The secret is in the scents

Dear Betsy, I enjoy reading your advice on aromatherapy. I have now bought a bottle of lavender oil but I am not sure exactly what to do with it. Can you help?

Lynda Gray

Dear Lynda,

I receive a lot of questions about aromatherapy so today begins a regular educational feature about aromatherapy, its history, origins and how to use the oils in everyday situations.

If you would like to build up your own 'aromafile' then cut out and keep the articles for future reference.

'The way to good health is to have a fragrant bath and a scented massage everyday.' -_Hippocrates (460 to 370 B.C.)

The above statement by the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates, centuries ago, is just as true today as it was then.

He believed that certain aromatic substances offered protection against contagious disease.

Now we know it to be true as scientists have long since proven that essential oils do have therapeutic properties.

Perhaps it is even more important today, as our modern world produces diseases that have become resistant to what we once considered the miracle of antibiotics.

Consider for a moment the recent scare regarding the SARS virus which is believed capable of mutating and evading the curative powers of our modern pharmacopeias.

Does the so far elusive 'cure' for SARS and other horrors such as Aids or even Bird Flu which threatens Bahrain's shores these days, perhaps lie hidden in the ancient art of Aromatherapy?

The magic of lavender oil

Known as the universal oil due to its ease of use and multipurpose properties, Lavender is also one of the safest oils for the whole family. Its name comes from the Latin 'lavare' meaning 'to wash' .

Lavender oil is responsible for the birth of modern aromatherapy as we know it today.

Like many important discoveries, it was the result of a fortunate 'accident'.

Early last century, French biochemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse was working in his laboratory. A small explosion occurred and he badly burned his hand.

It just so happened there was a vat of pure essential oil of lavender on his workbench into which he plunged his burned hand to soothe it.

Over the next day or so he found that his hand healed rapidly without blistering, and leaving no scars. Realising he was on to something important, he dedicated his life to researching the therapeutic properties of essential oils. Gattefosse coined the word 'aromatherapy' and published the first book on the subject, 'Aromatherapie' in 1928.

Lavender is truly the universal oil as it is extremely useful. Therapeutic, soothing, uplifting, it steadies the emotions and is useful for anxiety, panic attacks, stress, delusions, palpitations, nervousness and insomnia.

It is good for heart problems (both physical and emotional), reduces high blood pressure and normalises the lymphatic system.

Tension headaches, migraine and aches and pains respond well to lavender.

Skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis can be improved as it aids renewal of skin cells. Sunburn, insect bites, razor rash, burns and scalds are all soothed by lavender.

It is best avoided for the first three to four months of pregnancy but is otherwise considered very safe.

Headaches and migraines

2 drops lavender

1 drop peppermint

Put on a tissue and inhale deeply for a fast fix at the first sign of a migraine or tension headache. Tuck the tissue into your shirt or thobe pocket, or into your bra for lasting effects.

Insomnia

1 drop of lavender on the edge of your pillow or for children put one drop on a tissue and tuck it inside their pillowcase.

Boost your immune system

4 drops lavender

4 drops of lemon essential oil

1 cup of full fat milk

Run a warm bath and add the oils to the milk and pour into your bath at the last minute.

For children and the elderly, halve the amount of oils. This combination will help boost your immune system. Do it once a week, for 15 to 20 minutes.

First aid kit

Keep a bottle of lavender essential oil in your first aid kit. Unlike other oils, it can be applied neat to the skin in emergencies. Put one drop on a cotton bud for ant or insect bites.

For minor burns, run affected part under cold water for five minutes then apply a drop of two of neat lavender to the area. You can also add a few drops of lavender oil to a basin of cold or iced water to remove the sting and accelerate healing and prevent infection.

Consult your doctor for more serious burns or scalds. Sunburn can be treated with a cool lavender bath and adding a few drops to your after-sun cream, aloe vera gel or in extreme cases, a drop or two of neat oil applied directly to the area.

Fragrant clothes

5 drops lavender

3 drops rosewood

Mix with 100ml mineral water in a plant spray. Shake well, spray directly onto the clothes and iron immediately. Do not be tempted to pour the oils directly into your steam iron as it will damage the inside of the iron.

Massage

Mix 10 drops of pure essential oil of lavender with 20ml (four teaspoons) of cold pressed sweet almond oil. This is a very soothing combination and will soften and moisturise the skin if used after your bath.

Safety advice

If you are pregnant or undergoing medical treatment then seek your doctor's permission before using essential oils.

For babies under two years, you should seek the advice of a qualified aromatherapist - children and the elderly should use only HALF the quantities of essential oils.

Many people appreciate lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia or Lavandula officinalis) for its aromatic fragrance. Research has confirmed that it produces calming, soothing, and sedative effects.

Lavender is native to the mountainous zones of the Mediterranean where it grows in sunny, stony habitats. Today, it flourishes throughout southern Europe, Australia, and the United States.

Lavender is a heavily branched short shrub that grows to a height of roughly 60cm. Its broad rootstock bears woody branches with erect, rod-like, leafy, green shoots. A silvery down covers the gray-green narrow leaves, which are oblong and tapered, attached directly at the base, and curled spirally.

The oil in lavender's small, blue-violet flowers gives the herb its fragrant scent. The flowers are arranged in spirals of 6-10 blossoms, forming interrupted spikes above the foliage.

Essential oil is extracted from the fresh flowers of the lavender plant and used for medicinal purposes.

l If you have a question about aromatherapy then send it to me at

betsymathieson@hotmail.com

Next week

'The Arabs and Aromatherapy' how they influenced the development of aromatherapy and perfumery.

BETSY SAYS RELAX ...

Have a relaxing footbath. Prepare two basins of water, one hot and the other cold, adding some ice cubes to chill it if necessary.

Add one drop of tea tree oil and one drop of peppermint oil in a tablespoon of milk to each basin. Plunge your feet into the hot bath for three minutes then straight into the cold bath for three minutes and repeat.

Follow up by drying well, expecially in between your toes and applying a soothing foot lotion or even your regular body moisturiser. Revived and refreshed tootsies can have an amazing mood elevation effect.

If you only do one thing this week

Remember that Sunday (March 2) is Mothering Sunday in the UK. Here in Bahrain it can be very confusing as there are different dates for UK, US and Arab World Mother's Day.

It is very early this year and living abroad is no excuse as it is so easy to go online and order a gift. Try www.interflora.co.uk they will even send you a reminder every year when you have a special event coming up such as a birthday or anniversary. Alternatively, you can visit several local 'Interflora' affiliated flower shops who will make sure your floral tribute to mum is delivered safely.