Aromatherapy is a natural, noninvasive way to improve your health. It involves using essential oils to inhale their scent.
When used correctly, aromatherapy can provide a range of benefits, including stress and anxiety relief. However, it’s important to consult a trained aromatherapist before trying this treatment. You should also avoid certain oils while pregnant or breastfeeding.
Stress relief
Using essential oils, aromatherapy targets receptors in the limbic system of the brain. This area controls emotions and memories, and the inhalation of certain scents triggers reactions that help with stress relief.
Some aromatherapy oils have anti-anxiety properties that help to calm the nervous system, while others promote relaxation and sleep. Inhalation is a common application, but oil can also be applied topically with a diluted carrier massage oil or added to a bath.
Many clinical studies show that aromatherapy reduces stress in patients and increases feelings of well-being. This may be due to a reduction in cortisol levels, which helps the body relax. Aromatherapy is now being used in many hospital settings, including the maternity unit and critical care areas. It is a great way to improve patient experience and provide comfort in stressful medical environments.
Anxiety relief
Aromatherapy is a type of treatment that uses extracts from flowers, herbs, and trees to help people relax. The scents of these extracts, known as essential oils, can be inhaled through the nose or applied to the skin during a massage. It can also be used to improve mood and reduce anxiety. However, it is important to note that aromatherapy should not be used as a replacement for medical treatments.
The non-RCT clinical studies reviewed in this review employed a wide variety of measurement tools to assess the impact of inhalation aromatherapy. The most common were questionnaires like the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Mood and Wellbeing Checklist.
A study by Sharipour et al compared the effect of aromatherapy using 2 different oils (sage and neroli) on post caesarean anxiety using the STAI. They found that the aromatherapy group had less anxiety than the control group. However, this was not statistically significant.
Pain relief
Pain relief is a common reason that patients seek alternative treatments to their medical regimen. Aromatherapy is one of these methods that can help ease and manage pain while soothing the mind and body. The calming effects of certain essential oils, like lavender or chamomile, can reduce the perception of pain and promote relaxation.
Some studies have found that using aromatherapy in addition to conventional treatment can reduce neck pain. In one study, subjects who were treated with lavender acupressure in conjunction with acupuncture and traditional treatment reported better range of motion and less pain than those receiving regular care alone.
Aromatherapy has also been shown to help with chronic pain conditions, like fibromyalgia. A randomized controlled trial found that women who received aromatherapy massage had significantly lower pain levels than those who received standard treatment. For a simple at-home treatment, add some drops of an essential oil known for its pain-relieving properties to a bath or apply directly to the skin.
Sleep improvement
Many people struggle to get enough sleep, and aromatherapy can help improve sleep by reducing stress, anxiety, and pain. It can also help people fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. Several essential oils have sleep-promoting properties, including lavender, clary sage, and chamomile. You can use these oils in a diffuser, or apply them to your wrists, neck, and forehead before bed.
Research shows that aromatherapy can help with insomnia and other sleep disorders, but more research is needed to determine the exact mechanism. Some research suggests that aromatherapy can improve sleep by reducing cortisol levels and promoting relaxation. Other studies suggest that smells may affect dreams, with pleasant odors promoting positive ones and unpleasant odors causing negative ones.
This meta-analysis identified a significant effect of aromatherapy on improving sleep quality in adults and elderly individuals. The results of this study provided the evidence for the utilization of aromatherapy as a nursing intervention to improve sleep quality in these populations.
