Aromatherapy - Sleepy Moon Farm

THERAPEUTIC AROMATHERAPY . . .

History of Essential Oils:
Aromatic plants have been used by humankind since the dawn of history. There is evidence that over some 4,000 years ago, scents such as cypress, frankincense and myrrh were used.  Essential Oils have been used to promote physical, psychological and spiritual well-being.

Each plant essence is extracted from a single botanical source through a number of possible methods, the most common being steam distillation.  In this process, pressurized steam is passed through the plant matter, the steam evaporates and the oil is separated from the water which becomes the hydrosol.

Essential oils can be used topically, orally or by inhalation.

Essential oils are synthesized and stored in many parts of the plant:

• Eucalyptus and tea tree are extracted from the leaf
  

• Peppermint and clary sage are found in the glands on the leaf surface
  

• Oil of rose is extracted from the petals of the flower
  

• Clove oil comes from the dried flower buds
  

• With marjoram oil, the flowering tops are used, including petals, sepals, upper stalks and leaves
  

• And with yarrow the entire herb is used.
  

• Berries and twigs are used to make juniper oil
  

• Orange essential oil is made from the flowers, leaves and rind of the fruit
  

• Plants such as fennel, caraway and coriander bear their oil in the seeds
  

• And in the resin of a bush, frankincense and myrrh are produced
  

• With trees comes cedarwood and sandlewood from the chopped wood
  

• While pine and spruce are distilled mainly from the needles
  

• And finally vetiver essential oil is extracted from the root.
  

YIN/YANG  

Essential Oil’s have yin and yang properties as well:

• Yang (male, right side) physical - denotes the more substantial, the anatomical structure: The cells, tissues and organs
  

• Yin (female, left side) emotional - pertains to the more rarefied: The body’s energy, its vital force and dynamic functioning
  

For example, if an individual’s yang energy is deficient, they are likely to feel chilly, tired and unmotivated and will benefit from warming, invigorating essential oil’s such as lemon, rosemary or ginger which promote circulation of blood, stimulate digestion and counteract rheumatic pain.

THE 5 ELEMENTS

The 5 elements of Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood play an important role in the therapeutic uses of essential oil’s.  They can be understood as the 5 phases or movements of yin and yang energy

Fire – root emotion, joy
         Season; summer
         Organs; heart, sm. intes., pericardium/triple warmer
         Therapeutic intention; to stabilize, anchor and strengthen
         Oils; neroli, ginger and rose
Earth – root emotion, reflection
           Season; late summer
           Organs; stomach, spleen/pancreas
           Therapeutic intention; to clarify and nourish
           Oils; fennel, benzoin and vetiver
Metal – root emotion, grief
            Season; autumn
            Organs; lung/lg intes.
            Therapeutic intention; to open and invigorate
            Oils; cypress, peppermint and eucalyptus
Water – root emotion, fear
            Season; winter
            Organs; kidney/bladder
            Therapeutic intention; to stabilize, anchor strengthen
            Oils; angelica root, cedarwood, juniperberry and ginger
Wood – root emotion anger
            Season; spring
            Organs; liver/gallbladder
            Therapeutic intention; to release, move and relax
            Oils; roman chamomile, yarrow and bergamot