Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts to promote health and well-being. Aromatic essential oils from plants are utilized, medicinally, to improve the health of the body, mind, and spirit. It enhances both physical and emotional health.

Aromatherapy has been incorporated in healing methods for more than 5000 years and is thought of as both an art and a science. Recently, aromatherapy has gained more recognition in the fields of science and medicine.

Aromatherapy: A few drops are enough to stimulate and rejuvenate our body. 

Aromatherapy.Eviasis.ent

Aromatherapy

This holistic therapy activates smell receptors, which send messages through the nervous system to the brain. The oils may activate certain areas of the brain such as the limbic system, which controls emotions or they may impact the hypothalamus, which may respond by creating feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin.

Essential oils may be dispersed in the air for inhalation, sometimes they are dissolved in bath water and sometimes mixed with water and used as compresses. If they are medically certified essential oils, treatment can also be taken orally, with a few drops sublingual. Dissolved in base oils such as almond oil they may be applied through massage.

References

  • Farrar AJ, Farrar FC. Clinical Aromatherapy. Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Dec;55(4):489-504.
  • Tabatabaeichehr M, Mortazavi H. The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in the Management of Labor Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Ethiop J Health Sci. 2020 May;30(3):449-458.
  • Ozkaraman A, Dügüm Ö, Özen Yılmaz H, Usta Yesilbalkan Ö. Aromatherapy: The Effect of Lavender on Anxiety and Sleep Quality in Patients Treated With Chemotherapy. Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2018 Apr 1;22(2):203-210.