"Aromatherapy is a complementary therapy and can be defined as "the controlled use of essential oils to maintain and promote physical, psychological, and spiritual well being." Gabriel Mojay.
How does it work?
Essential oils can provide significant therapeutic benefits to your body and mind. When you smell essential oils, it stimulates your olfactory system and the chemical components enters the bloodstream where it has the most effective way of working.
The Skin
Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin. Our skin is somewhat permeable. The active chemicals in essential oils are absorbed just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals such as hormone replacement therapy cream and nicotine patches.
The Olfactory System
The olfactory system includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain. Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.
"Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived." Helen Keller
Ingestion
The third way that essential oils enter the body is by ingestion (swallowing). Oral ingestion of essential oils is NOT recommended for the general public because a great deal of essential oils knowledge and expertise is necessary for safe practice.
The ingestion of essential oils is not common practice in the UK. In France, it is more common, but only when specially trained physicians and pharmacists prescribe and dispense them. There are several reasons for caution, including the following:
Aromatherapy might be used for a variety symptoms and conditions. It’s commonly used for chronic pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia and to boost your immune system. In a clinical setting aromatherapy is also used for nausea after surgery, anxiety before chemotherapy, pain during labour, poor circulation due to long periods of illness and many more.
References
Battaglia, S., (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: The International Centre of Aromatherapy.
Higley, C., Leatham, P. & Higley, A. (1998). Aromatherapy A-Z. Hay House.
Price, S. & Price, L. (2007). Aromatherapy for health professionals, 3rd Ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Schnaubelt, K. (1999). Medical aromatherapy: Healing with essential oils. Berkeley, CA: Frog, Ltd.
Tisserand, R. & Balacs, T. (1995). Essential oil safety: A guide for health professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
How does it work?
Essential oils can provide significant therapeutic benefits to your body and mind. When you smell essential oils, it stimulates your olfactory system and the chemical components enters the bloodstream where it has the most effective way of working.
The Skin
Essential oils can be applied topically to the skin. Our skin is somewhat permeable. The active chemicals in essential oils are absorbed just like the ingredients in common pharmaceuticals such as hormone replacement therapy cream and nicotine patches.
The Olfactory System
The olfactory system includes all physical organs or cells relating to, or contributing to, the sense of smell. When we inhale through the nose, airborne molecules interact with the olfactory organs and, almost immediately, the brain. Molecules inhaled through the nose or mouth are also carried to the lungs and interact with the respiratory system. Thus, inhaled essential oils can affect the body through several systems and pathways.
"Smell is a potent wizard that transports us across thousands of miles and all the years we have lived." Helen Keller
Ingestion
The third way that essential oils enter the body is by ingestion (swallowing). Oral ingestion of essential oils is NOT recommended for the general public because a great deal of essential oils knowledge and expertise is necessary for safe practice.
The ingestion of essential oils is not common practice in the UK. In France, it is more common, but only when specially trained physicians and pharmacists prescribe and dispense them. There are several reasons for caution, including the following:
- Some essential oils can be toxic to the liver or kidneys when ingested.
- Chemical breakdown of essential oils during gastric processing can change the effects.
- There could be potential drug interactions. (Tisserand and Balacs, 1995; Schnaubelt, 1999)
Aromatherapy might be used for a variety symptoms and conditions. It’s commonly used for chronic pain, anxiety, depression and insomnia and to boost your immune system. In a clinical setting aromatherapy is also used for nausea after surgery, anxiety before chemotherapy, pain during labour, poor circulation due to long periods of illness and many more.
References
Battaglia, S., (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy. Brisbane, Queensland, Australia: The International Centre of Aromatherapy.
Higley, C., Leatham, P. & Higley, A. (1998). Aromatherapy A-Z. Hay House.
Price, S. & Price, L. (2007). Aromatherapy for health professionals, 3rd Ed. Philadelphia: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier.
Schnaubelt, K. (1999). Medical aromatherapy: Healing with essential oils. Berkeley, CA: Frog, Ltd.
Tisserand, R. & Balacs, T. (1995). Essential oil safety: A guide for health professionals. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
