Flowers + their gift of Aromatherapy
It is likely that everyone has at one time or another smelled the scent of a plant; whether it is the scent of a pine forest, a bouquet of roses, a dinner prepared with spices, or the smell of freshly cut grass. Scents are seemingly endless because plants are all around us and therefore so are their aromas. It is true that scents play a large role in our physical and mental well being that we are often unaware of and they have an even greater potential to benefit our health if we become more educated with there uses. This is where the study of aromatherapy comes into play. Â
Aromatherapy is a discipline that is geared toward a holistic approach of healing the body with the use of plants (Rodale). It seeks to find the balance between mind, body and spirit by using the healing benefits of plants through the use of their essential oils. To understand what aromatherapy means it is best to look at the word itself. Â For example, when you break the word âaromatherapyâ into âaromaâ and âtherapyâ its meaning is easier to understand. Â The word âaromaâ is understood as âscentâ or âsmellâ and âtherapyâ is known as a âhealing process.â So, ultimately it is known as: a process that uses the bodyâs sense of smell in order to heal itself. Â
Aromatherapyâs main ingredient in the process of healing the body is the use of essential oils. Essential oils are derived from wild or cultivated plants (Wikipedia). Wild plants are preferred, as they yield the most active and best-balanced product (Ryman). The essential oils themselves are simply the oils that the plant produces naturally as an internal fungicide, pesticide, or externally as an attractant or detracting element. For example, a plant may produce a sweet smell in order to attract pollinating insects which is crucial for there reproduction. Or a plant may produce an odor to keep grazing animals away. Either way, these oils are known as essential oils in the aromatherapy industry. They are cultivated from roots, leaves, bark, flowers, fruits, etc.
When essential oils are collected, they are used by the consumer in a variety of ways. Common uses include teas and lotions. There are 2 main methods of delivery for the essentials oils to enter the human body: liquid and vapor. When the body senses a vapor, it is inhaled and as the diagram below shows, the olfactory bulb reacts, and a message is sent to the limbic system of the brain. From there the brain controls the rest of the body and thus, the aromatic substance affects the human body.
  Not only are essential oils important in healing the body but also, the plants themselves. Some of the specific plants that are important in healing include Carrots, Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Citronella, Garlic, Echinacea, Thyme, Dandelion, Lavender, and Peppermint. These are to name just a few.
As you know, carrots are a very important vegetable. Â They have become one of the worldâs most important root vegetables and are rich in nutritive and curative properties. They have been around for centuries and have been used as a blood cleanser, as well as a remedy for healing liver and skin problems, allergies, inflammation of the intestines and as a tonic for the nervous system (Ryman 75). Â Essential oils that come from carrots come from the carrot seeds that have been crushed. Carrots are also beneficial for the bodyâs eyesight.
Aloe Vera is a wonderful medicinal plant that has a manifold of benefits. It is often used as a gel, or ointment lotion for skin abrasions or burns. The clear gel from the plant which has a high-water content of about 96% has been used for many years. Aloe Vera can be applied to the human body both internally, as an Aloe Vera capsule or externally as a lotion.
Both the leaves and the flowers of Rosemary are extremely aromatic which makes this plant a natural body stimulant. It is known as a cheerful herb and can be used for both mental and physical tiredness. Tea made from Rosemary is known to be beneficial to the human liver as well. Another use for Rosemary is to plant it in a vegetable garden to discourage pests from invading.
Citronella belongs to the same family of aromatic, oil- rich tropical grasses as lemongrass and palmarosa (Ryman 89.). It is a major plant used in the aromatherapy industry from which the essential oils are distilled from the leaves. It can be used as an insecticide as well as an antiseptic that can be applied to the skin to stop and itching. It is used a great deal in commercial preparations such as soaps, cleaning products and insecticides.
Garlic has been described as an aphrodisiac, as well as a treatment for a large variety of other conditions, including colds, coughs, high blood pressure, hypertension, diarrhea, rheumatism and snakebites (Boon 122). It is primarily use is to reduce high cholesterol. Â The bulb is the part of the plant that is used medicinally. There are current studies being done to determine if the plant can be used as a tick repellant as well.
Common uses of Echinacea include resistance to colds, the flu and it is used on skin abrasions and ulcerations. Traditionally, the roots are the primary use, but the flower and leaf parts have uses too. It has been reported to lose its ability to stimulate the immune system if taken continuously for an extended period of time, so it is recommended to take a 3-or more day break after using it for a month or so.
Thyme is widely used for culinary purposes and it produces a very aromatic scent. It is used externally as an antiseptic and internally as a tonic for treating coughs and strengthening the respiratory system (Boon 255). Thyme oil is considered to be a moderate dermal irritant and strong mucous membrane irritant, so it is important that it is used in diluted forms.
Dandelions are often seen as weeds in our lawn, but they can be beneficial to our health when they are used properly. Common uses include fresh dandelion leaves in salads or on sandwiches, the roots as a coffee substitute, and the flowers in the making of wine.
Lavender has a very calming affect on the human body. It is used to aid those with restlessness, insomnia and the loss of appetite. Â It is one of the safest and most widely used oils in the aromatherapy discipline. The flowers are the main part of the plant that is used.
Peppermint is a common plant in the American industry and well known for its flavor. However, it has other uses as well. When you do not perspire enough it has been said that you should frequently drink an infusion of elder flowers, peppermint and lovage; taken as a mixed herb tea (Vogel 318).
As you can see, Aromatherapy is an important part of keeping our bodies healthy and the more one learns about it, the more it can be applied and used to benefit our lives and the lives around us.
 Happy Smelling!
Reba
  Works Cited:
Boon, Heather and Smith, Michael. The Complete Natural Medicine Guide to the 50
Most Common Medicinal Herbs. Ontario, Canada 2004.
 McDowell, Robert. Robert McDowellâs Herbal Treatments.
http://www.herbal-treatments.com.au/. 2000-2007
 Rodale, R. The Healing Garden. Rodaleâs organic gardening
 Ryman,Danilele. Aromatherapy. The Complete Guide to Plant and flower Essences for Health and Beauty. New York, 1993.   Â
 Vogel, Dr. H.C.A. The Nature Doctor. Switzerland 1991
 Wikipedia. Aromatherapy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aromatherapy