Aromatherapy is a practice that uses plant oils to treat medical conditions. It’s not a substitute for other treatments prescribed by your doctor.
Essential oils are concentrated extracts from flowers, seeds, trees, roots and bark. When you inhale them, olfactory cells in your nose detect the molecules and send messages to parts of your brain that control functions like stress and sleep.
History
The use of aromatic plant oils in massage and healing rituals dates back thousands of years. However, it wasn’t until 1928 that French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse coined the term “aromatherapy” after his accidental discovery of the healing properties of lavender essential oil. Other pioneers such as French army doctor Jean Valnet, Austrian biochemist Madam Marguerite Maury and English aromatherapist Robert Tisserand further established the practice of modern aromatherapy in the early 20th century.
The ancient Egyptians burned scented incense, believing that the smoke would carry their prayers to the gods. They also used essential oils for medicinal and cosmetic purposes before the invention of distillation. The Romans were also a prolific user of essential oils, including helichrysum and myrrh for their antiseptic properties during the Bubonic Plague. Today, aromatherapy is a holistic approach to well-being that utilizes the essential oils of plants to promote psychological and physical health. While botanicals such as infused oils (macerates), resins and hydrosols are used, the primary therapeutic agents in aromatherapy are the essential oils.
Symptoms
During aromatherapy, you can inhale extracts of plants called essential oils or put them on your skin during a massage. The oil’s smell triggers a reaction in your brain. Your doctor might recommend aromatherapy to help relieve certain symptoms.
Research suggests that it can ease anxiety and improve mood and sleep. It might also reduce nausea and vomiting in people undergoing chemotherapy. It can also reduce pain in some people with cancer.
It may be safe for most people, but it’s important to talk to your doctor before trying it. Essential oils aren’t regulated like drugs and can be toxic or cause side effects. For example, pregnant women should avoid hyssop oil and people with high blood pressure should avoid rosemary and spike lavender oils. Some oils can also interact with medications, including pentobarbital (used for seizures) and amphetamines (used for narcolepsy). Eucalyptus may make some seizure medications less effective. Other oils can irritate your skin, so you should use them only with a certified aromatherapist and under their supervision.
Techniques
The most direct way to use essential oils is through inhalation. Inhaling the vapors of an essential oil allows the delicate molecules to reach the brain directly where they can have their beneficial effects. This type of aromatherapy is sometimes called psycho-aromatherapy or plant olfaction.
The scent of an aromatic extract may also be used by applying it to the skin using massage techniques. Inhalation and dermal application are the two main methods of administering aromatherapy in a health care setting.
Developing a clinical aromatherapy program requires buy-in from major stakeholders and an inpatient or outpatient facility willing to support this new symptom management intervention. An interprofessional team should be formed to develop the policy and procedures. Champions should be identified for the program to serve as teachers, consultants and mentors. The program should be evaluated for effectiveness by identifying preoutcome and postoutcome measurements. Data analysis will help refine the protocol if needed. This will be an invaluable tool for determining whether aromatherapy is an effective, cost-efficient and patient-centered intervention.
Safety
Inhalation of essential oils can be energizing, stimulating or relaxing depending on the oil used and the desired effect. The oil’s constituents can either enter the bloodstream and directly affect physiological processes or, through binding to specialized receptors on nerve cells, alter specific signals in the brain that control emotions and bodily functions.
Using the right dilution ratios of essential oils is key to safety. The more concentrated oils are used in aromatherapy, the higher the risk of a negative reaction.
It is also important to use essential oils in a well ventilated area as some may be irritating or toxic if inhaled for prolonged periods of time. It is recommended to work with a trained aromatherapist who can determine safe dilution levels and cautionary notes.
It is generally recommended that only therapeutic-grade essential oils be used for aromatherapy. This ensures that the oil contains all of its natural healing properties and that the chemical structure is intact.
