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^{What is it?}

^{The art of applying essential oils to suit individual needs. The oils work directly on the chemistry of the body, via the skin and bl oodstream.}

^{Essential oils are extracts that contain the substances that give plants their smell. They are produced by tiny glands in the petals, leaves, stems, bark and wood of many plants and trees. In nature, they are released slowly, but when heated or crushed, their oil glands burst, releasing the plant's aroma more strongly.}

^{It isn't known exactly when or where the art of aromatherapy began. It is thought that Chinese knowledge of medicinal oils may have reached the west by way of the Egyptians, Greeks and Roman. The first recorded use of plants in Britain was in the 13th century and from then on, manufacture increase and the oils became widely used as perfumes, antiseptics and medicines.}

^{How are the oils applied?}

^{Usually by massage, they can be given as a relaxing treatment covering "stress" areas such as back, shoulders, face, legs.}

^{Essential oils can also be inhaled, using an oil burner or breathing in an infusion and can also be very beneficial when added to baths.}

^{Who can it help?}

^{Aromatherapy is believed to be suitable for people of all ages, even babies. Aromatherapists claim that they can treat many conditions, and often see a great improvement in nervous disorders, such as depression, anger, stress and other related symptoms such as headaches a nd insomnia.}

^{Practitioners say that aromatherapy is safe for home use, but the following general guidelines should be observed:}

^{Only high quality oils should be bought from a specialist aromatherapy supplier.}

^{Pure oils should not be applied directly to the skin.}

^{Oils should not be swallowed unless they are supplied by a fully trained aromatherapist and used under his/her supervision.}

^{Some oils are to be avoided by pregnant women. Check with a trained aromatherapist.}

^{Art therapy}

^{The use of art has always be en used for self-expression and to convey ideas and emotions that are difficult to describe verbally. It's potential as a therapeutic tool became apparent after World War 2 when survivors of the war used art in hospitals and rehabilitation centres to help to overcome the traumas they had experienced. Art Therapy is a non-verbal way of revealing deeper emotions that may not otherwise be clearly expressed.}

^{Art Therapy is a form of psychotherapy where art (creative expression using various media: painting, dra wing, sculpture etc) is sued to allow safe expression of emotions. The client is encouraged to express themselves freely through art, allowing a link between the subconscious the product of the art therapy. The resulting images can help to bring to light a ny suppressed emotions or conflicts. Reflecting on the images can help to understand and deal with the issues that arise. Art Therapy is also used as a tool for personal growth and greater self-understanding.}

^{There are two main approaches to Art Therapy. O ne is that the act of creating the artwork is therapeutic in itself and allows the client to understand their own inner conflicts and emotions without any interpretation from the therapist. The other approach takes the view that the artwork is a non-verbal method of communicating and allows the therapist to understand and identify the client's needs through interpretation to help them to deal with the issues.}

^{Art Therapy is often used in hospitals, prisons, education centres and mental health clinics and is suitable for people of all ages. It is especially beneficial for emotional and psychological disorders as it provides a means of communication to express feelings that are too difficult to verbalise. It is also of great use for personal development and gr owth by helping to identify problem areas and then transform negative images into positive ones.}

^{Therapy sessions may be on a one-to-one basis or in a group. An initial consultation is taken to determine general health, medical treatment and lifestyle deta ils before any sessions commence. No previous art experience is necessary as the purpose is to use the art media to help to communicate deeper inner emotions which can then be self-interpreted.}