What Are Aromatherapy Hydrolats, and Why Are They Useful to Health?
Hydrolats – also known as hydrosols – have been described as the ‘next aromatherapy’. They are safer than essential oils, easier to use, and gentler. But what exactly are hydrolats?
Most essential oils are produced by a process of steam distillation. Here’s how it is done:
You take a large quantity of, say lavender stalks, and you put them into a still. You then allow steam to pass through the plant material. (It is far better to do this under gentle pressure and gentle temperature. Higher temperatures give a greater yield, but a lesser quality.)
As the plant is exposed to the steam, many active chemicals in the plant are released into the steam, which is then condensed (cooled down by passing into a cool tube). The steam then turns back into water, but the water now contains many wonderful natural healing chemicals that were in the plant.
Now here’s the interesting bit: some of those chemicals are so-called hydrophillic (that means they love water and dissolve in it), while others are oily and ‘hydrophobic’ (they are repelled by water). When you leave this water-oily mix for 15 minutes or so, the two parts quickly separate out, just as vinegar and oil will separate out when left to their own devices. The oil is the plant’s ‘essential oil’, and the water is known as a hydrolat, or a hydrosol.
So we can understand that, generally speaking, the hydrolat contains the water soluble chemicals from the plant, while the essential oil contains the non-water soluble chemicals.
Now consider something else: the human body is composed of about 60% water. Water is the major compound in every single cell in the body, and also in the fluid that runs around the outside of the cells.
The Origins of Aromatherapy – A History Lesson In Aromatherapy
For centuries, aromatherapy has been utilized for both pleasure as well as healing purposes. Essential oils provide an abundance of different health benefits. These oils have shown benefits to physical, mental and spiritual health all the same. Aromatherapy is utilized in western medicine as a non-invasive method of treating an array of ailments; in conjunction with other methods such as meditation, yoga, diet and exercise.
What are essential oils? The oil is a liquid that’s in most cases distilled (two most common processes being either steam or water) from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Contrary to popular assumption, oils usually are not all that oily. Most of the time, the oils are clear, but some oils such as patchouli, orange and lemon grass are amber or yellow in color. The true ‘essence’ of a plant lies within the oil. Essential oils are highly concentrated even in their distilled form and very little is usually required to achieve the desired results.
How do they work? The scents of essential oils are closer to you than you may initially believe. Many of your everyday household items such as perfumes, air fresheners, and disinfectants utilize the many benefits of the oils. Although the scents of the oils are there, most of the time they contain the fragrance of the oil instead of the pure form of the oil itself. That however, is not to say that the pure form of the oil is never utilized. As mentioned above, you’ll find that household disinfectants utilize the oil form of an essential oil, as many essential oils possess disinfecting properties. What initially appeals to us as consumers, is usually the way a product smells, but bare in mind, These oils have almost a limitless amount of health benefits as well.
The Benefits of Aromatherapy
The use of essential oils can be beneficial to your health. These products in their natural form promote overall well- being for those who use them. Instead of using complicated man-made chemicals, you use products what nature intended.
Not only can you maintain health but you can ward off illnesses like colds and flu just by inhaling lovely scents in your home, car, or office. The use of essential oils will improve your health and raise your energy level.
Aromatherapy can even relieve tension and calm nerves. By using these complex organic compounds you can feel better and look better.
In addition to boosting your head to toe health the use of aromatherapy allows you to avoid using other dangerous products. When you use natures recipes to combat everything from diabetes to heart ailments you free yourself from the side-effects of synthetic medications.
If you still require prescription treatment you can use aromatherapy in conjunction with them. Be sure to check with your physician before you mix any chemicals or if you are pregnant or have an ongoing health condition.
If you are just beginning your journey into the world of aromatherapy the kit listed here is a great way to get started. It provides you with commonly used oils that can be used in many recipes.
You should take time to familiarize yourself with the oils that can be hazardous especially as they pertain to your health issues or concerns. Remember that no two people are the same so what is a non irritant to another person may not be so for you. Simple tests can help you determine whether you will be allergic to an oil.
Aromatherapy Massage Is Great in Relieving Stress
Aromatherapy massage is the art of combining a massage method with the use of scented herbs that are great in calming, energizing, and uplifting our body through our emotions. This is believed to have better positive effects on the patient rather than a plain massage therapy as the aromatherapy possesses many healing properties that boost the health recovery of the patient. Aromatherapy massage is common in Ancient China, Japan, India and Egypt as an old practice in soothing and healing people with emotion-related stress.
In our modern times, aromatherapy massage is considered as a mood controlling therapy with the use of essential oils that help our emotion. Modern massage therapists use many different scented candles during an aromatherapy massage to enlighten the mood of their patient and in return releases the bad energy gathered from their stressful day. Most spas also light scented candles all over the place to set a good mood for the whole place. These scented candles have different healing properties as well and are similar with essential oils in controlling the emotions of the patient.
Aside from using essential oils, the technique used for this type of therapeutic massage is similar to the other types of massage therapies which use massage strokes on different parts of the body to remove muscle tensions that result to body pains such as muscle cramps, spasms and sprains as well as a good anti-stress. These massage strokes help in providing an enhanced oxygen circulation as well as removing the formations of lactic and uric acids as well as other types of metabolic wastes that should be removed out of our system. During the massage therapy, the massage therapists will be using up to five different types of essential oils, all of which you have chosen for your own preference.
The Origin and Evolution of Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy has long since been used as a method of healing various ailments that plague the human body. For thousands of years, healers have tapped into the healing properties of aromatherapy. Although, its roots are are hard to trace, scientists and doctors have found that aromatherapy can be dated back at least 4000 years. The Egyptians were the first noted to use botanics in several different ways. Using a number of spices and herbs, the Egyptians were said to indulge in soothing massages aided by the aromas. These spices and herbs were also commonly used as medication, within their cosmetics and even in embalming.
Many centuries later, Hippocrates was the first to bring aromatherapy into the forefront as a high profile procedure. 2000 years earlier, the physician’s creed was written attesting to the benefits of aromatherapy as both a physical and emotional healer. Within the 10th century, the Arabs used aromatherapy by extracting the oils from plants through the process of distillation. There are many other cultures throughout history that used the curative powers of plants in potions, aromas and even jewelry. Through distillation, extracting oils from herbs and plants has been widely used as a therapy for emotional and physical ailments. Aromatherapy is able to treat and cure ailments such as headaches, asthma, arthritis, acne, dry skin and herpes.
In the 1900s, both France and England attempted to reintroduce the healing properties of aromatherapy to the populace by garnering positive reviews from the traditional medical community. France has since been successful in reinstating ancient remedies into modern applications. French doctors are known to prescribe aromatherapy to special patients. It is widely common for French pharmacies to stock and sell a wide variety of oils and crushed herbs. Insurance companies are also willing to pay for medical treatments which involve ancient healing remedies such as aromatherapy.