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Aromatherapy: Science-Backed Benefits for Mind, Body, and SoulHolistic aromatherapy benefits -
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Essential oils are everywhere. These potent, fragrant plant extracts have made their way into lotions, household cleaners, massage treatments, and even integrative complementary therapy to help manage cancer symptoms.
According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the earliest records suggest that essential oils come from ancient India, Persia, and Egypt. Ancient Egyptians used aromatic oils in cosmetics and ointments as early as B.
Similarly, aromatherapy, or the practice of using aromatic materials, including essential oils, for physiological and physical wellness, has been used for centuries. In the Western world, French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé is credited with founding the science of aromatherapy in , drawing upon its ancient, global roots.
He began analyzing the chemical properties of essential oils after witnessing the healing properties of lavender oil when applied to a burn on his hand.
Despite their long history and widespread use, scientists are still trying to understand how essential oils might work to promote health. To that end, essential oils have been studied for their effects on stress, pain, nausea and vomiting, sleep, anxiety and depression , and more.
Essential oils are made by steaming or pressing various parts of a plant to capture the compounds that give the plant its unique fragrance.
Those oils can then be inhaled, added to a carrier oil for direct application on the skin, consumed orally some, not all , or used in household products to clean and sanitize. For example, scientists believe lavender stimulates the brain similarly to some sedative medications, according to the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.
Many people use essential oils on their own at home. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health NCCIH , aromatherapy is sometimes incorporated into massage therapy for knee pain from osteoarthritis or pain, anxiety, and other symptoms in people with cancer.
Unfortunately, both the practice of aromatherapy and the manufacture of aromatherapy products like essential oils are currently unregulated in the United States. One of the most common ways people work with essential oils is by inhaling them via diffuser, dry evaporation, aroma sticks, or steam.
This is a device that breaks essential oils down into smaller molecules and sends them into the surrounding air. Some devices use water and heat so the oils evaporate.
Also known as an essential oil inhaler , an aroma stick is a portable plastic device with an absorbent wick at one end. You can carry an aroma stick with you for inhales of aromatherapy throughout the day. Dry evaporation is exactly what it sounds like: Using a dry material to release the scent of an essential oil.
Simply place several drops of essential oil on a cotton ball or tissue, or other absorbent material, like terra cotta, and allow it to evaporate into the air. You can sniff the cotton ball or keep it nearby. Davila often recommends steam inhalation of essential oils to her clients.
This method involves boiling a pot of water, removing it from the heat, adding 3 to 5 drops of an essential oil, and placing your face above the pot to breathe in the steam. The hot water quickly vaporizes the essential oil and the oil mixes with the rising steam.
Be sure to take the pot off the stove and let it settle before leaning over it and with caution touching the pot and if the steam is too hot for you. Place a towel over your head to slow the release of steam, close your eyes, and breathe normally.
This will get the essential oil compounds into your lungs and respiratory tract, Davila says. Other common carrier oils include sweet almond oil, apricot kernel oil, or grapeseed oil. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing recommends diluting essential oils in a carrier oil at a concentration no greater than 1 percent when used in a massage oil.
So, that would be 1 drop of pure essential for every 1 teaspoon of carrier oil. Here are a few of the potential benefits, when applied or inhaled safely: Decrease Anxiety Dechen says many people gravitate toward aromatherapy as a means of calming anxiety.
Research suggests there may be potential physiological benefits of aromatherapy in calming the nervous system. A recent review and meta-analysis of 90 studies both randomized and nonrandomized found that inhaling or ingesting lavender essential oil , diluted and under guidance, can significantly reduce anxiety levels.
Incorporating lavender essential oil into massage was also found to help lower anxiety. However, authors say that studies on lavender and anxiety are of lower average quality.
So, take these findings with a grain of salt. Still, authors also say that, as inhaling lavender essential oil is generally safe, simple, and inexpensive, it may be considered as a therapeutic option for anxiety in some cases.
Lavender essential oil is thought to contain compounds that interact with the limbic system, the part of the brain that regulates your emotions. When inhaled, lavender exerts a relaxing effect, though much of the research has been done in test tubes and on animals. Other essential oils that may lower anxiety include lemongrass oil, orange oil, bergamot oil, and cedarwood oil.
In one small past study of 60 patients in a cardiac intensive care unit ICU in Turkey, those who inhaled lavender essential oil for 15 days saw significant improvements in sleep quality and decreased anxiety levels compared to patients who did not inhale the oil.
Another small past laboratory study had 31 healthy young adults, ages 18 to 30, stay in a sleep lab for three nights, and looked at the effects of sniffing lavender essential oil before bed versus a night without it the control.
Peppermint oil, for example, helps relax gastrointestinal GI muscles and lower inflammation that contributes to nausea, and is used as a medicine to help manage IBS and other functional GI disorders. Meanwhile, ginger speeds up digestion, preventing foods from sitting in the digestive tract and causing discomfort.
In a recent small study of hospitalized patients, those who inhaled peppermint essential oil saw significant reductions in nausea and vomiting. In fact, their improvements were comparable to patients who combined aromatherapy with an antiemetic anti-nausea medication.
However, not all studies have seen entirely positive results. One study in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer found that inhaling ginger essential oil only somewhat decreased nausea and had no effect on vomiting.
Those oils include: [ 4 ]. In addition, some essential oils are photosensitive, meaning they react to ultraviolet light and create a reaction.
When applied to skin, this reaction can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight, causing redness, discoloration, or even blistering. Many experts also warn against lavender and tea tree essential oils, as both have been found to contain chemicals that have physiological effects similar to estrogen.
Past research suggests that the lavender and tea tree oil in personal care products may have been responsible for prepubertal gynecomastia enlarged breast tissue in boys prior to puberty in three young boys.
Pregnant women, for example, should speak with a professional healthcare provider before using essential oils, as essential oils can cross the placental barrier. For example, past research suggests frankincense oil Boswellia serrata may interact with blood thinners like warfarin.
Before you get started with essential oils, you should determine your purpose for using them, as this will inform which oils you use. Meanwhile, stimulating oils like bergamot and peppermint oil may be better suited to people with depression or lower energy levels.
Check that there are no contraindications for the essential oils you plan to use. Inhalation via diffuser, steam, bath, aroma stick, or dry evaporation tends to be less irritating to the skin and works faster than topical applications. National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy NAHA Aroma Apothecary Healing Arts Academy Aromatherapy Registration Council International Council for Aromatic and Medicinal Plant ICMAP National Cancer Institute University of Minnesota Earl E.
Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing Aroma Web : Essential Oils Directory and Carrier Oils Properties and Profiles American Botanical Council. Editorial Sources and Fact-Checking. Sources Aromatherapy With Essential Oils PDQ — Patient Version. National Cancer Institute. Essential Oil.
Encyclopedia Britannica. An Overview of the Biological Effects of Some Mediterranean Essential Oils on Human Health. Biomed Research International. Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work?. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils: Patient Version.
National Cancer institute. Lavender and the Nervous System. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. National Center for Complementary and Integrative. Regulations and Licensing Information. National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy.
How Do I Find a Qualified Aromatherapist?. University of Minnesota Earl E. Bakken Center for Spirituality and Healing.
How Do I Choose and Use Essential Oils?. Effects of Lavender on Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Lavender Oil for Anxiety and Depression.
Natural Medicine Journal. Cleveland Clinic. Effects of Aromatherapy On Sleep Quality and Anxiety of Patients. Nursing in Critical Care. An Olfactory Stimulus Modifies Nighttime Sleep in Young Men and Women.
The Journal of Biological and Medical Rhythm Research. Review Article: The Physiologic Effects of Peppermint Oil and Its Efficacy in Irritable Bowel Syndrome and Other Functional Disorders.
Essential oils play an important role in improving emotional well-being. Certain essential oils, such as bergamot and frankincense , are renowned for their relaxing properties and can help reduce stress and anxiety.
This is also true of lavender essential oil, which is renowned for its soothing properties and can help reduce insomnia. Other oils, such as lemon or grapefruit essential oil, are invigorating and stimulating, ideal for boosting energy and improving mood.
By using essential oils appropriately, we can create a positive atmosphere in our environment, promoting emotional well-being. Skin and hair care:. Essential oils are widely used in skin and hair care products. For example, lavender essential oil can help soothe and moisturise the skin, while tea tree essential oil is effective against acne.
Rosemary essential oil is beneficial for hair health and can help strengthen hair follicles. Essential oils are natural alternatives to the harsh chemicals found in many conventional cosmetics. Essential oils offer a wide range of benefits. As we've just seen, whether it's to relieve common ailments, improve our emotional well-being, or look after our skin and hair, these natural aromatic substances can quickly become essential everyday allies.
However, it is important to remember that they must be used with caution, respecting the recommended dosages and consulting a professional if necessary. In its range of well-being products, Ecosystem Laboratoire offers you an aromatic complex made from a number of essential oils with multiple benefits!
To find out more, click here: aromatic complex. This site uses cookies to provide you with the best service. You can however choose not to use them by validating your choice below.
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Visit the contact page. Écrit par Ecosystem Laboratoire - Publié le 16 August Aromatherapy - an ancient natural remedy : Aromatherapy is an ancient therapeutic method that uses essential oils to improve well-being.
Relieving common ailments: Essential oils offer a natural alternative for relieving many common ailments. Improving emotional well-being: Essential oils play an important role in improving emotional well-being. Skin and hair care: Essential oils are widely used in skin and hair care products.
December 06, 3 min read. In fact, Holistic aromatherapy benefits zromatherapy in different ways beneits have a profound effect Nutritional Recovery Guidelines your mind and Holistic aromatherapy benefits, thanks Holistic aromatherapy benefits a aromathdrapy system of nerves in your brain called the limbic system. Our limbic system affects our emotions, memory, learning, appetite, and hormones. Breathing or smelling essential oils can help stimulate different bodily responses, such as breathing patterns, blood pressure, and heart rate. At the same time, we wanted to continue to infuse our formulas with powerful sea kelp extract.
Aromatherapy isn't a Anemia in athletes, but it does have some aroomatherapy perks. Lindsay is Holistic aromatherapy benefits freelance Aromqtherapy and Holistix journalist covering topics from love, marriage, Holistix, wellness, psychology, and entrepreneurism. Imagine if a whiff of a particular scent could shift your mood, reduce stress levelsor provide you with a dose of much-needed zen. This is the fundamental belief behind aromatherapy, an ever-growing wellness trend. But which scents work best, and do they actually work?
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