Invite spiritual well-being with these sacred scents. doTERRA's On Guard is an essential oil blend said to support the immune system and kill off bacteria and viruses. Learn more about the benefits and…. Looking for relief? Check out these three essential oils and the specific hangover symptoms they may help with.

The ylang ylang flower is used to make several types of essential oil, used in fragrances and for medicinal purposes.

A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. What Is Aromatherapy Massage? Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph. Uses Aromatherapy Does it work Risks If pregnant Tips Takeaway Aromatherapy massage is used for a variety of different reasons, including relaxation, pain management, and improved mood.

Aromatherapy massage uses. What is aromatherapy? Does aromatherapy work? Aromatherapy massage risks. Is aromatherapy massage safe during pregnancy? Tips for aromatherapy massage. The takeaway. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.

We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article. Read this next. What Are the Health Benefits of a Hot Stone Massage? How Often Should You Get a Massage?

You can ask for a shorter session if you feel this is too long. Tell the therapist if you feel uncomfortable at any time or want them to stop. But most people say that an aromatherapy massage is relaxing and soothing. Speak to a qualified aromatherapist before using any oils at home.

Some oils can cause skin irritation. Irritation can be worse if you are having cancer drugs or radiotherapy. Scents are often man-made synthetic if the product label doesn't mention essential oils. Get advice first from a qualified aromatherapist.

Aroma sticks are similar in design to nasal inhalers for cold relief. You hold the aroma stick under your nose and breathe in the aroma from the oils.

An aromatherapist adds essential oils chosen especially for you. Or, you can get empty aroma sticks and add your favourite oils yourself. No single organisation regulates aromatherapy practice. There are several professional associations that therapists can join. But they are not required by law to do so.

You should choose a therapist who is well-trained and qualified. Contact one of the professional aromatherapy organisations. Ask for a list of therapists in your area. There is no scientific evidence that aromatherapy can cure or prevent cancer.

Most studies in people with cancer focus on:. Most studies seem to suggest it might help as a complementary therapy. That is for some symptoms in people with cancer. Many studies have been small. We need more research to learn how aromatherapy can help.

And we need to compare it to other accepted treatments. For hospitals that offer complementary therapies, aromatherapy is often one of the popular treatments. One study, a Cochrane review in looked at 19 studies. It looked at pain, anxiety, depression and stress in people with cancer.

Many of the studies in the review were small and not of good quality. The researchers were aware that aromatherapy and massage might give people a positive experience.

They found that there was not enough evidence to say that massage can help to relieve symptoms. The researchers said we need further studies on aromatherapy and massage. Several other studies over the past few years have looked at using aromatherapy oils.

These studies were in people with cancer and to help with anxiety, depression, pain and poor quality of life. In some of these studies aromatherapies helped to reduce some symptoms, but in others, it did not.

A study looked at how aromatherapy can help people with thyroid cancer having radioactive iodine treatment. It can damage normal salivary glands. Researchers wanted to see if aromatherapy can help to reduce this damage.

People in the study inhaled lemon and ginger essential oils. They found that it increased saliva production. The saliva helped to flush out the radioactive iodine from the salivary glands. So, the iodine caused less damage to the normal salivary glands.

Currently, researchers around the world are looking at several essential oils. These include ginger, lavender, orange, and jojoba essential oils. They want to see if it can help to relieve the following symptoms of cancer and its treatment treatment:. Some cancer clinics and hospitals in the UK offer aromatherapy massages.

These are free of charge to people with cancer. Ancient cultures in China, India, Egypt, and elsewhere incorporated aromatic plant components in resins, balms, and oils.

These natural substances were used for medical and religious purposes. They were known to have both physical and psychological benefits. Essential oils distillation is attributed to the Persians in the 10th century, though the practice may have been in use for a long time prior to this.

Information about essential oil distillation was published in the 16th century in Germany. French physicians in the 19th century recognized the potential of essential oils in treating disease.

Medical doctors became more established in the 19th century and focused on using chemical drugs. However, the French and German doctors still recognized the role of natural botanicals in treating illness. He had previously discovered the healing potential of lavender in treating burns.

The book discusses the use of essential oils in treating medical conditions. Aromatherapy works through the sense of smell and skin absorption using products such as these:. There are nearly one hundred types of essential oils available.

Generally, people use the most popular oils. Essential oils are available online, in health food stores, and in some regular supermarkets. Check out these essential oils available on Amazon. Each essential oil has an array of unique healing properties, uses, and effects.

Combining essential oils to create a synergistic blend creates even more benefits. Scientific evidence for aromatherapy is considered to be limited in some areas. According to the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy , the most popular essential oils are:.

You can use essential oils in any number of ways. For example, add them to body lotions or carrier oils, and then apply them topically. Try enhancing a facial toner, shampoo, or conditioner with essential oils. Or incorporate them into liquid soap, toothpaste, or mouthwash.

You can also diffuse or spritz the oils throughout a room or pour them into a bath. You can find an aromatherapist by using an online directory. Or ask at a spa or yoga studio.

Together, you can come up with an individual treatment plan to meet your goals and manage your symptoms. You may have a few sessions with your aromatherapist, or you could decide to have ongoing sessions for a longer period of time. Since aromatherapy is a complementary therapy, you should talk to your doctor before starting your sessions.

There are also courses you can take to learn more about aromatherapy. Consultations with an aromatherapist will vary depending on several factors, including where you live. Most essential oils are safe to use. But there are some precautions you should take when using them, as well as side effects you should be aware of, especially if you take any prescription medications.

Always use a carrier oil to dilute the oils. Remember to do a skin patch test before using essential oils.

Informa UK Limited. ISSN Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. Retrieved 21 February Pain Research and Treatment. Contemporary Nurse. S2CID Phytotherapy Research.

Australian Government — Department of Health. Archived from the original PDF on 26 June Retrieved 12 December Lay summary in: Gavura, S. Science-Based Medicine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 7 : CD The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. ISSN X. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.

Elsevier BV. National Cancer Institute. Int J Risk Saf Med. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. In Caballero, Benjamin; Trugo, Luiz C; Finglas, Paul M eds.

Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition 2nd ed. Academic Press. ISBN X. Baylor University Medical Center. Australasian Plant Pathology. Retrieved 6 June Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. American College of Healthcare Sciences. Accredited Online Holistic Health College.

Retrieved 13 April Archived from the original on 13 March Retrieved 3 October National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences NIEHS. Archived from the original on 7 April Retrieved 7 April Persistent exposure to lavender products is associated with premature breast development in girls, according to new research by NIEHS scientists.

The findings also reveal that chemicals in lavender oil and tea tree oil are potential endocrine disruptors with varying effects on receptors for two hormones — estrogen and androgen see sidebar.

The study was published Aug. International Programme on Chemical Safety UPCS. Clinical and Experimental Study". Clinical Toxicology. Women and Birth. following rare tropical disease deaths". CBC News. Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aromatherapy. Wikibooks has a book on the topic of: Complete Guide to Essential Oils.

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But these claims are not supported by research. There are different ways to use essential oils for aromatherapy. You can apply the oil to your skin or inhale it.

The aromatherapist will ask you general questions about your health, lifestyle and medical history. They might ask to speak with your GP if they have any concerns.

They will choose the oils which they feel will help you manage your symptoms the most. They might also encourage you to help choose the oils.

Used on its own, concentrated essential oils can cause severe skin damage. Some cancer treatments can make the skin more sensitive. Your therapist will dilute the essential oils. Once mixed with another oil, they massage this into your skin.

They might play some relaxing music. An aromatherapy massage usually lasts between 60 to 90 minutes. You can ask for a shorter session if you feel this is too long. Tell the therapist if you feel uncomfortable at any time or want them to stop. But most people say that an aromatherapy massage is relaxing and soothing.

Speak to a qualified aromatherapist before using any oils at home. Some oils can cause skin irritation. Irritation can be worse if you are having cancer drugs or radiotherapy.

Scents are often man-made synthetic if the product label doesn't mention essential oils. Get advice first from a qualified aromatherapist. Aroma sticks are similar in design to nasal inhalers for cold relief. You hold the aroma stick under your nose and breathe in the aroma from the oils. An aromatherapist adds essential oils chosen especially for you.

Or, you can get empty aroma sticks and add your favourite oils yourself. No single organisation regulates aromatherapy practice. There are several professional associations that therapists can join.

But they are not required by law to do so. You should choose a therapist who is well-trained and qualified. Contact one of the professional aromatherapy organisations. Ask for a list of therapists in your area. There is no scientific evidence that aromatherapy can cure or prevent cancer.

Most studies in people with cancer focus on:. Most studies seem to suggest it might help as a complementary therapy. That is for some symptoms in people with cancer. Many studies have been small. We need more research to learn how aromatherapy can help.

And we need to compare it to other accepted treatments. For hospitals that offer complementary therapies, aromatherapy is often one of the popular treatments. One study, a Cochrane review in looked at 19 studies.

It looked at pain, anxiety, depression and stress in people with cancer. Many of the studies in the review were small and not of good quality. The researchers were aware that aromatherapy and massage might give people a positive experience.

They found that there was not enough evidence to say that massage can help to relieve symptoms. The researchers said we need further studies on aromatherapy and massage. Several other studies over the past few years have looked at using aromatherapy oils. These studies were in people with cancer and to help with anxiety, depression, pain and poor quality of life.

In some of these studies aromatherapies helped to reduce some symptoms, but in others, it did not. A study looked at how aromatherapy can help people with thyroid cancer having radioactive iodine treatment.

It can damage normal salivary glands. Researchers wanted to see if aromatherapy can help to reduce this damage. People in the study inhaled lemon and ginger essential oils.

They found that it increased saliva production. The saliva helped to flush out the radioactive iodine from the salivary glands. So, the iodine caused less damage to the normal salivary glands. Currently, researchers around the world are looking at several essential oils.

These include ginger, lavender, orange, and jojoba essential oils. They want to see if it can help to relieve the following symptoms of cancer and its treatment treatment:.

Some cancer clinics and hospitals in the UK offer aromatherapy massages. These are free of charge to people with cancer. So, ask your nurse or doctor if this is available where you have your treatment.

If it isn't, they might be able to direct you to places that do or offer complementary therapy at a low cost. The cost of essential oils varies depending on the quality and quantity you buy. Buy oils from a qualified aromatherapist who can advise you on how to use them.

Keep essential oils:. Always get advice from a qualified aromatherapist. They should have experience in treating people with cancer. Also, tell your doctor if you are going to use aromatherapy. This is very important if you are having any type of cancer treatment or:. In the UK aromatherapists may only treat you with essential oils by letting you inhale it or apply it to your skin.

In France and Germany therapists may use essential oils orally and internally.