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Aromatherapy, commonly associated with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), is the use of volatile liquid plant materials, known as
essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants to affect
someone's mood or health. The word was coined in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice
Gattefosse, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties
of essential oils after a lucky accident in his perfume laboratory. (In
the accident, he lit his arm on fire and thrust it into the nearest cold
liquid, which happened to be a vat of lavender oil. Much to his
amazement, the burn quickly healed without a scar.)
The main branches of aromatherapy include:
- Home aromatherapy (self treatment, perfume & cosmetic use)
- Clinical aromatherapy (as part of pharmacology and pharmacotherapy)
- Aromachology (the psychology of odors and their effects on the mind)
History
Historically aromatherapy has been used for thousands of years for
healing and spiritual rituals. Aromatherapy and its various uses was a
sacred practice in most traditional cultures -- Egypt, India, China,
Persia, Hebrew, Maya, and GreeceThe Ancient Egyptians have documented their utilization of natural oils
from around 3,500 BC. Some of the ingredients that Egyptians used
therapeutically were spikenard, frankincense, citrus fruits, myrrh,
oregano, and cedar. Some scholars believe that a spikenard ointment may
have been used by Mary Magdalen to anoint the feet of Christ prior to
the Last Supper. In ancient India, essential oils and incense were used Ayurveda, the
indigenous system of medicine, has used floral and other herbal essences
for thousands of years. Ayurvedic practitioners abundantly utilized
herbal essences for both psychological and physical ailments, in
addition to incense aromatherapy. According to Ayurveda, an individual's
qualities are harmonized when the inherent qualities of various
medicinal herbs and flowers are introduced. According to Ayurveda,
herbal ingredients may be prepared as natural incense, and used to
prevent infections, purify one's environmental atmosphere, and energize
the vital life airs of the body. In the traditional Chinese system, the second oldest in continuous
practice in the world today, the use of a sophisticated pharmacology
based on the Five Element theory taste, and the energetic
classifications, is strongly reminiscent of the Ancient Indian school of
medicine. Aroma therapy in Europe can be traced back to the Greeks and Romans, who
used essential oils for various medicinal purposes. The use of
fumigation aroma therapy was considered to be of primary importance as
far back as the time of Hippocrates. Two principle methods of
administering the healing systems, fumigation and inhalation, are easily
achieved through the use of herbal scents. Since it may be used
environmentally or for specific applications, it has become the aroma
therapy of choice for countless people throughout the world. Daily use
of incense helped prevent disease, promotes a longer life, harmonize
one's psycho-physical constitution, and increases mental clarity.
Today, aromatherapy is a very active movement in Europe, especially in
France where it is now a recognized medicine reimbursed by medical
insurance. Plants from all over the world contain useful essential oils. These
highly volatile oily substances to which the plant owes its perfume and
flavor, are present between the cells and act as plant hormones,
regulators, and catalysts. They may be considered as representing the
vital elements or life force within the plant. Extraction methods are of
utmost importance with purity being imperative in order to obtain good
therapeutic results.
Aromatherapy requires an extremely high quality of essential oils.
Synthetic substances cannot replace the real product. There are hundreds
of chemical components in essential oils. Most of them are in minute
quantities, and yet it is the precise combinations and ratios of
elements which render each oil powerful. As a result, solvents or
preservatives are not used in the preparation of first-quality essential
oils. A steam-distillation method of extraction is used instead. This
process consists of sending steam throughout the plants, which
evaporates oils. The steam is then condensed and the oils separate from
the water. This method yields a high quality oil. The best oils come
from wild organic plants. The amount of oils found in each plant varies
greatly and this is reflected in the price.
Essential Oils And Their Uses
Basil: a nerve tonic for insomnia, congestion and colds Clove Oil: an antiseptic used for toothaches,wounds and respiratory infections. Eucalyptus Oil: clears respiratory passages good for skin infections Frankincense: for all catarrh conditions, ulcers, boils, skin care, and laryngitis Geranium: calming effect on the nervous system, kidney stones, skin care Lemon: counteracts stomach acidity, powerful bactericide Mint: headaches and vomiting, fevers and colds Orange oil: sedative, slightly hypnotic, indicated for cardiac spasms
Theory
When aromatherapy is used for the treatment or prevention of disease, a
precise knowledge of the bioactivity and synergy of the essential oils
used, knowledge of the dosage and duration of application, as well as,
naturally, a medical diagnosis, are required. In the Anglo-Saxon world,
even among "natural" practitioners like herbalists or naturopaths,
aromatherapy is regarded more as an art form than a valid healing
science. At best, it is viewed as a complementary and seldom the only treatment
prescribed. On the continent, especially in France, where it originated,
aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine. There, the use
of the anti-septic properties of oils in the control of infections is
emphasized over the more "touchy feely" approaches familiar to English
speakers. In France some essential oils are regulated as prescription
drugs, and thus administered by a physician. In many countries they are
included in the national pharmacopeia, but up to the present moment
aromatherapy as science has never been recognized as a valid branch of
medicine in the United States, Russia or Germany.
Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural VOCs work in different
ways. At the scent level they activate the limbic system and emotional
centers of the brain. When applied to the skin (commonly in form of
"massage oils" i.e. 1-10% solutions of EO in carrier oil) they activate
thermal receptors, and kill microbes and fungi. Internal application of
essential oil preparations (mainly in pharmacological drugs; generally
not recommended for home use apart from dilution - 1-5% in fats or
mineral oils, or hydrosoles) may stimulate the immune system, urine
secretion, may have antiseptic activity etc. Different essential oils
have very different activity; they are studied in pharmacology and
aromachology.
It is significant to note the concept of chemotype in essential oil
chemistry. Eucalyptus, for example, has many species, such as Eucalyptus
globulus (main component is 1,8 cineole), Eucalyptus citriodora
(citral), Eucalyptus menthol, and others. Properties of the essential
oils of the same generic (common) name are not all the same; they can
differ widely in their chemical components and in their therapeutic
actions. Likewise, their chemical makeup depends on the method of
extraction (e.g. pressed and distilled bergamot oil have different
uses). The practitioner must be aware of these factors.
Application: While the practice of aromatherapy is sometimes thought to be confined to inhalation, it may include various methods, including: - Inhalation (directly or diffused into the air)
- Absorption through the skin (baths, massages, compresses)
- Absorption through the mucous membranes (oral rinses and gargles)
- Ingestion (occasionally prescribed, with caveats)
Therapeutic Effects
Aromatherapy is based mainly on the following therapeutic effects:
- Antiseptic effects: viricidial, bactericidal, fungicidal
- Anesthetic action (menthol, camphor)
- Central nervous system effects
- Metabolic / Endocrine effects
- Psychological effectsImmunostimulator
Fragrances can have a relaxing effect measured as an increase in alpha brain waves.One of the best known essential oils for aromatherapy is lavender, which
is recommended by practitioners for treating wounds, to enhance memory,
and to aid sleep by combating anxiety and insomnia. Other popular
scents include eucalyptus, rose, jasmine and bergamot. Aromatherapy is among the fastest growing fields in alternative and
holistic medicine. Aromatherapy is sometimes used in clinics and
hospitals for treatment of pain relief, for labor pain, for relieving
pain caused by the side effects of the chemotherapy, and for the
rehabilitation of cardiac patients.
Criticism
Skeptics argue that while pleasant scents can be relaxing, lowering
stress and related effects, there is currently insufficient scientific
proof of the effectiveness of aromatherapy. Like many alternative
therapies, few controlled, double-blind studies have been carried out - a
common explanation is that there is little incentive to do so if the
results of the studies are not patentable.
There are some treatments generally accepted in Western medicine to give
a form of relief for the airways in case of cold or flu, such as mint
and eucalyptus essential oils. Skeptical literature often depicts
aromatherapy as based on anecdotal evidence of its benefits rather than
proof that aromatherapy can cure diseases. Some skeptics acknowledge
that aromatherapy has limited scientific support but argue that its
claims go beyond the data or that the studies are not adequately
controlled and peer reviewed. If there can be positive effects, there
can also be negative ones if used incorrectly or in bad combinations
especially with traditional pharmacology.
The term "aromatherapy" has been applied to such a wide range of
products that almost anything which contains essential oils is likely to
be called an "aromatherapy product", rendering the term somewhat
meaningless in that context. Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect of each
type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil interacting with
the senses, but that the oil contains a distillation of the "life force"
of the plant from which it is derived that will "balance the energies"
of the body and promote healing or well-being by purging negative
vibrations from the body's energy field. Arguing that there is little
scientific evidence that healing can be achieved, or that the claimed
"energies" even exist, many skeptics reject this form of aromatherapy as
pseudoscience or even quackery.
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