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Essential Oils & Ayurveda
As with many forms of healing, essential oils also appeared as part of the healing process. In the case of India, however, it was used late in Ayurvedic history (around the 1600's) when Muslin peoples introduced a type of still to India. This led to a special type of essential oil production practice, which resulted in a finish product called an Attar. Attars are not pure essential oils in the Aromatherapy sense as they are all rendered in a base of low grade sandalwood oil but they most likely had real therapeutic qualities as well. This is seen by the ways the oils were used, including for rituals, bathing and to help cure headaches. Ayuveda, like Traditional Chinese Medicine, has many twists and turns to it. One of the more popular factions is the basis of Chakra's. Meaning "wheel" in ancient Sanskrit, they are sources of energy and can range in number. Starting from the head, they work their way down the chest and stomach. Of course, they are invisible and are likened to Mandarins in TCM. In the beginning, they were sources of energy, but later they evolved to be linked to origins, which included mostly glands such as the thyroid and pituitary. Many Ayurvedic books will give essential oils that may be used to heighten these Chakra's and their corresponding origins. This is because a massage oil is made which is quickly absorbed into the skin and can be reapplied easily, unlike and herbal plaster or more messy salve. The actual essential oil used for each Chakra varies quite widely. Since each Chakra has an associated color (i.e. Heart Chakra = green, etc.), some go by matching the actual color of the essential oil to the particular color of the Chakra. - Crown Chakra - Magenta or White - Third Eye Chakra - Purple - Heart Chakra - Green - Solar Plexus Chakra - Yellow - Base Chakra - Red It's also possible that the color of the botanical itself prior to extraction could also be used as a rule for choosing it, i.e. Base Chakra = Rose or Third Eye Chakra = Lavender. Another way is to choose essential oils that are based on herbs already used on a Chakra. Yet another way is to choose essential oils specifically for their effect such as calming, energizing, etc. According to Aromatherapy - A Holistic Guide by Ann Berwick, ginger may be used on the Solar Plexus Chakra and Rose on the Heart Chakra. Go To Page: 1 2 |
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