Natural Aromatherapy

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy defines aromatherapy as "the art and science of utilizing naturally extracted aromatic essences from plants to balance, harmonize and promote the health of body, mind and spirit." Aromatherapy is non-invasive and can be used either as a preventive approach or active treatment approach for acute conditions.

History

National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy director, Shellie Enteen, says that no one knows exactly when the practice of using aromatic plant substances to treat illness and disease began, but there are records of extensive use of essential oils in ancient India, China and the Middle East. Using plant oils and resins was common until the development of the microscope, which enabled chemists to isolate bio-active compounds, like the pain-relieving ingredient in white willow bark called salicylic acid, which is now sold as aspirin.

Theories/Speculation

The chemical makeup of essential oils is different from that of fatty vegetable oils, like olive oil. They typically contain chemical components such as alcohols, esters, ketones, aldehydes and terpenes, says Robert B. Tisserand, author of "The Art of Aromatherapy." Tisserand theorizes that the chemical compounds found in essential oils affect physical and psychological well being when they're either absorbed through the skin or stimulate the olfactory senses, which have neurological connections directly in the brain.

Benefits

Cherie Perez, a supervising research nurse in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston started using aromatherapy to treat her own physical pain caused by fibromyalgia. She now teaches cancer patients and their families how to use essential oils to promote sleep and relaxation, manage anxiety, and improve memory. Perez says essential oils can also stimulate lymphatic drainage and may indirectly boost immune system functioning.

Misconceptions

Kylie Thompson, author of "Aromatherapy for the Emotions," puts aromatherapy misconceptions to rest. "There are still people out there who think 'aromatherapy' is a bit bogus...," she says. "You don't need faith with aromatherapy oils--just like traditional medicines, [essential oils] are made up of chemical compounds that when introduced into a person's blood stream have the ability to fight pathogens..."

Warning

The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy warns that essential oils are highly concentrated, volatile compounds. Applying undiluted essential oils to your skin can cause adverse reactions. Research has shown that essential oils diluted in carrier oil can sometimes be more effective than the full-strength plant oil. Some oils are known sensitizers; they contain compounds that can cause a range of adverse reactions from a small rash to death from anaphylactic shock in extreme cases.