Aromatherapy

reflexology

yoga

shiatsu

alexander technique

vitamins and minerals

massage

homeopathy

home page

Aromatherapy is one of the most gentle and versatile healing arts. By harnessing the theraputic properties of the essential oils extracted from aromatic plants, a whole host of physical and psychological complaints can be relieved. From stress to skin disorders, from respiratory problems to digestive complaints, essential oils can be selected according to their specific healing properties and applied in a variety of ways such as in a bath or by massage.
What is aromatherapy ?The term aromatherapy is used to describe a particular branch of herbal medecine. It is coined from two words, "aroma" meaning pleasant scent and "therapy" meaning a treatment that aims to cure a physical or mental condition. Literally it means a treatment using scents. The scents involved, are not perfumes but the pure essential oils of plants valued for their theraputic properties. Treatment involves applying these oils to the body to improve physical, mental and emotional health.
Most ancient cultures valued the theraputic benefits of aromatic plant oils. The ancient Vedic litrerature of India and historic Chinese medical texts document the importance of scented oils in promoting health and spirituality

Essential oils are highly concentrated aromatic extracts which are distilled from a variety of aromatic plant material including grasses, leaves, flowers, needles & twigs, peel of fruit, wood and roots.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in their Vocabulary of Natural Materials (ISO/D1S9235.2) defines an essential oil as follows: "An essential oil is a product made by distillation with either water or steam or by mechanical processing of citrus rinds or by dry distillation of natural materials. Following the distillation, the essential oil is physically separated from the water phase."

Aromatherapy can be defined as the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit. It is an art and science which seeks to explore the physiological, psychological and spiritual realm of the individual's response to aromatic extracts as well as to observe and enhance the individual's innate healing process. As a holistic medicine, Aromatherapy is both a preventative approach as well as an active treatment during acute and chronic stages of illness or 'dis'-ease.
It is a natural, non-invasive treatment system designed to affect the whole person not just the symptom or disease and to assist the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain itself by the correct use of essential oils.
"Aromatherapy is essentially an interaction between the therapist, client and essential oils, working together to bring forth the healing energy which will help the client regain their sense of well being and vitality." Jade Shutes
Origin of the word Aromatherapie