Aromatherpy是将代表「香味、芳香」的单词aroma与代表「疗法、治疗」意思的therapy加以结合而成的词汇，其基本概念就是使用植物的芳香精油，利用「芳香」所蕴含的力量，激发人类与生俱来的治愈能力，维持身心两方面的健康,请您详细地说明一下芳香疗法的意义所在...

注意：回答对此贴将增加 50分 的经验值

1. 通过鼻腔吸入，向大脑传送「芳香」讯息
2. 直接从皮肤加以吸收

　　芳香疗法即利用纯天然植物精油的芳香的气味和植物本身所具有的治愈能力，以特殊的按摩方法，经由嗅觉器官和皮肤的吸收，到达神经系统和血液循环，以帮助人身心获得舒解，并达到皮肤保养的目的和改善身体健康的功效，使人的身、心、灵三者达到平衡和统一。

　　按摩时，透过中国经络穴道指压和淋巴排毒的特殊按摩技巧，使精油渗透进入皮肤表层，由于精油的分子比皮肤的分子要小得多，因此极易渗透入人体，在大约20分钟至6小时即可经由血液循环流至全身，而其残留物则透过排泄系统排出体外。当精油在体内循环时，有一部分会被人体的器官、肌肉、细胞或神经纤维所吸收，从而引发精油之治疗功能。

　　因嗅觉与情绪是有关联的，所以不同的芳香气味会影响我们的情绪，根据各人的情绪、性格和体质，选择不同的芳香精油以达到调解身心的作用。

芳香疗法(Aromatherapy)起源于古埃及等古文明，近代盛行于欧洲，是使用精油来达到舒缓精神压力与增进身体的健康。起初多用在提神或宗教冥想方面，「芳香疗法」(Aromatherapy)是近代才有的名词，法国化学家Rene Maurice Gattefosse1928年发表其研究成果于科学刊物上，首先运用此一名称而开始了芳香疗法。此外，经由Gattefoss\'e的经验也证实了植物精油在科学上的立论根据，亦即「植物精油因其极佳的渗透性，而能达到肌肤的深层组织，进而被细小的脉管所吸收，最后经由血液循环，到达被治疗的器官」。

所谓的精油是一种具挥发性、高浓度的芳香物质，利用各种化学或物理方法，从植物的根、茎、叶、种子或花朵中萃取出来的，即是一般称为单方精油的物质，大多具有抗菌、安抚情绪、缓和紧张的作用。如果将两种以上功能互补或搭配使用可增进效用的精油，依比率调和使用则称为复方精油。一般来说，精油都是有色有味挥发性的油性液体，必须与其它的油性植物油调配稀释来使用，否则可能因为浓度太高而容易对人体造成反作用，同时使用上也能增加对皮肤的延展性。精油的香味可帮助人们舒缓病症，或让头脑清醒能集中注意力，或放松心情消除焦虑帮助入眠。不同的芳香精油会使人产生不同的情绪及身体反应，也因为当时人处于身心愉悦放松的状态中，所有的不适自然降低。
芳香疗法即是运用精油（单方或复方），依照不同的使用方式（按摩、沐浴、吸入、蒸气吸入、喷雾、皮肤保养、护发等）搭配使用剂量、使用部位与手法来调理身体，以及平衡精神、情绪或养生保健。其原理是精油经由鼻子吸入而刺激嗅觉器官，由此传到脑中控制情绪的区域，影响人的情绪反应。另外，精油分子极微小，能穿透皮肤，经由淋巴与细胞间质传到身体其它部位，因此将精油涂抹于皮肤上，会刺激皮肤表层的神经末梢，产生反应后再传送到脑部，经过一连串化学反应，使脑部控制而产生紧张或放松的情绪。

Therapeutic Aromatherapy is the science of influencing body processes to rebalance, elevate measurable vibrational frequency, and maintain harmonious relationships between body systems.

It is a specialized type of plant medicine that has the advantage of absorption through inhalation and skin application, therein bypassing the digestive system. The most important thing to know when using aromas therapeutically is to use pure, unadulterated natural oils that are free of synthetic components. Contaminants and synthetics will render the essential oil bereft of therapeutic benefit.

To better understand and appreciate the unique significance of Aromatherapy, it is essential to realize that the route of inhalation has direct access to the brain tissue via the olfactory bulb, the second cranial nerve. Aromas bypass blood filtering processes and directly influence the hippocampus and limbic lobe of the brain. This is the part of the brain that controls memory, learning, and emotions. This makes therapeutic essential oil use potentially, one of the most powerful avenues of treatment for emotional and mental disorders.

. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the theory of Qi (energetic), Blood (nutritive) and Jing (Hormonal) describe three different levels of function in the body:

• The Blood level permeates the entire body and dominates the "middle". Muscles, bones and internal organs all need nutrient rich blood to supply substance and also need the blood the take away waste products and toxins to the elimination routes. Food and herbs, which contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and assorted micronutrients, supply the blood level with needed substances (Yin). Food and herbs best treat Blood level imbalances. For example, anemia, a deficiency of red blood cells, is most often due to insufficient ingestion of iron rich foods. Increasing the frequency of eating beets, mustard green and taking the herb Dong Quai (aka Tang Kuei) will help this condition.

• The Jing levels of the body are considered the deepest levels of function and include hormones, thick viscous fluids like synovial fluids of the joints, sexual fluids in men and women, and cerebral spinal fluid, in addition to the DNA of each cell. These basic elements of human function are traditionally regarded as the basic elements of Jing. Essential oils, conversely, are the basic elements of Jing in the Plant Kingdom.

Essential oils circulate in plants in much the same way that hormones circulate in the human endocrine system. It\'s no surprise then, that through traditional use and in recent clinical studies, it has been observed that hormonal imbalances respond positively to the application of essential oils.

In the case of menopause, a Clinical Aromatherapist may stimulate balance with oils like Rose, Ylang Ylang, Geranium, and Clary Sage. Nuerotransmitter imbalances in the brain can also be influenced by essential oils. Serotonin depletion, a classic Jing imbalance, can be helped by inhaling Lavendar, Bergamot, Helichrysum and Benzoin Resin.

To maximize the health benefits of aromatherapy, it is important to understand the context in which it functions. It is hoped that the model outlined here is helpful to you as you approach health-related decisions and strategies .

Bibiliography:

http://www.elixir.net/RRFiles/RR_reprints022.html

　　芳香疗法即利用纯天然植物精油的芳香的气味和植物本身所具有的治愈能力，以特殊的按摩方法，经由嗅觉器官和皮肤的吸收，到达神经系统和血液循环，以帮助人身心获得舒解，并达到皮肤保养的目的和改善身体健康的功效，使人的身、心、灵三者达到平衡和统一。

“芳香疗法…有效并有节制地使用芳香精油促进身体和情感的健康。”
“芳香疗法慎重使用精油保持和增强身体、心理和精神的健康。”
它是一种自然、亲切的治疗系统，不仅影响疾病征兆，并能影响整个人，使得通过正确使用精油得以协助身体的自然能力平衡、调节、治疗和保持健康。

　　按摩时，透过中国经络穴道指压和淋巴排毒的特殊按摩技巧，使精油渗透进入皮肤表层，由于精油的分子比皮肤的分子要小得多，因此极易渗透入人体，在大约20分钟至6小时即可经由血液循环流至全身，而其残留物则透过排泄系统排出体外。当精油在体内循环时，有一部分会被人体的器官、肌肉、细胞或神经纤维所吸收，从而引发精油之治疗功能。

　　因嗅觉与情绪是有关联的，所以不同的芳香气味会影响我们的情绪，根据各人的情绪、性格和体质，选择不同的芳香精油以达到调解身心的作用。