AyurvedaandAromatherapy

byKomalaLyra
TheartandscienceofaromatherapyhasbeenparticularlycultivatedinIndiaasanancienthealingart.
Itssecretshavebeenpassedonfromonegenerationtothenextwithgreatcare.
Specialattentionisgiventotheentireprocessfromthemethodsofcultivationofplantsfromwhich
essentialoilsareextracted,tothespecificwaystheyaredistilled,andlaterusedintraditional
formulations.
WithinthecontextofAyurveda,theuseofaromatherapyisfundamentaltodoshicbalance,especially
whencombinedwithAyurvedabodycaretreatments,nutrition,andherbology.Theirskillfulusecan
enhancevitalityataphysical,emotional,andmentallevel,aswellasrevertunbalances,bringinga
renewedsenseofwholenessandreconnectionwithourownnature.
SensualAwareness&BodyChemistry
Oursensesconveyinformationfromtheoutsideandconstantlyaffectthebalanceofthefiveelements.
Everyinputwereceivefromoursensesistranslatedininnerimpulsesthataffectourhealthand
wellbeing,aswellasourconsciousness.
Everysensehasadirectconnectionwiththebrain,thusaffectingourwholeenergeticsystem.The
senseofsmellhasaspecialinfluenceinouremotionalandmentalbodies.
Wheninhaled,odorbearingmoleculesactivatereceptorsinthenose,whicharethentranslatedinto
nerveimpulses.Theseelectromagneticmessagesaresentimmediatelytothelimbicareaofthebrain,
whereemotionsareprocessed.Thelimbicsystemisthemostprimitivepartofourbrain,andrelatesto
ourbasicimpulses,survivalinstinct,andemotionalresponses.Theolfactorynerveistheonlynervein
thebodythathasadirectcontactwiththeexternalenvironmentandgoesallthewaytothebrain.
Thisdirectconnectionexplainswhyaromashaveaprofoundandimmediateeffectonourinner
balance,andcanaffectouremotionsinastrongway,stimulateappetite,desires,andmemories.
Thelimbicsystemismadeupofthehippocampus(involvedinmemoryandlearning),theamygdala,
theseptalareaandseveralregionsofthecerebralcortex.Itlinksthevoluntaryandinvoluntarynervous
systems,theleftandrightbrain,andalsoisindirectcommunicationwiththepituitaryandpineal
glands.Thesearethemasterglandsoftheendocrinesystemandtheydirectmanyofourbodily
processes.
Thereare800millionnerveendingsinthispathway.Interestingly,thesecellsarereplacedevery28
days.Consideringourevolution,thisconstantregenerationmayberelatedtotheuseofsmelltoour
survivalintimewhenwewerechallengeddailyandmoredirectlybyoutsideforcesandutilizedthe
informationreceivedfromthesenseofsmellforprotection.
AnotherinterestingfactisthatthenasalmucouscellscontainP450enzymes,whicharealso
predominantinthebrain'ssensecells,theliverandskin.Theirjobistopreventtoxinsfromdamaging
thebody,sotheyworkintheareaswheretoxicchemicalsmakecontactwiththebodymostfrequently,
toaltertheeffectoftoxins,eitherincorporatethemforuseinthebodyorhavethemexpelled.
Whenusedincontactwiththeskin,essentialoilspenetratetheepithelialtissues,whichincludethe
surfaceskin,nasalpassage,bronchioles,lungs,andfurthermoveintothegastrointestinaltract.

Onceabsorbedintothisfirstlayer,theyquicklypenetratethelymphaticandcirculatorysystem,
reachingthebrain,andenteringthegeneralcirculation.Astheoilsreachdifferentorgans,eachorgan
systemselectstheelementstheymayneedandabsorbtheirnutrientsinanyproportion.Duetotheir
volatileandlightnature,essentialoilspassthroughthebodyinlessthan48hours,andarethen
excretedbyeithersweat,urine,orfeces.Differentessentialoilstravelthroughdifferentpathways,and
affectvariousorganssystemsandtissuelayers.
Forexample,theamygdalaplaysamajorroleinstoringmemoriesoffearandtraumaandthatscent
stimulationoftheamygdalaisakeytounlockingthisstoredtraumainthebody(accordingtoresearch
donebyDr.JosephLedoux,oftheNewYorkMedicalCenter,1989)
Theconnectionbetweenplantsandhumans
Innatureplantstakeintheelementsofsun,earth,airandwaterandconvertthemintomoleculesof
proteins,carbohydrates,andfatsduringtheprocessofphotosynthesis.Chemicallyessentialoilsare
madeupofalcohol,aldehydes,ketones,phenols,terpenes,sesquiterpenes,ethersandesterswhich
worktogethertoaffectthebodyinvariouswaysandhavepharmocologicandtherapeuticproperties.
ThecellularstructureandchemicalcompositionofDNAinplants,animalsandpeopleiscomposedof
primarilyhydrogen,carbonandoxygen.Bothplantsandhumansdependonchelatingchemicalsinthe
bloodtotransportnutrientsthroughtheactionofironinthehemoglobinoftheredbloodcells(in
humanbeings)andmagnesium(inplants).Consideringthesimilarityofthisprocessinbothplantsand
humans,wemayunderstandhowplantschemistrymayactaskeystomanyofourphysicalandmental
processes.
Throughtheirchemistryplantscommunicatewitheachother,defendagainstpredators,andattack
otherspeciestoprotecttheirresources.Thissameinformationcanbeutilizedbyourenergeticsystem.
Aromamoleculesalsogiveoffaninfraredradiationthatcanbepickedupbyotherinsectsandprobably
animalsandhumans.Humanshavetheirowninfraredemanationsthatseemtorelatetothesubtle
molecularodorsthatsurroundaperson.Infraredradiationcanalsobeabsorbed.JohnTyndale
discoveredthattheessentialoilsofPatchouli,Sandalwood,Cloves,Lavender,Rose,Lemon,Thyme,
RosemaryandAniseedcanabsorbinfraredrays.Theseweretheoilsheexperimentedwithanditis
believedotheroilshavethesesamecapabilities.Itisknownthatinfraredexposureimprovescirculation
andopensbloodvessels,bringingbloodtothesurface.Thismayexplainthefactthatessentialoilsare
knowntoabsorbinfraredradiationcanincreasecirculationandoxygenatetheblood.
Theremaybe200to800differentchemicalconstituentsinasingleoilandeachhasitsowneffecton
thebody.Forexample,Aldehydesareantiinfectious,sedativeandcalmingtothenervoussystem.
Eugenolsarestimulatingandantiseptic.Ketonesstimulatecellregenerationandliquifymucous.
Phenolsareantisepticandkillvirusesandbacteria.Sesquiterpenesareantiinflammatoryandbring
increasedoxygentothebrainandstimulatetheendocrineglands,TerpeneAlcoholsareantibacterial
andworkasdiureticsanddecongestants.Andsoon
Forexample,therearethreetypesofterpenes.Thefirstiscalledphenylpropanoidsorhemiterpenes,
whichworktocleanthereceptorsitesonthecells.Thereceptorsitesaretransferstationswhere
chemicalandenergeticinformationisconveyedthroughhormones,peptides,neurotransmitters,
steroids,orotherintracellularmessengers.Whenthesesitesarecloggedthisblockagegeneratesmis
communicationbetweencells.ThehemiterpenesarefoundinClove(90%),Cassia(80%),Oregano
(60%),Anise(50%)andPeppermint(25%)oils.Theseoilsareeffectiveindetoxificationandclearing
thebodyschannelsofcommunication,andarealsowellknownfortheirantibacterialandantiviral
qualities.
Anothervarietyofterpenesiscalledsesquiterpenes.Theydeliveroxygentothecellsandalsoseemto
becapableoferasingordeprogramingmiswritteninformationintheDNA.Sesquiterpenesarethe
principalconstituentofCedarwood(98%),Vetiver(97%),Spikenard(83%),Sandalwood(90%),Black

Pepper(74%),Patchouli(71%),Myrrh(62%)andGinger(59%).Theyarealsofoundinalesser
quantityinGalbanum,BenzoinandFrankincense(all8%).
Thethirdterpeneiscalledmonoterpenes.Oilshighinthesechemicalshavemanyvaluablehealing
properties.Oneextraordinaryabilityofmonoterpenesistheircapacitytoreprograminformationinthe
cellularmemory.ImpropercodingintheDNAcanleadtomalfunctioningofcellsandsubsequentlyto
disease.Theseoilsworktocorrectthisinformation.TheoilshighestinmonoterpenesareGalbanum
(80%),Angelica(73%),Hyssop(70%),Cistus(54%),Peppermint(45%),Juniper(40%),Frankincense
(40%),Spruce(38%),Pine(30%),Cypress(28%)andMyrtle(25%).
Whatstoriesdoesthisplanttell?
Fromthesubtleenergyaspect,eachplantcarryastoryofcellularmemory,whichistransferredto
humanbeingsthroughtheiressence,theoilsextractedfromtheirleaves,roots,flowers,orseeds.What
storiesdotheytell?
Theuseofessentialoilscanincreaseourabilitytolistentodeeperlayersofourinherentintelligence,
whenourenergeticsystemisactivatedbytheplantsmemory.
Electromagneticfrequency
Themeasurablerateofelectricalflowbetweentwopointsiscalledfrequency.Everythinghasa
frequency.Scentiscreatedbytheratethatmoleculesmove.Thisratecanspeeduporslowdown,
dependingontheoil.Itseemstobethevibrationrateratherthanthemolecularshapethatmakesoils
smellacertainway.
Accordingtorecentscientificresearch,picturesofthebrainshowcolorchangeswhenaromasare
introduced.Thebrillianceofthecolorsturndark,cloudyormissingwiththeimpactoflower
frequency.
Whenessentialoilsareplacedinthepalmofthehand,theauricfieldchangesalsohavebeenrecorded
withhigherfrequencies(suchasroseoil),theindividualsauragetsbrighterandwiderthanthefield
inthecontrolphotographswherenooilsareintroduced.Essentialoilsbringsmorecoherencytothe
auricorenergyfield,thuscanbeusedtoalignfrequencies,balancingandharmonizingbodyorgans.
Essentialoilsblendscanamplifythesefrequencies,inthesamewaythatcrystals.Lowerfrequencyoils
haveanimpactonstructuralandphysicalchanges,whilehigherfrequencyoilsaffecttheemotionaland
spiritualrealm.
Generalguidelines

Hot&Wet>BestforVataWorstforPittaGoodforKapha
Hot&Dry>FairforVataPoorforPittaBestforKapha
Dry&Cold>WorstforVataBestforPittaFairforKapha
Cold&Wet>FairforVataGoodforPittaFairforKapha

AyurvedaEnergeticsandEssentialOils
Ayurvedaunderstandstheeffectsofthedifferentessentialoilsaccordingtotheirqualities,anduses
theircorrelationwiththedoshasanddhatus,forrestoringbalanceandhealing.
Ayurvedarecognizesthatbecauseoftheirchemistry,differentessentialoilswilleitherbeheatingor
cooling,moisturizingordrying,etc

Thesedifferentqualities,whentakeninaccountofthePrakrutiandVikrutiofthepersonwhowill
chosetheoils,willofferguidanceforuseanddosage.
Ayurvedaoffershundredsoftraditionalformulationsforthepreaparationofmedicatedoilscombining
carrieroils,essentialoils,andherbs.Theiruseincludesmassage,variousbodycaretreatmentssuchas
nasya,earcleansing,mouthwashing,vaginaltampons,aswellascooking.
Vataistreatedwithoilsthatareheavy,calmingandwarming.AndtherearetwotypesofVata
imbalancetoconsider:

1.WhenVataisbecomeobstructedbythepresenceoftoxins,duetoindigestion,poordiet,andpoor
elimination.
Thisisaddressedwithpungentessentialoilsthatwillbringheat,lightness,andmobility,thusremoving
obstruction.
Suggestionofoilsthatremoveaccumulationoftoxinsandpurifyblood:ajwan,blackpepper,calamus,
cayenne,cinnamon,clarysage,cumin,coriander,frankincense,myrrh,turmeric.
SuggestionofoilsthatremoveobstructionofVataintheintestinaltract,relievinggas,andimproving
digestion:ajwan,angelica,basil,calamus,cardamon,chamomile,cinnamon,clove,coriander,cumin,
fennel,ginger,lavender,lemon,nutmeg,orange,oregano,pine,saffron,thyme,turmeric.
Suggestionofoilsthatinduceperspiration,eliminatingsurfacetoxins,increasingcirculation,relieving
achingjointsandheadachesduetocoldandcongestion:angelica,basil,cardamon,chamomile,
cinnamon,clove,coriander,eucalyptus,fennel,ginger,lemonbalm,lemongrass,marjoram,oregano,
sage,thyme.
Suggestionofoilsthatstrengthenandregulatethenervoussystem,promotingmentalhealthand
clearinganxietyandemotionaltoxins:ajwan,basil,calamus,camphor,chamomile,eucalyptus,fennel,
garlic,lavender,lemonbalm,marjoram,myrrh,nutmeg,sage,sandalwood,vanilla
Alltheseoils,shouldbeusedforashortperiodoftime,onlyuntiltheyreachthedesiredeffectof
removingtoxinsandunblockingVata,otherwisetheywillincreasedrynessandaggravateVata.

2.WhenVataisinexcessinthebody,causingdryness,emaciation,andlossoftissues.Thisisoften
thecaseintheagingprocess.
Oilsrequiredwillbenutritive,tobuilduptissue.
Suggestionofoilsthatarenutritive:angelica,clarysage,jasmine,myrrh,rose,saffron,tarragon,
vanilla.
Suggestionofoilsthatarenourishingtonics:aloe,rose,jatamansi,arnica,brahmi,calamus,
frankincense,cedarwood,jasmine,myrrh,rose,saffron,vetiver.
SuggestionofoilsthataregoodforbothtypesofVata,theyaremainlystimulantswhichincrease
digestivefireandstrengthencirculation,thoughtheyarenotappropriateforveryhighVata:ajwan,
arnica,bergamot,celeryseed,clove,eucalyptus,ginger,marjoram,orange.

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