Nearly 6000 years ago the Egyptian physician,Imhotep, recommended the use of fragrant oils for bathing, massage and embalming purposes.

In the bible book Leviticus, we're told that the temple priest Aaron offered up incense on the day of atonement in behalf of his people. Revelations 8:3-5 speaks of angels standing before the throne of God while using incense.

It is said that Cleopatra won the affections of Marc Athony through the use of a rich perfume created using the pure essences extracted from rose petals. Plutarch tells of the sweet aroma wafting along the Nile as Cleopatras' barge passes by. The deck being equipped with a huge incense burner filled with the roots of acorus along with cinnamon, cypress, myrrh and raisins macerated in wine.

Put simply, Aromatherapy is the art of restoring mind, body and spirit therefore creating a balance through the use of essential oils.

Upon entering the nostril the scent of the oil is conveyed by the olfactory nerve to areas of the brain which control our emotions, mods and memory through the release of certain hormones.

KNOW YOUR OILS
Certain oils are best used for health and beauty while others are more suited for the spiritual preparations. The trick is to know which oils to blend to obtain the desired effect.

THE FOLLOWING IS A SHORT LIST OF OILS AND WHAT THEY MAY BE USED FOR:

LAVENDER: One of the most versatile essential oils. Good for use in reaching emotional balance,. Helps with P.M.S. Activates crown chakra.

CLARY SAGE: Promotes deep sleep and vivid dreams, helps balance mind and emotions.

EUCALYPTUS: Clears negative energy, your aura and environment. (use in a spray mist) Beneficial for respiratory infections. Eases muscular pain when used during massage.

CINNAMON: Sensuality awareness, joints.

TEA TREE: This oil is a must have. It is the single most effective antibacterial, anti fungal essential oil known. At one time tea tree oil was being investigated for use by the Navy but production was set aside when more cost effective treatments came along. This oil is beneficial for treating burns, gum infections, skin problems and colds.

LEMON GRASS: Psychic awareness, muscular ache and nerves.

BERRRGAMOOT: Anti-depressant, eczema, psoriasis and tension.

FRANKINCENSE: A very costly, yet highly treasured substance by those of ancient civilizations. May be use to enhance one's connection to spirit. Activates and balances the crown and base chakras. Helps with respiratory problems such as bronchitis, colds and laryngitis.

MYRRH: Also highly treasured by the ancients. May be used to facilitate deep meditation. Aids in opening brow chakra.

CARRIER OILS:
Carrier or base oils are used to dilute and mix different combinations of essential oils, therefore should be a good quality cold pressed unscented oil. There is jojoba, grape seed and sweet almond to name a few. It's important to remember that undiluted essential oils should never be applied directly to your body, as they will mostly likely irritate your skin.

To protect the integrity of your oils it is best to store them in a cool dark environment.