An Overview of Aromatherapy
Summary
Aromatherapy has become a catchall term used to describe the scents used in soaps, lotions, shampoos and
conditioners, and the effect of certain scents on the mind and body. In strict practice, though, aromatherapy is
the use of volatile oils derived from plants to affect the mood or health. In clinical aromatherapy, the volatile
oils used have specific effects on the body such as being antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. While aromatherapy is
regarded as a complementary medical tool in the United States, more of a touchy-feely New Age discipline with
little evidence, the role of essential oils and aromatherapy are taken more seriously in Europe. In France, for
instance, many essential oils are available only by prescription and aromatherapy is often used as part of
conventional medicine.
Theory
While most people believe that aromatherapy is all about what your nose senses, there is far more to it than scent.
Essential oils are extracts from plants, many of which do have pharmacologic effects on the body and mind. In
aromatherapy, these oils are used in various ways to induce the desired effect. The oils have a specific chemical
action when inhaled, applied to the skin or ingested.
Practice
Aromatherapy is gaining wider acceptance in medical circles as research has discovered that scents and essential
oils do have some medical and pharmacological effects on the body. The most accepted uses of aromatherapy are for
the relief of pain and nausea, often post-operative or in conjunction with chemotherapy. There are various methods
of using the essential oils. They include:
- Inhalation, the most common method of delivering essential oils, is either by diffusing the oil in the air,
or by direct inhalation through inhalers.
- Absorption through the skin in baths, massages and compresses.
- Absorption through the mucus membranes.
- Ingestion – rarely used, and only with medical supervison.
The therapeutic effects of essential oils are based on the chemical composition of the oil. It's not enough for
something to ‘smell like lavender’ – lavender oil has a specific chemical makeup that is thought to act on chemical
receptors in the brain. Among the therapeutic effects are:
- Antiseptic effects: many essential oils are antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial.
- Anesthetic effects: some essential oils such as menthol or camphor temporarily dampen pain receptors. Oil
of camphor, for instance, is widely used to relieve the pain of toothaches.
- Effects on the central nervous system that may induce relaxation or other psychological effects.
Evidence In Favor
There exist very few controlled studies to prove the effectiveness or safety of aromatherapy, but some uses of
aromatherapy are simply accepted. These include the use of eucalyptus and menthol for treating congestion and upper
respiratory infections, and the use of lavender for pain relief and relaxation.
Criticism
Critics point out that there is little formal research to demonstrate the efficacy of aromatherapy, and that it's
almost impossible to standardize the chemical makeup of essential oils in order to accurately and adequately test
their effects.
Despite the criticisms and the view of aromatherapy as a harmless but useless discipline, aromatherapy is one of
the fastest growing branches of alternative medicine.
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