Aromatherapy is the practice of using concentrated extracts from herbs to treat emotional and physical ailments. Depending on the active constituents in the roots, seeds and leaves of herbs, aromatherapy induces different effects on the body. Before trying aromatherapy, speak to a health care practitioner or trained aromatherapist. Misusing essential oils can cause serious health complications.
History
The history of herbal aromatherapy dates back thousands of years. Egyptians used essential oils for bathing, treating illnesses and even embalming. "New Choices in Natural Healing" claims that returning crusaders brought the practice of using essential oils to the Western world. When the bubonic plague ravaged Europe, people burned oils in the hope that their antiseptic properties would stem the spread of the disease.
It wasn't until 1937 when French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse published a book called "aromatherapy" that the use of oils for medicinal purposes gained a formal name. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) credits Gattefosse for founding the science of aromatherapy after treating a burn on his hand with lavender oil. The event inspired him to analyze essential oils for their chemical components.
Uses
Aromatherapy is used for a wide variety of conditions, including anxiety, insomnia, stress, depression, physical and emotional fatigue, hair loss, digestive ailments, itching and pain. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) adds that essential oils from herbs are used in treating wounds and as topical products because of their antibacterial properties. While herbal aromatherapy has a range of uses, keep in mind that much of the evidence supporting its efficacy is anecdotal.
Function
More research is necessary to pinpoint the exact method of how herbal aromatherapy works. UMMC suggests that the communication between smell receptors and the brain's limbic system, specifically the hippocampus and amygdala, is responsible. "New Choices in Natural Healing" points out that several herbs, such as lavender and jasmine, affect brain wave activity. When essential oils from herbs are used topically, they are absorbed into the blood stream, where they may interact with hormones or enzymes.
Methods
Many people associate sense of smell with aromatherapy, but inhalation is only one of many ways to use herbal essential oils. Aromatherapy also includes using herbs topically to treat minor cuts, burns and headaches and as part of massage oils to increase circulation and induce a sense of well-being. When used as part of massage, the oils from herbs help in multiple ways: as they are breathed in and as the skin absorbs them.
The use of essential oils for medicinal purposes is more widespread in Europe than in the United States. Europeans take essential oils orally, as suppositories and even in patches applied to the skin.
Precautions
Using herbal essential oils can lead to allergic reactions when applied topically and should always be diluted with a carrier oil. Because essential oils are so concentrated, ingesting even small amounts of certain oils can be fatal. Many herb can cause unpleasant side effects if used incorrectly. For example, tansy and wormwood may cause seizures in some patients. Women who are pregnant or nursing should be cautious when using aromatherapy. Consult a trained aromatherapist or qualified health professional before using essential oils.
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