Aromatherapy is an alternative and complementary health science that uses the physiological and psychological benefits of herbs essence to manage a wide range of illnesses. It is one of the oldest methods of holistic healing, equipped to rejuvenate the body, mind and spirit with the use of essential oils. White Willow Aromatherapy offers you a wide range of hand-crafted products made specially for you and upon order using only natural ingredients and essential oils.

A French Chemist, Rene Maurice Gate Fosse in the 1920’s, discovered the healing property of essential oils. Egyptians also harnessed the power of essential oils for medicinal, cosmetic and embalming purposes and today, there are about three hundred essential oils in general use by professional practitioners.

It is important to understand that all “fragrances” or “perfumes” are not necessarily beneficial and do not qualify as aromatherapy. Only essential oils which are natural and do not have any synthetic chemicals or artificial ingredients are capable of providing therapeutic value, but only if used correctly and in a safe manner. The healing power of the essential oil is the essence of aromatherapy.

One of the most satisfactory aspects of using essential oils medicinally and cosmetically is that they enter and leave the body with great efficiency, leaving no toxins behind. The fact that they are so delightful to use and so flexible in their methods of use, makes them extremely pleasurable and easy to incorporate into our busy, modern lifestyles.

The essential oils used in aromatherapy are highly concentrated and should never be used on the skin without diluting them, barring a few exceptions. Different essential oils can be blended together and this combination is called synergy. The synergy is more powerful and effective than the individual oils on their own. The effects of these essential oils can be reduced by diluting and mixing them with carrier oil.

Aromas or scents have the power to transform our emotion, and heal our bodies. They not only treat our physical bodies, but also elevate our state of mind. Indeed, aromas influence our emotions and behavior. The fragrances inhaled through the fine hair lining the nose, enter the section of the brain called the limbic system. The limbic system controls our moods, emotions, memory and learning. When the brain reacts to the positive power of the aroma, it induces emotional well being and brings back pleasant memories. In turn, this encourages relaxation and energisation.

Because the essential oils are so sweet smelling it might be easy to suppose that their value is essentially one of charm. This would be a mistake. These substances are very complex in their molecular structure and very powerful. The essential oil of oregano, for example, is twenty-six times more powerful as an antiseptic tan phenol, which is the active ingredient in many commercial cleansing materials.

More powerful therapeutic results are often obtained when essential oils are blended together than when used individually. By mixing together two or more essential oils you are creating a chemical compound that is different to any of the component parts, and these synergistic blends are very particular and powerful. When certain oils are working together they are said to be working harmoniously and this new combination is called a synergy.

“Synergy”: when the combination is more than the sum of the parts, there is a synergistic effect. The interaction of particular essential oils upon each other gives a vibrancy and dynamism to the whole which could not be achieved by using a single component on its own.