Aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils extracted from herbs, trees and plants for therapeutic purposes. Today, most practitioners of aromatherapy use about 40 different scents, either on their own or in various combinations, to relieve stress, invigorate the body and promote well-being. Generally, the scent is mixed with a neutral oil (like vegetable oil) and spread over the body in a massage, added to bathwater or inhaled.
There is no scientific evidence that aromatherapy has curative abilities as a treatment on its own, but it has been shown to provide therapeutic benefits when coupled with other forms of medical treatment. For example, a study found that patients who had undergone heart surgery while receiving a foot massage with orange-scented oil were less anxious than those who had received the massage with unscented oil.
Aromatherapists can recommend personally tailored scents for specific ailments. Plus, aromatherapists stress that only natural, unadulterated oils have medicinal benefits. As good as perfumes and shampoos may smell, they are not typically considered therapeutic.
In practice, aromatherapy has been around for thousands of years, but the term wasn't coined until 1928, when French chemist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse first used it after noticing the curative effects of essential oils during his work treating the wounded in World War I.
Common Types of Aromatherapy
Cosmetic Aromatherapy
Cosmetic aromatherapy refers to the use of essential oils in hair and skin creams. The Ancient Egyptians are believed to have been the first to employ essential oils for beautifying purposes, thereby becoming the first aromatherapists some 5,000 years ago.
Psycho-Aromatherapy
Psycho-aromatherapy uses essential oils to bring about certain emotional states and moods, whether the desired feeling be relaxation, invigoration or a pleasant memory. In this form, the oils are usually inhaled directly, or sometimes indirectly by infusing into a room. Psycho-aromatherapy shares similarities with aromachology, the perfume industry's study of the effects of both natural and artificial aromas. Psycho-aromatherapy sets itself apart, however, by dealing solely with natural essential oils.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy massage is the most common method utilized by aromatherapists. The aim in combining aromatherapy with massage is relaxation. A practitioner of this particular specialization must be well versed in massage and understand the varied properties of oils. For this reason, extensive training is necessary.
Medical Aromatherapy
Medical aromatherapy uses the knowledge of the effect of essential oils on health when treating clinically diagnosed medical conditions. An example of medical aromatherapy in action would be the use of essential oils to massage patients during surgery. This area of aromatherapy was the specialty of Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, the founder of modern aromatherapy.
Olfactory Aromatherapy
The inhalation of essential oils, either directly or after they have been diffused into the air.
Common Treatment Techniques
Direct Application
Direct application of the oils to skin allows the oils to work their therapeutic wonders by absorption. The technique entails adding a few drops of the oil to a carrier oil, like vegetable oil or safflower oil. This is spread over the body, often through the medium of a massage. Some oils are used specifically for their therapeutic effects on certain parts of the body (rosemary oil to relieve joint and muscle pain, for instance). Always avoid eye contact when spreading oils on the skin.
Inhalation
Inhalation of the oils is sometimes recommended for relieving congestion due to colds, flu, or chronic sinus or bronchitis problems. Methods for this technique include adding a few drops of the desired essential oil (usually eucalyptus or pine oil) to boiling water and breathing in the therapeutic steam, or putting a few drops in a handkerchief and tucking it under your pillow, and simply holding the oil bottle 6 to 8 inches from your nose and inhaling. For a less intense use of aromatherapy, some people prefer to diffuse the scent throughout a room.
Aromatherapy Bathing
Aromatherapy bathing involves adding oils to a bath—this allows them to seep into the skin. For the best benefit, add 8 to 15 drops of oil after the water has stopped running. Using soap during an aromatherapy bath may interfere with the oils' effects.
Credentials
To practice in the United States, no licensing is required for aromatherapists. This is not the case, however, in many European countries.
Last Reviewed: May 12, 2006
Last Reviewed By: Katie Gilbert
