Essential Oils – What Are They and How Do You Use Them?
For those of us who enjoy the many varied aromas that nature offers us, essential oils can be a wonderful addition in our life to help improve our well being. You can use them in aromatherapy, for medicinal purposes and as flavouring in foods. But where do they come from and what exactly are they?
Basically, these highly aromatic oils are concentrated liquids that contain natural aroma composites from plants. They are called essential because they carry the distinctive aromas of the plants the come from. Basically, they hold the “essence” of that plant. One thing to keep in mind is that they should not be confused with fragrant oils, which are synthetic oils that contain both natural and artificial fragrances.
History of Essential Oils
Holistic treatments using pure oils have been around for thousands of years. Some of the first documented uses of essential oils for therapeutic purposes were found in ancient Egypt. The Egyptians used aromatic herbs and plants and their essences for rituals, cosmetics and medicines, as well as in the process of embalming and mummification. These uses and many others have been assimilated by many cultures and have been perpetuated throughout history into modern times, especially in the area of aromatherapy.
