HEALING BY NOSE
What aromatherapy can teach us about general well-being
An invigorating scent — with notes of menthol, eucalyptus and peppermint — welcomes students stepping into the Asian Holistic Academy on 12M Floor of CentralWorld’s Zen Tower.
“Promoting concentration, the aroma is inspired by fresh grass,” explained the academy’s director, Apiradee Thammasorn.
According to research, a similar scent has been used on students preparing for their exams in helping them stay focused. Likewise, the aromatherapy has been applied to students at the Asian Holistic Academy, which provides professional education for spa therapists as well as short courses and workshops for the general public.
The academy is an extension of HARNN Spa, founded by Vudhichai Harnphanich, who believes in holistic well-being through a harmonious mind/ body balance.
Starting with making natural home-spa and aromatherapy products, the Thai company has been operating for over 17 years, and has expanded to offering spa services such as at the HARNN Heritage Spa Krungthep next door to the academy. Sister brand Vuudh specialises in lifestyle fragrances and Tichaa in herbal infusions, with these aromatic products playing an important part in restoring the natural balance between body, mind and environment.
“Aromatherapy can simply be about eating pad kraprao and drinking herbal tea. It’s something that can be incorporated into your daily life,” said Apiradee.
Courses at the academy include a one-day introduction to aromatherapy, in which students can learn about the science and use of essential oils, whether alone or as synergy blends to promote good health and wellness.
For example, research has shown that uplifting jasmine essential oil has an antidepressant effect, while lemon grass essential oil helps relieve anxiety while also offering antiseptic and antimicrobial effects.
“It’s about more than a nice smell, since the essential oils lend different therapeutic effects,” she said, “though it’s a matter of using the right aromatherapy at the right place and time.”
Taking a shower with a refreshing shower gel in the morning and changing to a more relaxing formula is one example of simply applying aromatherapy at home. Likewise, place a refreshing diffuser oil in the living room and a relaxing one in the bedroom to create the optimal ambience.
A eucalyptus diffuser oil can help clear respiratory airways for those with a menacing cold, with the aromatherapy complemented by immune-system-boosting Roselle tea.
Besides the aromatherapy class, the academy offers hands-on courses in body massage, from the one-day back-and-shoulder massage to the three-day traditional Thai massage or Thai aroma massage, as well as short courses in spa and facial treatment.
“A massage is not only about relieving aches and pains through improved circulation and release of tension; research has shown that it helps release analgesic and happy hormones. It is thus an alternative to painkillers,” said Apiradee, who has an educational background in cosmetic science as well as anti-ageing and regenerative medicine, in addition to being a trained spa therapist and aesthetician.
The academy director aims to help people maintain holistic wellness through natural remedies and by applying traditional healing practices from Thai, Japanese, Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, combined with scientific studies.
She emphasises putting safe and good things into the body, whether food or non-chemical personal-care products, to lessen the need of detoxification treatment.
“The purpose is to help people take good care of themselves first — then they can take it to the next step in caring for others,” she said. “This also applies to the professional courses. Therapists have to take good care of themselves first, so that they have positive energy in performing spa treatments.”
The Asian Holistic Academy is located on 12M Floor, Zen Tower, at CentralWorld. The price of short courses ranges from 4,000-15,000 baht. For more information, call 02-252-5721.