Aromatherapy

Archive for July, 2008

by Jim Miller

Even if you are new to the world of using herbs and essential oils for non-culinary purposes, as soon as you begin, you will be doing your body and your home a world of good.

Well, if you are the least bit curious, read on! Herbs and essential oils have untold health benefits-for both physical and mental well-being. You can derive their benefits in many different ways, and here are just a few:

- Both herbs and therapeutic essential oils can be used in cooking. They can also strengthen your immune system.

- Using herbal teas and therapeutic essential oils can help your digestive systems. There are great sources if you are looking to detoxify your body.

- A lot of store bought cleaning supplies, cold remedies, digestion supplements, etc can contain chemicals that can cause toxicity to the body. You can avoid this with herbs and therapeutic grade essential oils.

If you think this is new-age hocus pocus, you’re wrong! The use of herbs and essential oils has been ongoing from the beginning of civilization. They have been vital to the preservation of food, among other things. Think of things that are mentioned in the Bible-frankincense, myrrh, bitter herbs-these natural things had a purpose then, and continue to be useful today. Pliny, a soldier of ancient Rome, wrote a Natural History, which references the use of many plants. He lived in the first century. Much of his knowledge is attributed to the research and writings of Mithridates of Eupator (120-66BC). So plants and their chemical properties have been important since the dawn of time.

Today, herbs are very important to modern medicine; heart medicine alone would not be the same without the complicated chemical properties of certain plants. A great example is foxglove, also known as digitalis, which is used to make pills that treat certain heart problems. Ironically, the plant itself is poisonous, but scientists have been able to isolate the properties that make it a life-saving medicine.

Given that we have perfected agricultural methods, and ways of extracting the best out of the herbs and flowers that give us essential oils, we are endowed with purer, more potent, and more consistent results. Therapeutic-grade oils are an example of such horticultural, engineering, and scientific achievements.

You should be aware, as you learn about using herbs and essential oils, that not all essential oils are the same. Many are not to be ingested; if you want to use oils for recipes, you must seek out food-grade oils. And if you plan on using oils for aromatherapy, purchase only those labeled “therapeutic-grade.” Not all natural food stores or health food stores carry therapeutic-grade oils. They are different because they are more potent and effective than the every day store-bought variety. Since they are extracted and refined using the best methods available, you can expect much better results with therapeutic-grade oils than if you purchase inferior oils.

So, if you feel that you can be doing more for your family’s health and well-being, you can start with herbal supplements and therapeutic-grade essential oils. You just might notice that your kids are getting sick less often, you have more energy later into the evening, and that’s all of the proof you need that thousands of years of history can’t be wrong.
About the Author:
If you are having health challenges and are seeking natural health solutions, you must check out the wonderful resources that Jim Miller has compiled on herbs and therapeutic grade essential oils. It could be life changing !!