Essential oils, sometimes called volatile oils, are the basis of aromatherapy. They are fragrant substances that can be found in a variety of plants in locations such as under bark or peels and in leaves, according to the National Cancer Institute. Crushing the plant yields the oil. Alternative and complementary medicine practitioners use essential oils both to help with specific medical conditions and to promote overall well-being.
History
Therapeutic use of essential oils dates back about 6,000 years, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Major civilizations in Greece, Rome, Egypt, Indian and China found them helpful for religious, hygienic and therapeutic purposes. In the World War I era, the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé experimented with essential oils for treating burns, wounds, skin infections and gangrene. In 1928 he developed the modern practice of aromatherapy, an approach that soon caught on in Europe, but became well-known in the United States only in the 1980s and has grown along with general interest in complementary and alternative medicine.
Process
Aromatherapy users consume essential oils through the skin, through inhalation and, sometimes, orally. Aromatherapy massage involves application of diluted oils to the skin, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. You can breathe in essential oils through sprays and vaporizers or, more directly, from a cloth. Potential settings include health spas to hospitals, with professionals such as nurses, physical therapists, pharmacists, massage therapists or specialized aromatherapy massage therapists administering the treatment. You can do your own aromatherapy at home by, for example, including essential oils in your bath.
Types
Some examples of essential oils in common usage for aromatherapy are lavender, geranium, Roman chamomile, lemon, tea tree, bergamot and cedarwood. Each has its own chemical structure and its own smell, lending itself to specific uses. Orange blossom oil, for instance, has a reputation for being calming, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Lavender may act like certain sedative medications by stimulating a part of the brain called the amygdala.
Uses
Potential general benefits of essential oils include mood enhancement, pain relief and stress relief, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. They may, particularly when combined with standard prescription medications and therapy, help to alleviate depression. In laboratory research, the University of Maryland Medical Center notes, compounds in some essential oils display anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties. Citrus oils may boost the immune system, peppermint oil may aid digestion and aniseed, fennel and sage may reduce menopause symptoms. But, according to the medical center, such benefits are largely speculation, as peer-reviewed studies of the use of essential oils to treat humans are scant.
Safety
For the most part, essential oils are safe, according to the National Cancer Institute. Skin irritation and increased sun sensitivity are possible with prolonged exposure. Additionally, tea tree oils and lavender and tea tree oils have hormone-like effects that can cause breast enlargement in pre-adolescent boys. It is not yet clear, according to the National Cancer Institute, whether such essential oils are safe for women at high risk for estrogen-receptive breast cancer.
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