery_pract.asp'>Imagery</option> <option value='massage_pract.asp'>Massage Therapy</option> <option value='meditation_pract.asp'>Meditation/Relaxation</option> <option value='music_pract.asp'>Music Therapy</option> <option value='nutrition_pract.asp'>Nutrition/Supplementation</option> <option value='osteo_pract.asp'>Osteopathy</option> <option value='prayer_pract.asp'>Prayer</option> <option value='xigong_pract.asp'>Qigong</option> <option value='reiki_pract.asp'>Reiki</option> <option value='rolfing_pract.asp'>Rolfing</option> <option value='taichi_pract.asp'>Tai Chi</option> <option value='tens_pract.asp'>TENS</option> <option value='therap_pract.asp'>Therapeutic Touch</option> <option value='trager_pract.asp'>Trager Approach</option> <option value='yoga_pract.asp'>Yoga</option> </select> </form> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td> </td> </tr>  <tr> <td valign="top" width="149" bgcolor="#ffffff"> <table width="120" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0" style="padding: 0px 0px 0px 5px;"> <tr> <td> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="aroma_pract.asp">Practitioner Statement</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOn" href="aroma_history.asp">History & Philosophy</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="aroma_treatment.asp">Treatment Approaches</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="aroma_how.asp">How it works & when to use it</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="aroma_what.asp">What you need to know about treatment</a></p> <p><a class="leftNavOff" href="aroma_training.asp">Training & Licensing</a></p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff">  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td nowrap="nowrap" style="padding: 0px 0px 5px 0px;"> <p class="headline"><br> Aromatherapy  History & Philosophy</p> </td> <td width="100%"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="95a920"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td width="100%" bgcolor="ffffff" height="1"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="ffffff" colspan="2"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="10" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr> </table>  <table width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" border="0"> <tr> <td class='content'> <p>Aromatherapy uses the concentrated essential oils of various plants for therapeutic purposes. These oils can be administered through massage, inhalation, compresses and baths. While commonly associated with pleasant applications for beauty and general relaxation, essential oils have complex chemical components that, like herbs, have medicinal properties that effect the body in a variety of ways. Understanding these uses requires training in the appropriate selection, preparation and application of these oils as well as knowledge of their toxicities, side effects and interactions with pharmaceutical drugs.</p> <p>Aromatherapy has been used by ancient cultures for thousands of years, with the earliest example discovered in Iraq and dating back 60,000 years. Evidence of its use has been found in Egypt, China, India, Tibet, Persia, Arabia, Africa, Europe and other cultures worldwide. <img src=’images/p4_any.jpg’ width=’240’ height=’165’ align=’left’ vspace=’15’ hspace=’15’>Many of these cultures developed substantial written descriptions of their use including prescription, methods of preparation and dosages. In ancient Greece Hippocrates, considered the father of medicine, is known to have utilized aromatics for the treatment of female disorders and for its antibacterial properties.</p> <p>In the 19th century essential oils first underwent scientific analysis to identify the therapeutic components of plants and to document its medical uses. A French chemist, Maurice Gattefosse, studied both the psychological and physiological effects of essential oils and coined the word aromatherapy in his 1937 publication Aromatherapie. Dr. Jean Valnet devoted much of his professional life to researching aromatherapy and produced the classic text, The Practice of Aromatherapy. Research was continued in Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and France and the practice continues to be researched and taught in order to verify and promote its safe and effective use as a part of medical therapeutics. The use of aromatherapy in hospitals was introduced by nurses as a means of reducing patients pain and anxiety and increasing well being, providing important support to the process of healing. Ongoing nursing and medical research is providing further evidence for other therapeutic uses. </p> <a href='#head' target='_self' class='disclaimer'>Top</a> <p class="timestamp">Content last modified on Mar 18, 2003</p> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/bg_curve.gif" width="60" height="300" align="right" border="0" vspace="0" hspace="0"></td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt=""></td> <td bgcolor="#ffffff"><img src="../images/spacer.gif" width="1" height="200" border="0" alt=""></td> </tr>  <tr> <td width="149" bgcolor="ffffff"> </td> <td colspan="2" bgcolor="ffffff"> <p> </p> <p class="copyright">©2002 Center for Health and Healing</p> </td> </tr> </table> </body> </html>