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As the New Year begins
By Iris Chiappolini
As the New Year begins and winter sets in, nature once again displays its beauty as the changing seasons continue to follow us. From green leafy trees to bare branches, from sunny days to grey skies of cold and snow, we can experience the beauty of nature that is always present. Do we realize too, that within these ever changing seasons lives a wide assortment of natural medicine that words to support, strengthen and regenerate our bodies?
Essential oils were very likely one of the first medicines of man. We find references to them throughout history, yet still their gifts remain a secret to many. We find them used more commonly in other countries, where in Europe doctors prescribe essential oils to treat illness. Here in the United States, we are now beginning to research and document the many properties of essential oils and re recognizing their ability to aid in the healing process.
Essential oils contain hundreds of chemical components, most of which have their own aroma and biological activity once absorbed into the body. A typical essential oil is a complex mixture of over 100 different chemical compounds giving the oil its aroma and therapeutic properties that have the ability to support the body in different ways. Therapeutic properties provided include immune-stimulating, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antispasmodic, antidepressant, sedative, expectorating and mucolytic, circulatory-stimulating, purifying and much more besides. They offer a gentle option for reestablishing homeostasis that works harmoniously with the human body and have the ability to enter and leave the body with great efficiency; when used safely, they leave no toxins behind. In addition they are wonderful adjuncts to all healing modalities, including orthodox medicine.
More than 60,000 different synthetic chemicals are presently available on the market, with about a thousand new chemicals being introduced per year. Orthodox medicine, although born of natural medicine, relies heavily on synthetic chemicals to effect changes in the body. We cannot deny the importance of this type of medicine that is used on a daily basis to save many lives, however, synthetic molecules in the body do cause side effects that cannot always be predicted. Dr. Jean Valnet, author of The Practice of Aromatherapy writes:
"Infectious germs do not appear to become accustomed to the essential oils as they do to the many forms of treatment using antibiotics. This is very important. The dramatic increase recently in the resistance of pathogenic micro-organisms to all types of antibiotics, sometimes even the latest ones is well known. However, we are finding that the effects of the same oils remain almost unchanged. The body cannot become habituated to the oils any more than it can become habituated to pure mountain air or personal hygiene. The results remain the same; they do not lessen over any length of time."
When my youngest daughter was sick with pneumonia at 8-months old, I used antibiotics in combination with acidophilus (important in helping to keep the intestinal floral strong) (Phyllis et al. p286), and believed this helped her to breathe normally again quickly and safely. I was concerned about a recurrence, as lung conditions can often reappear year after year. With an older sibling in school, I was anticipating what she would inevitably be bringing home and really did not want to resort to antibiotics once again. I was very successful using essential oils. At the very onset of a cold I began using oils supportive to the respiratory system eucalyptus radiata, eucalyptus globulus, ravensara, lavender, tear tree, lemon, peppermint, rosemary 1.8, hyssop and sweet thyme. Tea tree and lavender were added to her bath to help keep her immune system strong. I was particularly concerned with keeping mucus from entering her lungs and would select three or four of these oils and dilute them into a carrier oil of jojoba or sweet almond oil to prevent any irritation to her skin as well as helping to distribute the essential oils throughout her body. I would massage the oil onto her chest, throat, back of her neck, abdomen, back and feet, three to four times per day. In addition, I used a nebulizing diffuser, a small apparatus that disperses oils into the air via cold air pressure, keeping the molecular structure of the oils in its purest therapeutic form. During her playtime, nap and bedtime hours she could breathe in the properties of these oils which are most effective with respiratory ailments. I was very successful with these applications. I took her to the doctor a couple of times to check that the cold in her head was not moving into her chest and each doctor's visit ended with him saying, "her lungs are clear. " Music to my ears! She is now 2 and a half, and has not had any recurrence of mucus in the lungs.
Health involves the whole body, emotions, spiritual outlook, diet, exercise and our relationships. Essential oils are very effective with this picture of holistic health. They stimulate the body's own natural healing mechanisms as they enter the bloodstream and are carried to every cell in the body where they are most effective in promoting health, balance and regeneration.
References
Phyllis A, Balch CNC, James F, Balch M (2000) Prescription for Nutritional Healing (Third edition): Avery Publishing Group
Bibliography
Price S (1996) Aromatherapy for Babies and Children: Thorsons Publishers
Seller W (2001) The Directory of Essential Oils by Wanda Seller: The C W Daniel Company Ltd
Iris Chiappolini, M.S. practices Therapeutic Aromatherapy in the Mid-Hudson area of New York, where she lives with her husband and two children. She is available for personal consultations and offers classes in the safe use of essential oils. She has studied with the Institute of Dynamic Aromatherapy and is committed to ongoing study with the IAR, a non-profit research organization dedicated to upholding the purity of essential oils. She is a registered Flower Essence Practitioner and holds a Master's Degree in Special Education. She is the owner of Earth Essences, Inc., a company offering essential oils, E.O.b.b.d. certified to ensure therapeutic authenticity to medical practitioners and users. For questions and information on using or obtaining therapeutic essential oils, please email iris@earthessences.com or visit www.earthessences.com.