Aromatherapy is a type of holistic or alternative medicine in which practitioners use essential oils from certain plants to benefit the human body--along with the mind and spirit. Holistic medicine encourages healing without the need for standard drugs or surgery. Some patients combine aromatherapy with other holistic treatment modalities such as acupuncture and massage, as well as with conventional medicine. You should check with your doctor before depending on such treatments.
History
Aromatherapy dates back 6,000 years, according to Holistic Online, an informational site about alternative and complementary therapies. Aromatherapy oils found use among the ancient Egyptians as well as the Greeks and Romans. The modern discipline has its origins with French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse, who coined the term "aromatherapie" sometime around 1930. He began investigating essential oils after watching his own hand, with the help of lavender oil, heal quickly and without a scar following a burn in his cosmetics lab.
Benefits
Aromatherapy serves both to prevent disease and to help the body recover from illnesses both acute and chronic, according to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. And according to the International Aromatherapy Association, the practice can be helpful to people with headaches, depression, insomnia, anxiety, pain, digestive disorders, infection and other conditions.
Methods
One way to administer aromatherapy is through directly inhaling essential oils. In this case, an aromatherapist would have you use an inhaler with drops of the oil floating on the surface of hot water. Another method, according to the National Cancer Institute, is indirect inhalation, in which the oils are placed near you or through use of a room diffuser. Other routes include direct application to the skin in the form of lotions, bath salts and other preparations, and aromatherapy massage, in which an aromatherapy provider rubs diluted essential oils into your skin.
Types
The range of essential oils used in aromatherapy is vast. The site Aroma Web profiles 111 of them. Among the most popular, according to the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, are peppermint, which is good for headaches and digestive problems; eucalyptus, which is helpful for coughs and colds; and tea tree, which is beneficial for fungal infections. Also common are geranium, lavender, lemon, ylang ylang, clary sage, rosemary and Roman chamomile.
Theory
The International Aromatherapy Association suggests that inhaling aromas can alter your emotions quickly because through the olfactory system, "essential oil molecules go directly to the limbic area of the brain," where emotions and memory are centered. But another theory suggests a slightly less-direct route. Smell receptors in the nose might be responding to the smells by sending chemical messages to the limbic system, according to the National Cancer Institute.
References
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: What Is Aromatherapy?
- National Cancer Institute: Questions and Answers About Aromatherapy
- Holistic Online: History of Aromatherapy
- National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy: Top 10 Essential Oils
- Aroma Web: 111 Essential Oils and Absolute Profiles
Member Comments