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Other common
name(s): holistic aromatherapy, aromatic medicine
Scientific/medical
name(s): none
Description
Aromatherapy is the use of fragrant substances, called
essential oils, to alter mood or improve health. These highly
concentrated aromatic substances are either inhaled or applied to the
skin. Essential oils are distilled from plants, and approximately forty
are commonly used in aromatherapy; among the most popular are lavender,
rosemary, eucalyptus, chamomile, marjoram, jasmine, peppermint, lemon,
ylang ylang, and geranium.
Overview
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
aromatherapy is effective in preventing or treating cancer, but its use
may enhance quality of life. Early clinical trials suggest aromatherapy
may have some benefit as a complementary treatment in reducing stress,
pain, nausea, and depression.
How is it promoted for use?
Aromatherapy is promoted as a natural way to help patients
cope with stress, chronic pain, nausea, and depression and to produce a
feeling of well-being. Proponents also claim aromatherapy can help
relieve bacterial infections; stimulate the immune system; fight colds,
flu, and sore throats; improve urine production; increase circulation;
and cure cystitis, herpes simplex, acne, headaches, indigestion,
premenstrual syndrome, muscle tension, and even cancer. Fragrances from
different oils are promoted to have specific health benefits. For
example, lavender oil is promoted to relieve muscle tension, anxiety,
and insomnia.
There are different ideas as to how aromatherapy may work.
Scent receptors in the nose are known to send chemical messages through
the olfactory nerve to the brain’s limbic region, which
influences emotional responses, heart rate, blood pressure, and
respiration. Some proponents say these connections explain the effects
of essential oils’ smells. The effects may partly depend on a
person’s previous associations or recalled experiences with a
particular scent. Others say the oils are absorbed directly into the
system through the skin.
What does it involve?
Aromatherapy is either self-administered or administered by a
practitioner. Many aromatherapists in the United States are trained as
massage therapists, psychologists, social workers, or chiropractors and
use the oils as part of their practices.
The essential oils can be used individually or in combination
and may be inhaled or applied to the skin. For inhalation, a few drops
of the essential oil are placed in steaming water, atomizers, or
humidifiers that are used to spread the water vapor and oil combination
throughout the room. Sometimes the oils are placed in a heatproof dish
over a candle or other flame to diffuse the scent.
Essential oils can be applied to the skin during massage, or
they can be added to bathwater. For application to the skin, the oils
are combined with another substance (a carrier), usually vegetable oil.
Some essential oils can sometimes be used directly on the skin. Oils
may also be used to make salves, creams, and compresses. Some people
also apply drops of certain essential oils to their pillows.
What is the history behind it?
Use of aromatic, perfumed oils dates back thousands of years
to ancient Egypt, China, and India. In Egypt, such oils were used after
bathing and for embalming mummies. Thousands of years ago the Chinese
compiled an encyclopedia of information on the uses of plants, herbs,
and different types of wood. In ancient India, aromatic massage was
part of Ayurvedic medicine. In addition, the Greeks and Romans used
fragrant oils for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. However, it was
the medieval physician Avicenna who first extracted these oils from
plants.
René Maurice Gattefossé, a French chemist,
originated modern aromatherapy and even the term itself. After burning
his hand in a laboratory accident, he used lavender oil to soothe the
pain. His hand healed quickly with no scar, and he attributed this
outcome to the lavender oil. He published his first thesis, titled
"Aromatherapie," in 1928 and published a book under the same title in
1937. Aromatherapy was revived in the 1960s by French homeopaths Dr.
and Mme. Maury. In the 1980s, aromatherapy began to grow in popularity
in the United States. It is fairly well-established in England, France,
Switzerland, and New Zealand.
What is the evidence?
Available scientific evidence does not support claims that
aromatherapy cures or prevents disease; however, a few clinical studies
suggest aromatherapy may be a helpful complementary therapy. In
Britain, there are reports of the successful use of aromatherapy
massage in people who have cancer to reduce anxiety, depression,
tension, and pain. However, some studies show no difference in outcome
between massage with aromatherapy oils and massage without them. There
are also reports that breathing the vapors of peppermint, ginger, and
cardamom oil seems to relieve the nausea caused by chemotherapy and
radiation. However, these claims are not supported by available
scientific evidence. Laboratory studies suggest that the oils can
affect organ function, although whether this can be useful is not yet
clear.
Clinical research on aromatherapy is in its infancy. Early
trials suggest aromatherapy may help patients cope with chronic pain,
stress, nausea, and depression.
In one controlled clinical trial, inhaling the vapors from
black pepper extract reduced the craving for tobacco and improved
participants’ moods. In a second controlled trial, the use of
citrus fragrance by twelve depressed patients made it possible to
reduce the amount of antidepressant medicine they needed.
Another study of aromatherapy suggested that the scent changed
a person’s memory of pain, even though the
patient’s perception of the pain’s severity while
it was happening did not change. There was no difference between the
aromatherapy group's and control group's pain ratings during a
procedure, but after the fact, the aromatherapy group reported that the
event was less distressing overall than the control group did.
There is also some evidence that the power of suggestion may
explain at least part of the effect of aromatherapy. For example, in
one study, the salt water placebo was just as effective in reducing
nausea as the essential oil. In another study, the oils were more
likely to produce the effect about which the subjects were told,
regardless of whether it was the normally predicted effect. Several
controlled studies using essential oils have shown no measurable
effect.
In a randomized clinical trial of patients with bald patches
on their scalp or skin, a daily scalp massage with essential oils was
shown to be a safe and effective treatment for hair loss resulting from
alopecia areata,
a condition in which the patient’s immune system damages the
hair follicles. This treatment has not been evaluated as a treatment
for hair loss related to cancer treatments. Other laboratory and animal
studies have looked at the ability of essential oils to kill or control
certain germs and viruses when the oil is placed in direct contact with
the germ.
Are there any possible problems or
complications?
Aromatherapy is generally safe. However, essential oils
usually should not be taken internally as many of them are poisonous.
Some oils can cause an allergic reaction. Some may cause irritation if
applied undiluted to the skin. Aromatherapy oils have been reported as
causing headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions.
Relying on this type of treatment alone and avoiding or
delaying conventional medical care for cancer may have serious health
consequences.
Additional Resources
More information from your American Cancer
Society
The following information on complementary and alternative
therapies may also be helpful to you. These materials may be found on
our Web site (www.cancer.org)
or ordered from our toll-free number (1-800-ACS-2345).
References
Anderson LA, Gross JB. Aromatherapy with peppermint, isopropyl
alcohol, or placebo is equally effective in relieving postoperative
nausea. J Perianesth Nurs.
2004;19:29-35.
Buckle J. Use of aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for
chronic pain. Altern
Ther Health Med. 1999;5:42-51.
Campenni CE, Crawley EJ, Meier ME. Role of suggestion in
odor-induced mood change. Psychol
Rep. 2004;94:1127-1136.
Cawthorn A. A review of the literature surrounding the
research into aromatherapy. Complement
Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1995;1:118-120.
Cerrato PL. Aromatherapy: is it for real? RN. 1998;61:51-52.
Ernst E, ed. The
Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine: An
Evidence-Based Approach. New York: Mosby; 2001.
Fellowes D, Barnes K, Wilkinson S. Aromatherapy and massage
for symptom relief in patients with cancer. Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
2004;(2):CD002287.
Gedney JJ, Glover TL, Fillingim RB. Sensory and affective pain
discrimination after inhalation of essential oils. Psychosom Med.
2004;66:599-606.
Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD. Randomized trial of
aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol.
1998;134:1349-1352.
Komori T, Fujiwara R, Tanida M, Nomura J, Yokoyama MM. Effects
of citrus fragrance on immune function and depressive states. Neuroimmunomodulation.
1995;2:174-180.
Nelson NJ. Scents or nonsense: aromatherapy’s
benefits still subject to debate. J
Natl Cancer Inst. 1997;89:1334-1336.
Rose JE, Behm FM. Inhalation of vapor from black pepper
extract reduces smoking withdrawal symptoms. Drug Alcohol Depend.
1994;34:225-229.
Soden K, Vincent K, Craske S, Lucas C, Ashley S. A randomized
controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat Med.
2004;18:87-92.
Note: This information may not cover
all possible claims, uses, actions, precautions, side effects or
interactions. It is not intended as medical advice, and should not be
relied upon as a substitute for consultation with your doctor, who is
familiar with your medical situation.
Last Medical Review: 11/01/2008
Last Revised: 11/01/2008
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