Guest guest Posted December 7, 2008 Report Share Posted December 7, 2008 Hi Katherine, If you're confused, it's because it's not a black and white issue. The skin is meant to be a barrier. However, it is not a perfect barrier; some chemicals can get through. So absorption *can* happen, and can have major results - for good and for ill, depending on the chemical absorbed and how much is absorbed. That being said, Aromatherapy is still just that - Aroma therapy. It's *main* function is through the effects of smells on the brain (odor) and by the inhalation of the volatile molecules released from EO's, which can cross into the bloodstream in small amounts and have a biochemical effect. Think of absorption as a lesser sideline, if you will. *Most* EO's don't absorb more than " skin deep " ; so physiological effects from EOs are more likely to be from the odor/inhalation pathways. Notice I say, " most " and " more likely, " as I said, it's not all black and white! There are exceptions and gray areas, which is one of the reasons so many people are frustrated by science... Hope that helps a little! -Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted December 8, 2008 Report Share Posted December 8, 2008 Melissa, this is a good explanation. I think its important for people to understand that science is always looking and examining things. Every year new knowledge comes about because of scientific investigations. Skin absorption is one of those areas that is highly investigated. There are many areas overlapping the fields we work in (especially health and nutrition) that enough data has just not been collected to allow solid answers to come from it. We don't know all the answers. To me knowledge is one of the purposes of life, so if everything was already known what is the point of life?? :-) Half the fun is learning. Cindy http://www.sagescript.com > If you're confused, it's because it's not a black and white issue. > > The skin is meant to be a barrier. However, it is not a perfect barrier; > some chemicals can get through. So absorption *can* happen, and can have > major results - for good and for ill, depending on the chemical absorbed and > how much is absorbed. > > That being said, Aromatherapy is still just that - Aroma therapy. It's > *main* function is through the effects of smells on the brain (odor) and by > the inhalation of the volatile molecules released from EO's, which can cross > into the bloodstream in small amounts and have a biochemical effect. Think > of absorption as a lesser sideline, if you will. *Most* EO's don't absorb > more than " skin deep " ; so physiological effects from EOs are more likely to > be from the odor/inhalation pathways. Notice I say, " most " and " more > likely, " as I said, it's not all black and white! There are exceptions and > gray areas, which is one of the reasons so many people are frustrated by > science... > > Hope that helps a little! > > -Melissa > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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