Deepa Bhatia, with her ‘Breathe’ range literally breathed new life into aromatherapy. Today this 30-something woman not only deals in aromatic oils, soaps and candles but also dabbles in Ayurveda.

You are a Master's in Economics. Then how did you decide to become an Aromatherapist?
My dad was importing essential oils for perfumery. From a very young age I was exposed to fragrances. I had all these samples of oils lying around me unused. At that time I was also reading a lot about Aromatherapy. I started experimenting with the oils and began to enjoy it.

Then I did a professional course in Aromatherapy from UK. After coming back to India I started prescribing these oils to a friend with depression or an aunt with arthritis. This way I started getting a lot of orders for aromatherapy products after which I decided to brand it 'Breathe.'

Being the first Aromatherapy product how was the response?
We were the first to introduce Aromatherapy in Bombay. I had a lot of people slamming their doors on me. Luckily, Bombay Stores picked it up and that opened a lot of doors for me. With a little bit of marketing effort, the product is doing very well now.

Is Aromatherapy used only for beauty purposes?
Not at all. In fact that's a misconception. Aromatherapy has application in everything from common cold to the female reproductive system. The prime benefits of essentials oils would start from the nervous system-for any kind of problem associated with the mind. They are very useful for stress, anxiety and depression. There is an oil called Patchouli, which smells like wet earth. It is very useful for stress. Jasmine oil helps in times of trauma.

Of course Aromatherapy is associated with a lot of beauty treatments and skin problems. Cleopatra is said to have a bath of ass's milk and essential oils. But there's more to it. Aromatherapy is used to treat eczema, psoriasis, dandruff, watt, acne, pigmentation, helping preventing wrinkles, hair lice, etc.

There are some oils, which are very stimulating and could be used during low blood pressure and some very sedative oils for high blood pressure. Just 2-3 drops of orange oil in half a bucket of water is enough to cure constipation. Aromatherapy can also be used to cure indigestion, gastric ulcers, etc. Rosemary and eucalyptus oils are very good for arthritis.

How are these oils used?
You can massage it on your skin, hair or face. You can use relaxation oil for the entire body. Some oils can be added to your bath water. You can use it in hot or cold compress for backaches and swellings as well as inhale it to combat cold. For children with chicken pox you can put a few drops on a hanky and place it under their bed.

Does the healing process in Aromatherapy take longer than the other methods of treatment?
It's a misconception that aromatherapy takes longer to heal. If I prescribe an essential oil for insomnia, that person will find relief the same night or the next day. He won't have to wait for months. It's that quick. Oils like Lavender and Claragence are very sedative oils, and provide instant relief for sleeplessness. And mind you, these oils are not at all addictive. It's not my intention to put you off sleeping and put you on to this. Basically, it changes your sleeping pattern. So after one and a half month you won't require the oil at all.

How does one become an Aromatherapist? Do you have to join some classes?
There is a lot of scope for self-learning here. You can buy books and learn. But just reading won't help. You want to know what it's all about. You will have to spend some time with the oil. Smell it everyday.

In a lot of cases it is quiet logical. Like aniseed is very good for digestion. We have been having sauf after food for ages. Orange oil is beneficial for the skin.

You can log on to the Internet. There is so much information available there. However, you need to buy the oils. Because no matter how much you read about the oil, unless you smell it you won't know what it can be used for.

This is a very expensive proposition. A litre of Rose oil will cost you Rs 2,50,000-3,00000. Jasmine is in the same range. But there are cheaper oils like sandalwood which, is Rs 14,000-15,000 a litre. Orange oil is Rs 100 a litre.

I don't know of any proper classes that teach aromatherapy in Bombay. But there are a few good schools in the UK where you can learn aromatherapy. It's a six months course.

Why are aromatherapy products so expensive?
You need a thousand kilos of rose petals to get half a liter of rose oil. Moreover, to remove oil from jasmine and rose is a very delicate procedure. If the petals get crushed it has to be thrown. That's the reason these essential oils are so expensive.

Do you have any experiences to share?
I have been dealing with a stammering child for the past 2-3 years. Stammering is a very psycho-somatic case. After the use of Aromatherapy there has been a lot of improvement in the child. His confidence has increased.

I have also helped a woman conceive. She's had a second baby thanks to Aromatherapy.

What are the personal attributes needed to become an Aromatherapist?
First of all you need to be patient. We are not just treating the pain but treating the root cause of the pain. This requires digging a little deeper. An Aromatherapist has to be patient and not rush into conclusions. You need to know the patient's background to help him. This requires a lot of listening.
You need to be intuitive. The last but the most important is that you should enjoy smelling and fragrances.

What do you attribute the sudden interest in alternative healing techniques like Aromatherapy?
People are now sick and tired of Allopathy-popping pills. Just look at the side effects that these pills have on your life. People are now looking back at nature for various cures. Aromatherapy is one of them. It is absolutely natural. People using Aromatherapy are more intuitive and in touch with themselves. Of course it is also very holistic. It just doesn't cure your problem but it cures the mind, body and soul.

What are the precautions one should follow while using these oils?
Avoid using it in pregnancy, epilepsy and on children below 12, unless you are with an Aromatherapist. These oils should never be used near the eye. If you manage to get a little oil into eye, rinse it immediately with cold water.

You cannot use these oils neat on the skin. They are very potent. You need to blend it in vegetable oil like olive oil, almond oil, eucalyptus oil, etc. You can blend it in 1-3 per cent. That means in 100 drops of coconut oil you need only 3 drops of essential oil. However, you cannot blend it in baby oil.

As far as storing is concerned these oils should never be stored in plastic bottles, only amber or blue coloured glass bottles. Never keep it in direct sunlight. Store it in the refrigerator.