Aromatherapy is a safe, inexpensive and simple way to ease symptoms of illness and stress. Essential oils are concentrated plant extracts that contain many healing properties.
The smell of an oil stimulates the brain’s olfactory receptors, which send signals to the limbic system. From there, emotions and memories are triggered.
What is aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is a form of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) that uses essential oils — fragranced plant extracts that are distilled from the seeds, roots, bark, leaves or blossoms of a plant — to help manage symptoms or promote health. These oils are most often inhaled or applied to the skin.
When inhaled, the scent molecules travel from the nose to olfactory nerves, which send messages to parts of the brain that affect mood and the nervous system. These oils also may enter the bloodstream and interact with chemicals that influence the way the body responds to disease.
Unlike fragranced products that are used in perfumes, cosmetics and household cleaners, pure aromatherapy oils have therapeutic properties. But they can be expensive, and it’s important to follow a practitioner’s instructions carefully because they should never be ingested or applied undiluted to the skin. Before trying this practice, tell your healthcare provider about your medical history and any medications you take.
How does aromatherapy work?
Aromatherapy uses essential oils extracted from the roots, leaves, seeds or flowers of certain plants to help people feel calm or improve their mood. The oil can be inhaled, applied topically or added to a bath.
Research on aromatherapy’s benefits is limited, and results vary between studies. One problem is that researchers can’t control all factors that influence how a person might respond to an aroma, such as expectations or age.
Still, some research shows that aromatherapy may help relieve stress and anxiety. For example, a 2014 study found that when 22 menopausal women inhaled clary sage oil, cortisol levels, the hormone that’s associated with stress, decreased. Talk to your health care provider before trying aromatherapy. Your provider can tell you whether it’s safe for you, especially if you’re pregnant or have any health conditions like epilepsy or asthma. Also, make sure to follow the dilution guidelines for the oil you’re using and avoid getting any of it on your skin.
What conditions can aromatherapy treat?
Aromatherapy uses scented oils from plants to promote health and well-being. It isn’t a replacement for medical care, but may help relieve some symptoms, such as stress and anxiety. Some people put the oils on their skin during massage or baths. Others inhale them from a diffuser or spray bottle. You can buy essential oils in health food stores and some supermarkets. But make sure they’re pure and don’t contain additives.
When you smell an aromatherapy oil, it releases tiny molecules into the air that travel to special cells in your nose called olfactory receptors. They send a signal to the brain that influences your mood, memory, and other bodily functions.
Some research suggests that aromatherapy can reduce nausea and vomiting during pregnancy or childbirth, relieve headaches, and ease pain after surgery. But more study is needed to confirm these benefits. Before using aromatherapy, it’s important to tell your healthcare provider about any allergies or other medical conditions you have.
How can I use aromatherapy?
You can use essential oils to help with anxiety, pain and mood. The oils can be inhaled through a diffuser or sprayed onto the skin in a diluted form with a carrier oil. Some people can also benefit from aromatherapy massage. It is important to note that aromatherapy doesn’t replace the care you get from a healthcare provider and that it can interact with certain medications.
When buying essential oil products, look for ones that are labeled pure and that come in dark-colored glass bottles. They should be free of any additives, chemicals and pesticides. Choose a company that is reputable and offers educational information about the oils. It’s also important to know that the results of studies on aromatherapy can be influenced by things such as expectations and individual differences.
A common way of using essential oils is to place a few drops on an aroma stick, which is a portable plastic device with an absorbent wick. You can then inhale the scent throughout the day.
