Aromatherapy - Scent Therapy

Written by Karen Dyck

Releasing Trauma With Aroma

Article researched and written by:
Karen Dyck, B.Ed., Ch.H., M.P.

Website: http://www.profumovitale.com/

Email Karen at Profumo Vitale  -  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Essential oils are the volatile essences collected from plants through steam distillation.  These aromatic substances are the regenerating, oxygenating and immune defense properties of plants.  In a nutshell, they are “plant energy”.

Essential oils are so small in molecular size they can quickly penetrate the tissues of the skin and enter the bloodstream, carrying their benefits deep into the body.  They stimulate our immune systems by oxygenating cells.  This encourages cells to detoxify – the main job of all healthy cells.  By encouraging cellular regeneration, these potent healers seek to balance and vitalize.

Our sense of smell links us to our memories and desires.  It alerts us of harmful things like fire and rotten food.  Our sense of smell connects us to the earth and to the people we love.  Being human is to be physical, emotional, intellectual and instinctual.  To be as healthy as we can be – to restore balance after trauma – we need to address every aspect of ourselves.  This is the “mind – body connection”.  We have always known this.  Now science supports it.  Studies are ongoing, and documented proof exists.

Everything alive has an electric frequency.  (This is the premise of biofeedback).  If we are depressed; physically, emotionally or spiritually, our immune system becomes depressed and our electric frequencies drop.  This opens us up to the possibility of disease and chronic illness.  Essential oils contain the electric vibrations of health.  I am a natural perfumer, and have learned that natural aromatic substances radiate coloured auras on a Cyrillic photograph.

Synthetic chemicals do not.  When natural essential oils are introduced into our bodies by inhalation, digestion, or massage, they raise our own inherent vibrations and thus promote the healthy balance we seek.

When healing after trauma, particularly emotional and spiritual trauma, or from the emotions caused by traumatic events, it is important to understand the blood/brain barrier.  This barrier is the membrane between the circulatory blood and the brain.  It prevents certain damaging substances from reaching the brain tissue and spinal fluid.  This is a good plan by nature, but it can conversely be difficult since it prevents the cure of disease originating in the brain.  This is where aromatic essential plant essences show their greatest promise.  Some essential oils have constituents called “sequiterpenes”.  These essential oil molecules have the ability to penetrate the blood/brain barrier.  High levels of sequiterpenes are found in the essential oils of Frankincense and Sandalwood.  These oils oxygenate and increase antibodies, endorphins and neurotransmitters in the limbic system of the brain.  Aromatherapists have always known that the limbic system is directly connected to our sense of smell. More specifically, there is a small gland present in the limbic called the “amygdala”.   In 1989 it was first discovered that this gland plays a major role in storing and releasing emotional trauma.  The only way to stimulate the amygdala is with aroma or through the sense of smell.

Therefore, with essential oils we are now able to release emotional trauma.

But which oils?   Most importantly, make sure your supplier provides therapeutic grade essential oils.  There are a lot of cheap imitations around and you want to make sure that you keep your health as top priority.  Ask questions…  Particularly “Is there a gas chromatograph profile for the oil available from the supplier”?

There are several things to consider when choosing a unique blend for healing emotional, physical or spiritual trauma.  First, we all know that scents are powerful triggers for memory.  Any smell you associate with painful or negative memory should be eliminated right away.  “One man’s medicine is another man’s poison”.  Fragrance choice is always personal and unique to each individual.  I am acutely aware of this in my career as a custom perfumer.  It is always amazing to me that something that can cause paroxysm of pleasure in one person, can be highly distasteful to someone else.  So, the first rule is to choose oils that have pleasant associations for you, or those that are new and pleasing.

Secondly, consider the best way to administer essential oils.  Skin penetration through massage or application to the skin in perfumes, creams, powders is one way to take advantage of the therapeutic properties.  Oils applied to the soles of the feet or behind or in the rim of the ear are effective entry points.  Inhalation by just breathing from the bottle, or breathing air from diffusers or steam pots is another.   Ingesting essential oils is something that is commonly done in Europe, but not endorsed in North America.  If you would like to take advantage of this method, please work with a qualified aromatherapist.

Techniques like raindrop therapy, reflexology massage, auricular and vita-flux, baths, and compresses can also be used.

Thirdly, choose oils appropriate for the method of administration.  For example, some oils are suitable for inhalation, but not for skin application since they can be irritating in large amounts (clove, cinnamon, thyme, oregano).  They may contain phenols or ketones (thujone).  These oils are, however, extremely beneficial in tiny amounts as inhalants, and can be used in minute amounts in topical blends.

Lastly, understand your blend.  Make sure you choose oils that have the therapeutic effect you are looking for.  Blending these with knowledge is something a qualified aromatherapist or natural perfumer can do.  You can also learn by experimenting.  Consider that some oils are so powerful that only a drop can be used in a blend.  Others can be used in higher proportions.  Get a good book on essential oils if you want to experiment yourself.

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And finally, a gift especially for you!

A unique recipe to use in your hospital room, at home, as you rebuild or in your workplace …

A BALANCED PERFUME FOR HEALING THE EMOTIONAL AND
SPIRITUAL EFFECTS OF  TRAUMA:

Trauma Perfume

Spruce 3, Bergamot 8, Coriander 4, Rose Geranium 6, Rose Absolute 2, Lavender 7, Frankincense 10, Sandalwood 3, Angelica root 2

Add 1 drop of Patchouli to the blend if desired

Precious Oil - make it with a carrier oil (ie jojoba, coconut, sweet almond)
(Count the number of drops of essential oils – ie 45 drops – and add 2 x the number of drops of carrier oil – ie 90 drops of carrier oil

Spritzer with 4/5 distilled water and 1/5 vodka (perhaps 2 ounces of distilled water and ½ an ounce of vodka with the same number of drops of essential oils above)

Perfume strength for both is 1/3 volume and you can dilute it further to suit your needs.

Solid Perfume: Melt 1/2 tsp grated beeswax and add 4 ml carrier oil.  Keep liquid by using a double boiler.  When oil and wax is well melted and blended, quickly stir in your essential oil blend - 40-60 drops in total.  Put in a small container and when it is cool, seal with a lid.   

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An excellent book  on the topic of essential oil used for healing is The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Wormwood

Another great book is The Illustrated Guide to Aromatherapy by Julie Lawless.  Both of these books are available at Amazon and can be accessed by clicking on the names of the books.

There is also a fabulous book for anyone who wants to delve deeper into the art of natural perfumery – it is written by the wonderful woman who was my teacher, Mandy Aftel. It is called Essence and Alchemy.

Article researched and written by:
Karen Dyck, B.Ed., Ch.H., M.P.
Profumo Vitale   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it