Aromatherapy at home: tips, warnings, reviews. Essential oils from lemon wormwood and Tauride wormwood. Fragrances for all occasions

Smells overtake us everywhere and act in the most unexpected way. For example, in the morning, on the platform near the elevator, you suddenly smell the aroma of fresh pastries from somewhere - and immediately your heart will feel warm, you will remember your grandmother's house. Or in the crowd you will suddenly smell the delicate scent of a rose. You look around - no, this, of course, is not your mother, a strange woman, she just uses perfume, the smell of which is stored in your memory.

Fragrances affect mood and feelings. They may recall childhood or a certain person. They attract, invigorate, but they can also repel or alert.

As far back as the beginning of the last century, it was found that essential oils can also be used for medicinal purposes, for example, to relieve burn and muscle pain, help with sleep disorders, stressful conditions, promote relaxation. Treatment "through the nose" is called aromatherapy.

Someone may say: “Again mysticism, esoteric methods of treatment, again we will talk about the soul that lives in the plant, and the choice of aromatic essences depends on your zodiac sign. Sorry, this is not for me!”

Nothing to do about! Even if we do not take into account the magic, the trail of which stretches for aromatherapy from the depths of centuries, the positive effect of treatment with essential oils remains - you can’t get anywhere, there is still something in it. In the end, the basis of herbal medicine is also the healing power of plant substances, and this science is recognized today by many doctors as one of the branches of naturopathy - the study of natural healing factors.

How essential oils work

Studies have shown that the substances that make up essential oils, after they are inhaled, lead to physiological changes in the body. However, in order for these changes to be registered, many reactions must occur: the molecules of essential oils activate the receptors of the nasal mucosa, and, consequently, the olfactory nerve. The irritation is transmitted further to the limbic system in the interstitial brain and begins to affect our feelings and memory. In addition, through nervous system there is an impact on the vegetative processes of the body - respiration, cardiac activity, blood circulation, digestion.

The second mechanism of influence works more purposefully. When inhaled, aromatic molecules are absorbed by the nasal and/or bronchial mucosa; if the essential oil is rubbed in, it is absorbed by the skin. In this way, aromatic substances enter the circulatory system, are delivered to various organs and enter the brain. How strongly we can feel this effect depends on the amount and composition of the plant from which the oil was made, and on the individual characteristics of the organism and its sensitivity to irritations.

The effect of essential oils of certain plants has been studied especially well by naturopaths.

• Muscat, eucalyptus, lemon: inhalation weakens.
• Grapefruit and rosemary: added to bath water tones the body.
• Lavender, bitter orange, rose and nutmeg: soothe and promote sleep.
• Chinese cinnamon, Ceylon, coriander, spearmint, citrus fruits, cumin, saffron, lavender: disinfect the air.

The market today offers about 200 types of essential oils. If you want to try them, you should not buy and smell everything in a row, first consult a specialist knowledgeable in aromatherapy in pharmacies or sales departments where these fragrant products are sold.

By no means can it be assumed that essential oils are absolutely harmless and that their action is exceptionally mild just because it is a herbal product. On the contrary, an overdose of concentrated eucalyptus oil, for example, can lead to respiratory arrest in an infant, and an excessive amount of sage oil can cause premature contractions in a pregnant woman. Accidental ingestion or misuse of the oil in diseases such as epilepsy, high blood pressure(hypertension) and are also very dangerous.

The main thing is the correct dose

When treating with pure essential oils, a few drops are enough to get the desired effect. But you should never take more than ten drops for one procedure, and for children - a maximum of five. It is also important to know that essential oils are not recommended for use in pure form. What to dissolve in depends on the form in which they will be used. For example, as an additive to bath water, essential oil is best mixed with vegetable, cream or honey. For massage oils, for example, almond oil or jojoba oil. Essential oils work especially intensively during inhalation: when a person is covered with his head to inhale the steam, one or three drops of oil per two liters of very hot water are enough. Be careful: to avoid scalding or poisoning a child, never leave him alone with an inhaler or an aroma lamp.

It is the dose that is the main factor on which the main thing depends: whether the use of essential oil will bring benefit or harm.

A mixture of different essential oils helps well, for example, when rinsing children, you can mix cajuput oil (cajuput is a type of tea tree), tea tree oil and lemon. For nausea, you can prepare a mixture of oils of lemon, bergamot, sandalwood and cream, which must be dropped into the bath water.

First of all, essential oils are recommended for or when you feel unwell. Problems arise when essential oils are used to treat serious illnesses, such as pneumonia or even cancer. These diseases are treated only with medicines, and aromatherapy can sometimes accompany the course of treatment - and then if the doctor does not mind.

How to choose a good essential oil?

Natural essential oils are sold in special departments of large department stores, they can be found in pharmacies or in specialized outlets. As a rule, oils are poured into small vials of dark brown glass. They are much more expensive than synthetic ones. Experts in the field of aromatherapy believe that only natural essential oils have the full range of active medicinal substances.

A high quality essential oil should have the following information on the label: Latin name plants, an indication of the 100% natural composition, data on the plant from which the product is made, the country of manufacture, the method of growing the plant crop, the method of producing the oil. More detailed information can be obtained from specialized literature and books on aromatherapy and essential oils.

Flavors are everywhere

The scope of essential oils is very wide. Even if a person is perfectly healthy, he can use positive effect, which is given pleasant smells and aromatic oils - for a good mood, body care, to stimulate sensuality. Yes, and in the kitchen they will come in handy - as components included in recipes for dishes and confectionery. In this case, you should not delve into the mechanism of action active substances individual oils, but trust your nose: you like what is pleasant to inhale.

And this is true: a pleasantly smelling cream or body lotion, an aromatic lamp next to the chair in which we like to spend time reading a book, give not only a feeling of bliss and comfort. A favorite scent signals emotions: in the brain, the smell is connected with the memory of a pleasant situation for us. Therefore, certain aromas help to relax more easily.

But all of the above does not mean that you should constantly surround yourself or your child with the smell of essential oils. Children's skin itself has a very pleasant smell that does not need to be suppressed by any perfume, and over time, the constant inhalation of aromatic substances will have a bad effect on the sense of smell: we will simply lose it. Too frequent irritation of the olfactory nerve can also have long-term consequences - a person will begin to suffer from headaches or feel worse. The old principle applies here: less is better.

Essential oils

Ayurveda uses several levels of treatment. In the simplest of these, patients can self-medicate. Aromatherapy or essential oil treatment can be referred to such types of treatment. However, before starting treatment, you should understand the types of essential oils and determine the degree of impact of each oil on the human body.

It should be noted that the method of treatment with essential oils has a long history and has been tested for centuries. Aromatherapy refers to alternative medicine, along with homeopathy, herbal medicine, herbal medicine. In ancient times, there was only traditional medicine, which served humanity for thousands of years. AT modern world with the development of the pharmaceutical industry, it has moved into the category of alternative, that is, non-traditional in terms of modern doctors. Nevertheless, herbal medicine and traditional medicine have many adherents. modern medicine forced to reckon with this, and drugs using plant materials remain in the arsenal of pharmacotherapy.

The main tools of aromatherapy are essential oils. It has now been proven that the components of essential oils can be formed in various parts plants; to a large extent they accumulate in certain tissues, in dissolved or emulsified state.

Aromatherapy is the use of smells and aromas to restore the body and heal. It is believed that the use of aromatherapy gives excellent results in the treatment of people of all ages suffering from serious illnesses to the usual ailments. Aromatherapy can bring relief to people suffering from long-term or recurrent illnesses that are not amenable to traditional treatments. Sometimes medicines cause discomfort side effects, in such cases, aromatherapy can also help restore health. Some oils have proven to be effective antiseptics, while others, such as lavender, tea tree, and geranium, work well against infections caused by viruses, bacteria, or fungi.

Aromatherapy can bring quick relief to a stressed, depressed, or angry person and heal insomnia and headaches. Essential oils have a calming or mild stimulating effect, improve well-being.

Basic methods of aromatherapy

• aromatic massage has an excellent effect on the central nervous system, blood circulation and respiratory organs. The essential oil is mixed with a base or massage cream, and massage is done with this homogeneous mass;
• compresses with aromatic oils designed to affect a specific part of the body or organ. To do this, the essential oil is added to hot (or cold) water, then the cloth is moistened and applied to the desired area for 10-30 minutes;
• aromatic baths usually taken in courses. Essential oil or a mixture of oils is added to the most last moment so that it doesn't evaporate. The action of oils in baths is based on the fact that they are instantly absorbed into the skin and penetrate within a few seconds into the internal organs: kidneys, lungs, liver;
• inhalations with essential oils - aroma lamps (drops of oil are added to warm water, a candle is lit to heat the water), hot inhalations (when you need to breathe hot steam with the addition of oil, covered with a towel) and cold inhalations (oil is dripped onto a cloth and sniffed for five minutes ).

Treatment of certain diseases with aromatherapy

Colds: inhalations and massages with essential oils of fir, sage, eucalyptus, bergamot, clove, ginger, lavender, mint, tea tree, chamomile.

Cardiovascular diseases: Some essential oils, such as hyssop, can have a tonic or regulatory effect on blood circulation. "Hot" essential oils, stimulate circulation, warm up, increase body temperature (benzoin, camphor, cinnamon bark, juniper, sage, thyme). "Cooling" oils help reduce arterial pressure blood (lavender, pink geranium). Like lemon balm and neroli, ylang-ylang essential oil has a calming effect on the heart, reduces heart palpitations, relieves heart spasm.

Diseases genitourinary system : with cystitis, they take baths with the addition of pine, chamomile, birch, sandalwood, lavender, eucalyptus, thyme, with urolithiasis- chamomile, lemon, juniper, pine, thyme, cypress, cedar, rosewood.

Gynecological diseases: for menopause, PMS, menstrual disorders, aroma baths with essential oils of geranium, iris, cypress, mimosa, chamomile, ylang-ylang, sage, anise, jasmine, rose, verbena, juniper, lemon balm, vanilla, rosemary are used; for inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, essential oils are used: birch, chamomile, lavender, tea tree, sandalwood, sage, basil, hyssop, cypress, rose, geranium, pine, thyme, eucalyptus.

Diseases of the nervous system: for depression, inhalations and aroma lamps are made with essential oils of bergamot, geranium, lavender, mimosa, verbena, ylang-ylang, hyssop, cedar and thyme; with neurasthenia - oils of fir, geranium, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage, lemon; in a depressed state - essential oils of basil, pine, lavender, mimosa, nutmeg, orange, oregano, vanilla and lemon, wormwood, lemon wormwood and thyme.

Fragrances for Meditation

Sandalwood, vanilla, valerian and frankincense are ideal for meditation and relaxation. It is also appropriate to use the smells of ylang-ylang, patchouli. If you are lacking vitality If you want to make up for it, experiment with flavors by adding a little lemon or lime to the vanilla. For morning meditation, it is good to use orange-scented oil.

Specialty stores now sell special incense sticks for meditation. They can be a good substitute for an aroma lamp. You can use scented candles. In this case, you will not only enjoy the desired aroma, but also add intimacy to the illumination of the room.

The use of essential oils for:

Aromatherapy is a natural means of combating pathogenic bacteria.

At present, it can be said with confidence that a strictly built system of traditional medicine perfectly mastered the knowledge and techniques of this science. Numerous modern scientific studies have confirmed this. First of all, it is worth noting the antiseptic effect of essential oils, i.e. they can inhibit the growth of bacteria. When essential oils evaporate indoors, public transport almost completely destroyed pathogenic microflora and a therapeutic and prophylactic effect is formed.

Essential oils and natural antibiotics contained, for example, in St. John's wort (Imanin), immortelle (Arenanin), medicinal sage (Salvin), celandine, etc. higher organisms. The antiseptic ability of essential oils does not weaken, does not decrease with time, and the body does not get used to aromatic therapeutic agents.

Microbes with prolonged contact with essential oils practically do not develop resistance to them. If we consider this issue at the cellular level, then we can state that essential oils create such a habitat for microbes in which they cannot develop normally and die without adapting to new conditions.

Essential oils act destructively on the cytoplasmic membranes of microorganisms, reduce their permeability, reduce the activity of aerobic respiration of microbes. And this is the antibiotic effect through modification internal environment organism.

This phenomenon is incomparably more important, because by modifying, changing the environmental conditions that allowed the development of microbes, their pathogenic formation, essential oils counteract their survival, preventing them from creating protection or adapting to an aggressive agent. Moreover, they prevent the revival of microbes both immediately and after a long time.

Thus, there are no changes in the genetic apparatus of microbial cells, i.e., essential oils do not have a mutagenic effect.

In addition to the fact that essential oils inhibit vital activity pathogenic microorganisms, they also contribute to the penetration of antibiotics into the human cell and thereby make it possible to reduce the doses of antibiotics when serious illnesses. It has been established that combinations of basil, lemon, lavender and other essential oils with antibiotics show the greatest antimicrobial effect, while the effect of the latter increases 4-10 times.

In addition to antiseptic and bactericidal properties, many essential oils have antiviral properties. Of particular value are essential oils for aromatherapy during outbreaks of viral influenza, as well as for air sanitation in hospitals, childcare facilities, and crowded places. It is known that people living in forest areas get sick two to four times less, especially SARS, influenza, tonsillitis, bronchitis compared to city dwellers, since the air in the forest is constantly cleaned with phytonicides and essential oils.

Essential oils have antiseptic, antimicrobial and antibacterial action, which allows them to be used with high efficiency for the treatment of various colds and their complications.
With pulmonary tuberculosis, treatment with essential oils gives a decrease in temperature, a decrease in cough, strength, weight and appetite return, blood normalizes, Koch's bacilli disappear. Among the main antiseptics, one should single out the essential oil of lemon, lavender, pine, fir, eucalyptus, etc.

Of particular interest is the use of essential oils for the treatment bronchopulmonary diseases. As the practice of a number of sanatorium institutions of the Crimea shows, essential oils - sage, pine, fir, lavender and others, having antiseptic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, are effectively used in complex treatment chronic bronchitis, pneumonia.

The use of composite mixtures of essential oils of mint, lemon wormwood, sage, lavender helps to increase the functional activity of the respiratory system of the lungs. When using them, there is a tendency to increase the tidal volume, minute volume of breathing, maximum ventilation of the lungs, oxygen utilization factor.

It should be noted that frequent colds or chronic diseases drive a person into vicious circle. He takes medicines, often uncontrollably, and these are - let's not forget, substances of chemical origin. Their acceptance does not go unnoticed. Together with the impact of other harmful factors develops the so-called secondary immunodeficiency or secondary immunological deficiency.

In this case, a chronic disease, unfavorable environmental conditions and immunodeficiency can completely deregulate the body's functioning system, weaken immune responses. And as a result, the pathological process progresses. Thus, a weakened and often ill person should think about immunocorrection. And in this case, essential oils can act as immunomodulators, especially when administered directly to the respiratory tract in low concentrations.

The use of essential oils for colds

Cold- essential oils of eucalyptus, fennel, rosemary, sage, tea tree, pine, thyme, fir, mint, juniper, lavender, thyme, lemon, cloves.

Flu, SARS- tea tree, sage, eucalyptus, cajuput, pine, bergamot, basil, frankincense, lemon, clove, thyme, naioli, anise, orange, basil, bergamot, clove, fir, juniper, mint, rosemary, lavender, chamomile, vetiver.

Methods of administration: massage, inhalation, ingestion (specialist consultation).

Rhinitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, otitis, inflammation maxillary sinuses : geranium, hyssop, fir, sage, thyme, eucalyptus, bergamot, clove, ginger, lavender, cajuput, myrrh, naioli, sandalwood, pine, limmet, lemon, marjoram, mint, tea tree, rose, chamomile.

Methods of administration: massage, inhalation, tampons.

The use of essential oils in diseases of the bronchopulmonary system

Cough- essential oils of anise, eucalyptus, fennel, chamomile, tea tree.

Dyspnea- essential oils of pine, lemongrass, mandarin, orange, rosemary, cedar and lemon.

Bronchitis- essential oils of eucalyptus, fir, rosemary, sage, thyme, cedar pine, lemon and thyme.

Tracheitis, acute and Chronical bronchitis : anise, frankincense, oregano, iris, thuja, thyme, lavender, juniper, mint, chamomile, pine, eucalyptus, hyssop, cypress, fir, spruce, cajuput.

Bronchial asthma: frankincense, eucalyptus, thuja, cedar, thyme, oregano, cajuput, nayoli, hyssop, frankincense, myrrh.

Pneumonia: tea tree, incense, thuja, eucalyptus, sage, frankincense, pine, thyme, sandalwood, oregano, naioli, rosemary.

Methods of administration: massage, baths, inhalations.

The use of essential oils in cardiovascular diseases

With angina pectoris coronary disease heart, arrhythmias the following essential oils are used: lavender, rosemary, rose, mint, lemon balm, hyssop, geranium, ylang-ylang, frankincense, neroli.

With hypertension: ylang-ylang, hyssop, lemon, lavender, juniper, cypress, geranium, neroli, thuja.

For diseases of the veins and arteries: lemon, cajuput, hyssop, cypress, marjoram, oregano.

With hypotension: clove, sage, thyme, leuzea, verbena, rosemary, ginger, pine.

Methods of application: aroma lamp, massage, baths, compresses, as directed by a specialist, oral administration is allowed.

The use of essential oils in diseases of the digestive system.

Many essential oils have diuretic, choleretic and antispasmodic properties, which causes them wide application for treatment inflammatory processes with kidney disease, urinary tract, liver, biliary tract, and due to its pronounced bactericidal properties - for the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract.
The intestines, the site of somatization of numerous disorders, is stimulated by rose, rosemary, and calamus essential oils.

Essential oils of anise, lemon, juniper inhibit fermentation. The systematic use of essential oils inside is a guarantee of balance and reliable bowel function.

Some essential oils are used as anthelmintic(lemon, caraway, bergamot, geranium, garlic).

Heartburn, peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum : chamomile, cajuput, lavender, sage, rose, ginger, sandalwood, oregano, mint.

Flatulence, intestinal colic, colitis, diseases of the rectum: clove, coriander, orange, grapefruit, anise, fennel, valerian, lavender, mint, lemon balm, vanilla, chamomile, cypress.

Haemorrhoids: cypress, carrot seed oil, birch, hyssop, cajuput, geranium, pine, thuja, rose.

constipation: fennel, hyssop, chamomile, anise, limette.

Diarrhea: sage, geranium, sandalwood, chamomile, cloves, ginger, nutmeg.

Administration methods: massage, baths, according to the instructions of a specialist, ingestion is possible.

The use of essential oils in liver diseases

Rosemary and rose essential oils promote production and excretion of bile. Essential oils of lavender, mint, sage, thyme, fir, juniper, and calamus have the same properties.

Essential oils prevent the formation of stones both bile and urinary.

For the treatment of diseases liver, gallbladder and excretory tract, cholelithiasis aromatherapy also uses the following essential oils: carrot seed oil, lemon, grapefruit, orange, tangerine, birch, neroli, fennel, anise.

Methods of application: aroma lamp, massage, compresses, aroma baths. With the appointment of a specialist, oral administration is possible.

Use of essential oils for skin conditions

The use of essential oils in the treatment of skin diseases is explained by their antiseptic properties.

burns: lavender, eucalyptus, chamomile, geranium, rose, cajuput (applications, including topical application of pure lavender oil, rose).

Insect bites: lavender, sage, lemon, geranium, thyme, thyme, eucalyptus, tea tree (compresses, oiling).

sunburn: chamomile, lavender, rosemary, sage (applications).
Open wounds: geranium, lavender, lemon balm, mimosa, nutmeg, rosemary, rose, rosewood, cedar, myrrh, sage (pure and diluted).

Hematomas, bruises: chamomile, sage, lemon, mint, lemon balm, neroli, cypress, juniper, hyssop (compresses, massage).

Edema: cypress, chamomile, birch, hyssop, juniper, pine, fir, thuja.

neurodermatitis, eczema, allergic dermatitis : geranium, carrot seed oil, cedar, chamomile, hyssop, cypress, tea tree, myrrh, pine, thuja, sage, lavender, bergamot, rose, sandalwood, rosewood, frankincense, oregano.

Viral lichen, herpes: geranium, chamomile, tea tree, lavender, cajuput, eucalyptus, cedar, pine.

Warts, calluses, benign formations : tea tree, thuja, geranium, cypress, hyssop, juniper, carnation, cajuput, lemon.

Demodicosis (subcutaneous mite): clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, sandalwood, thyme, rosemary, myrrh, lemongrass.

Fungal lesions of the skin and nails: lemongrass, tea tree, thuja, bergamot, cinnamon, thyme, geranium, rosemary, lavender, fir.

The use of essential oils for metabolic disorders

Eucalyptus, geranium are different antidiabetic properties. The use of these essential oils in diabetes will be a good support to improve the well-being of the patient along with the use of other folk remedies: blueberry leaf tea, bean leaves, burdock root. Good removes uric acid juniper essential oil.

Pancreatic diseases, diabetes mellitus: eucalyptus, lemon, carrot seed oil, rose, fennel, chamomile, lavender.

Methods of application: aroma lamp, aroma baths, massage.

The use of essential oils in diseases of the genitourinary system

cystitis, pyelonephritis: hyssop, pine, chamomile, birch, thuja, cajuput, sandalwood, lavender, vetiver, eucalyptus, thyme, tea tree, marjoram.

Urolithiasis disease: chamomile, lemon, fennel, juniper, pine, hyssop, thyme, cypress, cedar, rosewood.

Methods of administration: massage, baths, local baths, compresses, oral administration is possible with the appointment of a specialist.

The use of essential oils in gynecological diseases

At inflammatory diseases female genital organs use essential oils: birch, chamomile, lavender, tea tree, sandalwood, sage, basil, hyssop, cypress, rose, geranium, pine, thyme, eucalyptus, vetiver.

Thrush: eucalyptus, rose, lavender, chamomile, tea tree.

Methods of application: aroma baths, local baths, douching, local tampons, massage.

climacteric disorder, premenstrual syndrome, menstrual disorders: geranium, iris, cypress, tuberose, neroli, mimosa, chamomile, ylang-ylang, sage, anise, jasmine, rose, verbena, juniper, lemon balm, vanilla, rosemary.

Frigidity: mimosa, iris, tuberose, neroli, rose, ylang-ylang, geranium, bergamot, mint, sandalwood, patchouli, petitgrain, leuzea, myrrh, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, marjoram, rosemary, thuja, pine, nutmeg.

Methods of application: massage, aroma baths, aroma lamp.

Sexual disorders in men

Urethritis, prostatitis: birch, chamomile, lavender, tea tree, sandalwood, sage, basil, hyssop, cypress, rose, geranium, pine, thyme, eucalyptus, vetiver.

Methods of administration: massage, baths, local baths, applications.

Aromatherapy in the treatment of joint diseases

At osteochondrosis and pain in the spine aromatherapy uses the following essential oils: clove, birch, cajuput, rosemary, ginger, pine, fir, thyme, mint, eucalyptus, juniper, marjoram, vetiver.

Arthritis, arthrosis, muscle pain: basil, hyssop, birch, cajuput, cedar, marjoram, spruce, vetiver, nutmeg, fennel, juniper, oregano, chamomile, eucalyptus, lemongrass, thyme.

Injuries, sprains, dislocations: cajuput, juniper, clove, ginger, lavender, rosemary, marjoram, pine, cedar, sage.

Methods of administration: massage, baths, compresses, rubbing.

The use of essential oils for psycho-emotional disorders

Feeling of fear: essential oils of valerian, basil, bergamot, iris, coriander, lavender, lemon balm, mimosa, nutmeg, sage and vanilla.

Lack of appetite: essential oils of fennel, chamomile, mandarin, orange, oregano, sage and thyme, lemon wormwood.

Depressed state: essential oils of basil, pine, lavender, mimosa, nutmeg, orange, oregano, vanilla and lemon, wormwood, lemon wormwood and thyme.

Depression: essential oils of bergamot, geranium, lavender, mimosa, verbena, ylang-ylang, hyssop, cedar and thyme. Exhaustion of the body, fatigue: essential oils of fir, geranium, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, cloves, orange, peppermint, rosemary, sage, thyme, juniper, hyssop, cinnamon, lemon and lemon wormwood.

Migraine: lemon, geranium, chamomile, eucalyptus, marjoram, lavender, mint, leuzea, ylang-ylang, rose (compresses, massage, inhalations).

Weakness (neurasthenia): essential oils of fir, geranium, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage, lemon.

Headache: essential oils of basil, eucalyptus, chamomile, lavender, marjoram, peppermint, rosemary and lemon.

weather sensitivity: essential oils of mint, nutmeg and rosemary.

Application methods: massage, aroma lamp, aroma baths, room ozonation.

Using essential oils for insomnia

To restore physiological sleep, you can use the same oils that are shown to even out the emotional background, but traditionally, essential oils of basil, lavender, and iris are used for insomnia.

Methods of application: aroma incense burner, aroma baths, massage, aeration of premises.

Create your own unique fragrance in the bedroom (if there is no separate bedroom, add a scent sleeping place, drip essential oil at the head of the bed). In the future, this aroma will be a signal for you to sleep, it will help you get out of the state of wakefulness.

aromatherapy during pregnancy

In the body of a woman, by the time of childbirth, a certain hormonal balance. Hormones are biologically active substances that regulate metabolic processes in the body, functional state systems and organs. Hormones are released directly into the blood endocrine glands and endocrine glands. The endocrine system together with the nervous (neuroendocrine system) and the immune system regulate all vital processes of the body.

Hormones that regulate the process of childbirth affect not only physiological processes, but also the emotional state of a woman, memory, and behavior during childbirth. The main role in the perception and awareness of pain is played by the cerebral cortex. In it, an assessment of irritation takes place, its comparison with previous experience, a decision is made and action is dictated. Painful stimulation, having traveled a long way from the receptor to the brain, is perceived by the cells of the sensitive zone of the cortex.

The autonomic nervous system also participates in the regulation of physiological processes. Special meaning for the state and activity of the autonomic nervous system has the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus coordinates the activity of the autonomic nervous system, endocrine glands and neurohumoral mechanisms. At the end of pregnancy, the excitability of the cerebral cortex decreases significantly, and the excitability of the subcortex increases, spinal cord, nerve elements and muscles of the uterus.

The natural balance in the body is maintained by the work of these and other important links. During childbirth, hormonal, nervous and endocrine system perform very important features. Any outside interference in the course of natural childbirth, for example, the introduction of painkillers or any other drugs, can disrupt the normal course of childbirth and lead to pathology, both on the part of the mother and the child. Synthetic pain relievers can interfere with substances produced by a woman's body during childbirth, which can change the natural hormonal balance. This largely explains bad feeling women who were injected with drugs and other drugs during childbirth. Childbirth can be delayed and are more difficult.

All adaptive changes in both the woman and the fetus are coordinated, there is an active exchange of information on the hormonal and emotional level. The more natural the birth, the less your baby will receive medications that are completely unnecessary for him at the very beginning of his life's journey. After all, all painkillers pass through the placental barrier, which means that they immediately enter the baby's body. In addition, interference in the process of natural childbirth can reduce the adaptive abilities of the child: nature is designed so that the child is born on his own, independently overcomes his first difficulty in life, and this way he learns to cope with obstacles in the future.

Nature took care of the woman. By the time of childbirth, a woman’s body creates a natural hormonal balance necessary for a normal course labor activity. Hormones and biologically active substances are produced that contribute to the contractile activity of the uterus and natural pain relief in childbirth. This is a natural state, and changing it chemically (which is often done in clinics using painkillers) is simply a crime. The help that can be provided to a woman in order to facilitate childbirth is not to take foreign painkillers, but to strengthen her own natural processes taking place in her body.

Being universal remedy, activating the vital functions of the body and providing its energy support, essential oils are able to provide such assistance.

During pregnancy, the use of aromatherapy methods facilitates the hormonal restructuring of the mother's body, helps to meet the increased needs of her body for energy reserves, maintains the activity of the immune system, prevents toxicosis, and reduces the likelihood of various complications.

At the same time, the fetus develops under optimal conditions, with a good supply of oxygen and nutrients, and a strengthened placental barrier prevents the penetration of various toxins, viruses and bacteria to the fetus. As a result, the risk of giving birth to a sick child is significantly reduced, the process of childbirth is noticeably reduced and facilitated.

In the postpartum period, the use of essential oils promotes quick recovery maternal organism and increase milk production.

A woman expecting a baby is very sensitive and emotional due to hormonal changes and body restructuring. There are fears, worries, various health problems appear. Most often it is back pain, constipation, nausea, varicose veins veins, swelling of the legs, insomnia.

Any therapy during pregnancy should be safe for both the mother and the baby. However, there is no absolutely accurate data on the degree of danger of all essential oils. The tissues and organs of the fetus are immature and vulnerable, and essential oils are able to penetrate the placental barrier. Therefore, pregnant women should not perceive aromatherapy as something “easy” and harmless.

Negatively affect the fetus, up to its death, the actions of the following oils: wormwood, rue, mint, hyssop, thuja, sage, some types of lavender, anise, hops, yarrow.

These oils have hormonal activity and are able to stimulate uterine bleeding. The hormonal activity of most essential oils is not yet fully understood, and their rash use can disrupt the hormonal balance, which can affect the developing fetus.

Some oils have the ability to increase the tone of the uterus, and their use can lead to termination of pregnancy. It has been established that essential oils have this property: wormwood, basil, chamomile of all kinds, juniper, thyme, and lavender in large doses. Juniper, in addition, inhibits kidney function and is extremely dangerous during pregnancy.
But there are also aromas useful for pregnant women.

To prevent morning sickness- Take one drop of essential oil before bed peppermint on the pillow.

With vomiting, nausea in daytime and aversion to food apply ginger essential oil: use at home steam inhalation, carry an aroma pendant with you and sniff it when you feel like vomiting. A preventive method against the occurrence of nausea and vomiting - during the day in the morning, rub a solution of 1 drop of ginger oil in a teaspoon of any oil carrier into an area the size of half a palm above the navel.

When choosing oil, you need to be attentive to the feelings of the pregnant woman herself. If the aroma of the oil she used before pregnancy now causes nausea, then the body is signaling danger by rejecting the smell.

If the use of essential oils brings an improvement in well-being, care must still be taken: use fewer drops than is usually recommended, reduce the duration of application
Do not forget that real essential oils are very expensive, and therefore there are many fakes on sale. Some oils are obtained synthetically, they can be completely identical to natural ones in smell, but at the same time have no benefit, or even be toxic. For aromatherapy sessions during pregnancy, do not purchase oils of unknown origin.

Anticancer uses of aromatherapy

Let's say right away that we do not promise to cure cancer with the help of essential oils. Yes, cancer is pain, fear and hope. Most of all, I do not want my prospective reader, placed as if before a sentence, before his terrible diagnosis who seeks salvation would not have seen the title of this chapter and misunderstood me.

Aromatherapy can help with healing, but nothing can be guaranteed.

And how essential oils can influence the development of tumor processes, let's try to tell.
How many millennia humanity has existed, the same amount of time has been pursued by its incurable disease - cancer. And at the present time, the search for a cure for this is going on and on. terrible disease. But his problem is not solved yet. It is not for nothing that the man who conquered the disease of the century was promised a golden monument from the grateful saved. But it still remains a dream.

Cancer is a generic term for a wide variety of processes. This word hides about 200 malignant neoplasms, just as before various diseases With high temperature and chills were called fever. many kinds cancer, and the conditions for their occurrence are also different. No one can give a definitive answer as to why cancer occurs.

Cancer begins with the fact that at first one, the first, cell forgets that its life span is finite. It regenerates, becomes malignant, and this information, like a chain reaction, begins to be transmitted to neighboring cells. Tumor cells carry on their surface genes that healthy cells no. A genetic failure occurs in the cells: information is encoded and inherited, as a result of which the cells begin to multiply uncontrollably. In general, cells with altered genetic information are regarded by the immune system as foreign and are rejected. But the immune system may not be able to cope with all cancer cells. If a cancer cell passes through the immune barrier, then the body's defenses are reduced.

Not the last role is played by heredity. Some people have a general predisposition to cancer for several generations. This predisposition is often strengthened by life factors: eating habits, which are also inherited, wrong lifestyle, psychological causes that destroy the subtle level, but subsequently manifest in the physical body. Most often, hereditary predisposition is associated with cancer of the breast, rectum and stomach.

Studies have shown that in the affected cells are much more active energy reactions. Hence the possibility of treating cancer by influencing energy reactions in cells.

Traditional medicine has used many remedies for the treatment of cancer. Moreover, unknown doctors had a lot in common in the methods of treatment. The handwritten Russian "Healing Herbalist", which was compiled more than three centuries ago, contains at least 50 herbal medicines for the treatment of cancer. Plants were used that were rich in essential oils, volatile substances - phytoncides.

Many centuries various plants used against cancer. Numerous experiments have proven the reality of the antitumor effect of garlic, burnet, celandine, mistletoe, calendula. American Indians use tropical periwinkle against cancer. The famous Russian surgeon N. I. Pirogov treated cancer patients with grated carrots.

According to one of the hypotheses of the origin of cancer, the reason for the degeneration of this very first cell, the impetus for a shift in metabolism, is a lack of oxygen. Under conditions of lack of oxygen, some of the cells die, while other cells adapt to such conditions and change. They make up for the lack of energy not due to the supply of oxygen, but due to the development of their internal activity. The respiratory failure that leads to cancer is not so severe as to lead to cell death.

A sharp lack of oxygen or high concentrations of poisons are much less dangerous than a long and weak effect of these factors. The appearance of regenerated cells can be affected by the process of free radical oxidation with the formation of active products. It has been established that the essential oils of basil and fennel prevent intense radical formation and mobilize their own anti-radical defense systems.

The vital activity of the cells of the human body largely depends on the state of the environment. AT last years a person is exposed to environmentally unfavorable anthropogenic substances (xenobiotics). These are waste and products of the chemical industry, pesticides, herbicides, synthetic materials and much more. It is also affected different kind ionizing radioactive radiation. Radiation primarily affects immunocompetent cells, radiation sickness, autoinfection is activated, which leads to the death of the organism.

Institute. I. M. Sechenov revealed the radioprotective effect of lavender and eucalyptus oils, the possibility of using essential oils to reduce harmful effects on the body of carcinogens.

For prevention oncological diseases aromatherapy uses the following essential oils: eucalyptus, monarda, basil, lavender, laurel.
Methods of application: aroma lamp, aroma baths, massage, aeration of premises.

aromatherapy anti aging

According to modern ideas about the mechanisms of aging, longevity is due to the influence of a complex of genetic and environmental influences on a person. Genetic influences are determined by nature, you can't get away from them. What is determined by the environment is fixable and in our power. For example, food.

The degree of aging depends on the rate of cell reproduction. Rapid reproduction - recovery - happens only in young age. Cells do not live long, they die after completing their task. They collect energy and give it to the body. After that, in place of the old, spent cell, a new one arises.

At healthy way life the body is updated every 5-7 years. At the wrong way life, stress, illness, this process takes much longer. A person is mortal, and everything in a person is mortal, each unit of a person's structure - cells - also has its own life span. The aging of the body occurs at the cellular level and only then becomes noticeable on the body as a whole. Also, rejuvenation should begin with cells. The youth of each cell is based on the condition of full (proper and timely) nutrition, as well as metabolism - the removal of toxins. Dead cells are excreted from the body through the excretory system, through the kidneys, skin, and intestines.

The first cause of aging is a violation of capillary metabolism. When blood circulation in the tissues is disturbed, then congestion forms around weak and diseased cells, a kind of border that does not pass nutrients inside and does not release waste products. The diseased area is saturated with toxins and grows, aging takes more and more space in the body. Another reason is a violation of the excretion harmful substances, dead cells. Often this is due to the deterioration of kidney function. Waste substances and toxins that enter the body with food are excreted away by the large intestine. Intestinal activity decreases with age, while let's not forget about the toxins that accumulate primarily in the intestines.

The next step is the liver. It filters the blood that comes from the intestines. Toxins passed by the intestinal walls are bound and excreted back into the intestine with bile for expulsion from the body, or are excreted through the next stage of purification - the kidneys. When the detoxification systems fail, waste accumulates in the connective tissue in adipose tissue of the body.

As we can see, in order to accelerate the removal of dead cells from the body and improve capillary blood supply, it is necessary to maintain the natural defense system in working order. But as we have already learned above, for the full-fledged work of all its steps - capillaries, kidneys, liver - you can successfully use the methods of aromatherapy.

It is scientifically established that there are so-called free radicals. These are unstable molecules that behave aggressively and destroy tissues at the cellular level. By doing so, they provoke the appearance of diseases such as cancerous tumors, arthritis, eye diseases, reduce immunity and resistance to colds and infections. There is a complex biochemical process of oxidation. This oxidation destroys the cell, accelerating aging.

With this reaction, not only fats and carbohydrates are destroyed, but also important components that make up cells: membrane lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. In this case, oxidation products are formed, which are very toxic and destructive. For example, hydrogen peroxide, an oxidation product, is so aggressive that it can destroy even such persistent compounds as hair pigment. In a normally functioning organism, free radical oxidation does not cause much harm to cells. This is because there is a natural protective antioxidant mechanism.

Free radicals are trapped and neutralized with the help of substances - traps, called antioxidants. Antioxidants carry out a chemical reaction with free radicals with the transfer of a hydrogen atom and turn the radicals into stable molecules, which prevents chain reaction poisoning with toxic peroxides. Also on guard of the body from free radicals are some enzymes. If antioxidants fail, radicals leak out and poisons begin to form, enzymes come to the rescue. The problem is that substances - antioxidants are not produced in the body and must necessarily come from outside.

Almost all essential oils are natural antioxidants. When introduced into the body, they do not lose their antioxidant properties, but continue to actively influence the vital activity of the cell, reducing the intensity of normal physiological lipid oxidation, that is, they slow down the aging process of the human body, and are a good way to prevent atherosclerosis.
Control over the aging process of the organism cannot be carried out with the help of a single substance, since this is a multi-causal process. Currently, there is a whole group of hereprotectors. Essential oils can significantly improve the effect of geroprotective drugs by working with them in combination.

Prevention and treatment in old age using herbal aromatic substances are aimed at maintaining the dynamic balance of an aging organism with nature by training and restoring its adaptive, defense mechanisms, mobilization of the body's potential reserves and increasing the margin of safety.

To prolong youth, you can use the following essential oils: geranium, iris, cypress, tuberose, neroli, lavender, laurel, mimosa, chamomile, ylang-ylang, sage, anise, jasmine, rose, verbena, juniper, lemon balm, vanilla, rosemary.

Fragrant essential oils are often used to treat diseases and improve well-being. This healing method is called aromatherapy. This is one of the methods of phytotherapy.

Many plants contain odorous oils. They emit a very strong pleasant smell, but sometimes the smell of oils can be unpleasant. Fragrant oily liquids are obtained by distillation. The composition of essential oils, unlike other active substances of plants, is heterogeneous.

The main components of essential vegetable oils are turpentines, aldehydes, phenols and alcohol. AT various areas medicine, more than 100 different oily substances have been researched and tested.

Aromatherapy has been around for a very long time. The influence of aromatic substances on humans has been known since ancient times. Healers and shamans used them during religious ceremonies. Essential oils have also been used in traditional medicine. Already 5 thousand years ago, the Sumerians knew how to get them from plants. In the Middle Ages, during epidemics, candles were burned in hospitals with rose leaves, carnations, juniper berries, essences of musk and amber, used in perfumery. They believed that these fragrant substances would help protect themselves from infection. In 1881, Robert Koch investigated the effect of odorous oils on microorganisms, disease-causing. For example, turpentine oil destroys spores in five days. anthrax, which can remain active for 40 years. Similarly, the action of oils of lavender, rosemary, cinnamon and eucalyptus.

When mixing several aromatic oils, their antiseptic properties are further enhanced. The most effective is a mixture of thyme officinalis, terepentine, bitter almond and cinnamon oils, the disinfecting properties of which are preserved even when diluted 20 million times.

Therapeutic action

According to the latest research data, essential oils stimulate the production of sex hormones. Success and popularity of the treatment fragrant oils most likely predetermined by the fact that these substances act on the sense of smell. A person is able to distinguish several thousand odors. The center of smell is located in that part of the brain, which is a kind of mediator between thinking and instinctive behavior. Correct Application essential substances improves mood and well-being.

Aromatherapy treatment is based on essential oils, which are used to treat a variety of diseases. They are also used as an adjuvant that improves overall well-being and stimulates the body's self-healing powers. Essential oils kill bacteria and fungi, and are anti-inflammatory, so they are great for treating infections. They are often used to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract: liquefy mucus and act lubrication. Fragrances improve appetite and have a positive effect on digestion, stimulate secretion digestive juice. Used to treat wounds and skin diseases, well calm the nerves, improve sleep. Some oils have a stimulating and tonic effect.

Essential oils are usually inhaled, although they can be rubbed into the skin and even drunk. AT medical institutions ultrasonic nebulizers are used for inhalation of essential substances. At home, they can be replaced with steam baths, for example, fill ceramic dishes with water, add a few drops of odorous oil and heat over low heat. Scented oily liquids can also be used as bath additives.

If you suffer from melancholy, use extracts of eucalyptus, orange, peppermint, rosemary, jasmine, basil, or lemon.

Contraindications

For some people, odor treatment is not recommended due to possible side effects, for example, heavy allergic reactions. If a person reacts unusually to a smell or does not like the smell of any substance, treatment should be stopped immediately. Large dose may irritate the mucous membrane and cause headache. In order to smell the oily liquid, most often 2-3 drops are enough.

Aromatherapy is a way to treat various diseases with natural essential oils. vegetable oils and this method is a thing of the distant past. The term "aromatherapy" is made up of the words "aroma" and "therapy", meaning "healing with aromas". The term was first introduced by the French chemist Gattefosse in the late 1920s. Aromatherapy was born by chance. While working in the laboratory, Gattefosse burned himself badly and accidentally poured lavender essential oil on the burn. The wound healed quickly. This fact forced the chemist to take a closer look at essential oils.

"Treatment with aromas" is not forgotten today. Today, in books on aromatherapy, entire chapters are devoted to how to use smells to treat diseases or relieve negative emotional background. It has been noted that pleasant smells increase efficiency, cheer up, and unpleasant smells can cause headaches and increase blood pressure. Let's imagine that: a person turned to a doctor, and he prescribed a treatment with aromas instead of analgin: violet aroma for 15 minutes before meals 3 times a day, and before going to bed - rose aroma for half an hour daily. And the disease receded. True, it's nice! Nature itself strives for harmony. How much a lilac would lose if it smelled differently, or, say, a modest chamomile would smell like a southern magnolia. Each of us perceives the same fragrance differently: "Oh, your perfume gave me a headache!" - "And it seems to me that happiness smells like that!"

Aroma treatments have been known to us since ancient times - herbal inhalations, baths, massage with aromatic oils, the use of spices in food. Essential oils are used for hot and cold inhalations, baths, compresses, rubbing, massages. You can fill your home with the aroma of essential oils using aroma vessels. Massage using essential oils not only relaxes the muscles, but also has a beneficial effect on the skin. During the massage, the aroma of essential oils helps to relax the nervous system and restore it. Essential oils "work" in harmony with the body, helping it restore and balance its natural functions.

Essential oils have a variety of effects on the human body: soothing, regenerating, stimulating, antibacterial, etc. The essential oil of Roman chamomile not only restores the cells of the body, it has an antiseptic and healing effect in equal measure, as well as an antifungal and anti-inflammatory effect.

Since ancient times, people have used fragrant herbs for restful sleep. For example, mattresses and pillows were stuffed with thyme, or aromatic incense beds were treated before going to bed, special sticks of pressed herbs with a soothing smell (patchouli, lavender) were set on fire.

At present, so-called soothing herbal pads have become widespread in the treatment of aromas. They include many aromatic plants: fern leaves, pine needles, cones, hops, lavender, mint, lemon balm, rosemary, oregano, rose and others. There are fragrances that affect the state of any person in approximately the same way. For example, chamomile, geranium, juniper, lavender and their invigorating aroma will relieve depression, headaches and mood swings. Strongly scented flowers such as geranium or lavender help relieve anxiety and worry. A proven way against insomnia is to inhale the aroma of decorative houseplants: fragrant geranium(pelargonium), fragrant mignonette.

Those who know firsthand about insomnia should make sure that the bedroom smells of the aromas of these plants: chamomile, lavender, lemon balm or sage. The aromas of these plants have a soporific effect and cause pleasant dreams. Lavender helps with headaches, migraines, strengthens the nervous system in stressful situations. Overexcitation and insomnia will also be removed by lavender. Psychologists call this smell "the aroma of peace."

Some smells, on the contrary, can cheer up. Mental and physical activity stimulating citrus aromas. FROM mild attack grapefruit and lemon will cope with a bad mood. In ancient times, it was believed that citrus fruits encourage us to philosophize and increase interest in life. Medical studies have confirmed that these smells stimulate the nervous system and really cause a surge of strength and pure thoughts.

Melissa improves immunity, restores strength of mind and body strength. The gentle aroma of lemon balm acts invigoratingly and eliminates fatigue. Jasmine even in a small amount evokes a feeling of exhilaration. This fragrance soothes the nervous system and dispels a depressed mood. Eucalyptus eliminates the symptoms of a cold, quickly relieves headaches, purifies the air in the room. Oil of geranium, ylang-ylang, cinnamon or nutmeg helps to get rid of feelings of fear, hopelessness, relieve irritability. It is enough to inhale one aroma or "cocktail" in equal proportions for 10-15 minutes.

Strong smells - jasmine, rose, rosewood, fragrant orchid have a stronger floral scent. Beautiful spring flowers will cheer you up, but they can also cause symptoms. hay fever. In alternative medicine aroma treatment, it is believed that it is enough to inhale the scent of sandalwood or rose oil several times to stop a runny nose. And the development of infections caused by various streptococci, staphylococci and even Koch's sticks prevent the smells of roses and poplars.

Some safety rules should be observed when using essential oils in aromatherapy.

• It must be remembered that essential oils, or phyto essences, are a very powerful medicine, therefore, never use essential oils in their pure form for external use.
• Take special care when choosing essential oils to treat dermatitis, eczema, damaged or inflamed skin.
• Before treating the body, face and neck, the applied cosmetics or perfumes should be removed.
• Avoid the use of essential oils of citrus (sweet orange, for example), calamus (it is better not to use calamus at all!) or sassafras if there are symptoms of melanoma, age spots, large moles, extensive dark freckles or skin cancer.
• Waste essential oils (phytoessences) can self-oxidize (and ignite spontaneously), especially in contact with paper waste. Keep waste of essential oils (phytoessences) and woven or paper napkins impregnated with them in a metal container with a lid, outside the room.
• Do not mix essential oils (phytoessences) with other chemicals, as this may cause chemical reaction with the release of harmful substances.

From the history of plant medicine

Treatment with aromas and methods of healing with plants goes back to the distant past. Even in ancient times, aromatic plants were used in medicine and cosmetics. Aromas accompanied the people of ancient civilizations throughout their lives, maintained the health of the body and spirit, preserved youth and beauty, and were used in religious ceremonies.

In the East, plants have always been treated with reverence and reverence. Some plants were elevated to the rank of sacred. In India and China, whole philosophical doctrines were created around the plant world. It was believed that the treatment with herbs (aromas) is a sacred ritual, which can only be performed by a person who is morally and psychologically prepared.

In China, the first book on herbal medicine appeared around 2000 BC. Like the Christian Gnostics, the followers of Taoism believed that the soul of plants lives in the aromas of plants. The Chinese used the word "heang" to refer to fragrances, incense and perfumes. They thought they were the same medications from plants have far from the same effect on various functions of the body. With successful treatment, every little thing must be taken into account, down to the sequence in which the plants need to be mixed. When prescribing medicines to a patient, the time of day was also taken into account, when a favorable balance between "yin" and "yang" can be achieved in the human body with the help of a medicine.

In India, the philosophy of Ayurveda was developed. Ayurveda is a Sanskrit word that has two roots: "ayur" ("life") and "veda" ("knowledge"). Ayurveda is the science of understanding life. It is based on the complex treatment of a person, including treatment with aromas. Nowadays, such treatment is called holistic. That is, all aspects of life must work together - nutrition, lifestyle, way of thinking, etc.

Influence and merit ancient egypt in the development of plant science are invaluable. It is safe to say that current knowledge about flora We owe a lot to the ancient Egyptians. The knowledge of the ancient Egyptian healers and priests, set forth in the papyri and, as a continuation, in the books of Dioscorides, Pliny the Elder and other ancient authors, formed the basis modern knowledge about plants.

In the 7th century BC. Athens, the capital of Greece, was a major trading center, in which, among others, shops of fragrant incense merchants flourished. These shops sold products from fragrant plants, mainly thick ointments based on olive, almond, castor oils. Infusions were made from marjoram, lily, thyme, sage, anise, rose, iris and other plants. Incense was considered a gift from the gods and was mainly used for religious rites.

The real heyday of the era of incense came in Ancient Greece after Alexander the Great made his victorious campaigns in Egypt and Asia Minor. Great commander borrowed from the Persians the tradition of using incense specifically to enjoy the wonderful aromas, and not just for use in religious ceremonies.

The Romans made a significant contribution to the development of herbal medicine, including "treatment with aromas", adding traditional rituals with the use of incense, bath procedures and massage to those adopted in Egypt and Ancient Greece. The Romans literally bathed in incense, and the slaves serving them were called "cosmetae" (cosmetae).

Perhaps the most complete work that has survived to this day is the "Canon of Medicine", written by an Arab alchemist, astronomer, philosopher, mathematician, physician and poet named Ibn Sina (Avicenna) (980-1030). The art of healing with plants in Russia also has its own long traditions, passed down orally from generation to generation. Often, herbalists were afraid, giving them magical powers. Data on the development of herbal medicine in the territory ancient Russia little has been preserved.