Essential Oils For Aromatherapy

 Humans have been using herbs since their inception.

These uses can be categorized into three distinctive groups; medicinal, culinary and religious. Here is a brief summary of each and the role essential oils play in aromatherapy. 

Throughout history there have been many other uses of herbs which we will not be examining here and these include them being used instead of cash, as a disinfectant and as a perfume or powerful smell to overpower bad odors. Herbs come from various parts of the planet and each culture often had unusual uses for them. It is interesting to note that the Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek and Sumerians, the Romans all wrote about them in detail and other writings exist from Ancient India and China. We shall be focusing on modern uses.

Chinese Usage of Herbs

Herbs And Religion

Herbs are still used in various religions across the globe. A large number of Christians will remember myrrh from the Nativity (myrrh is the dried sap of Commiphora myrrha). Hindus will be very familiar with the Tulsi plant, which is a species of Basil, as it is grown by many and worshipped as a god. In Wiccan religions herbs are utilized widely in spells, rituals as well as for healing.

Herbs In Cooking

The leaves of different plants are used in the kitchen but there is a distinction between leafy vegetables, such as cabbage, and a herb, such as oregano, in that the latter are used in minute amounts due to their distinctive, and powerful flavor. Virtually every person on the planet has benefited from the these amazing plants which are capable of lifting the blandest meal into the realms of a culinary masterpiece.

The Use of Herbs in Medicine

As well as being intense in flavor a herb can also have a profound effect upon the human body. Some types are used as recreational drugs, such as cannabis, which can cause legal problems as they can also have useful medical properties which are still being studied by academics.

Essential Oils

An essential oil is the concentrate extracted from a variety of plants. Essential oils are invariably created by the method known as distillation but some require a different method of extraction such as such as solvent extraction or expression.

Essential oils have a variety of uses, such as perfumes, bath oils, flavorings, burning (for scent) and in cleaning products. However the majority of folk know of their use in medicine and especially in aromatherapy and other forms of alternative medicine. I use lavender oil in a variety of ways, I add it to my mixture for my oil burner to make the room smell nice but I also use about three drops in a bath when I suffer from achy limbs. When my limbs are very painful I gently rub it into the muscles but only when it is mixed with a carrier oil. As well as helping to relax the muscles it also helps me sleep better.

Herbs should be handled with great care as some can be extremely toxic to the human body (in large quantities). Special care should be taken if you are about to have a baby as something that seems safe can be surprisingly problematic, such as peppermint oil which should be totally avoided in its raw state. However spearmint and a few other mild oils can be used but to avoid the risk of miscarriage I would avoid all herbs and essential oils unless you know for certain they are safe.

The awesome thing about herbs is that growing your own is as hard as buying a herb kit and placing it near a window. To discover more visit http://store.landscapinginfo4u.com/

Published By Natural Health Trip

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