The Aromatherapy Is defined as the use of essential oils obtained from different plants, trees or herbs, for the treatment of different Conditions, with the aim of improving the health and well-being of the people. It can treat stress, anxiety, depression, insomnia and other sleeping problems...
It can be used in children, adolescents, adults and the elderly. On the other hand, it can be combined with other complementary treatments, such as massage and acupuncture , And also with traditional therapies, to Get relief from different symptoms.
In aromatherapy therapy, there are several techniques. Essential oils can be applied topically through Massage , Diluted in other oils Can be inhaled or even ingested, although this last technique is not the most frequent, and if it is applied, it should be Strictly supervised by a professional.
How does aromatherapy work?
The chemical components of essential oils, perceived as aromas, are picked up by Olfactory bulb , Located in the nose. These olfactory stimuli have an effect on a certain region of the brain, called the limbic system, which is related to the Emotions and the State of mind of people.
That is why aromatherapy can have sedative or stimulant effects, depending on which essential oils are used. These oils may also have Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antimicrobial effect.
What are essential oils?
They are volatile liquid substances that are extracted of different materials from aromatic plants. The oils are obtained by distillation By steam or by mechanical means. They contain chemicals such as aldehydes, ketones, phenols and alcohols, among others, which generate the odors Specific to each oil.
There are also synthetic oils, which smell just like the natural ones, but are not considered essential oils. Synthetic origin Generally contain chemical solvents, which can alter the purity of natural oils, alter their fragrance, or skin.
Essential oils have different chemical composition depending on the plant that gives rise to it. These characteristics are responsible for their Aroma and its therapeutic effects.
In fact, essential oils were created and used long before aromatherapy emerged as a complementary treatment to the traditional medicine. The perfumery was the one that developed the essential oils, that were applied in cosmetic and even in the feeding, before In aromatherapy.
History and current affairs
Essential oils of different plant species have been used for therapeutic purposes for hundreds of years. In Chinese cultures, Greek and Roman, these oils were already used in cosmetics, perfumes and also in medicines.
Hippocrates Used aromatic incense to combat plague in Athens and Roman soldiers bathed in aromatic oils and applied massages With these oils, thinking that this practice was able to keep them strong for the fight.
During the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, aromatherapy was popular in herbalists, although researchers had not yet been able to identify many of the Compounds that were part of the essential oils.
The term aromatherapy was first used by a French chemist called René Gattefossé , In the year 1935. This researcher Began to study the properties of lavender when he himself applied this essential oil on his hand, after suffering a major burn in that Area of your body.
Although Gattefossé and his French, Italian, and German colleagues studied the effects of aromatherapy for about 30 years, their use went out of style in half Of century and was discovered by another French doctor, as you will see next.
A few years later, Dr. Jean Valnet, a surgeon of the French navy, applied essential oils to the wounds of his soldiers, Obtaining very good results. It was then that he wrote" Aromatherapie ", Book published in 1964, publication that many consider today in Day, as the bible of aromatherapy.
Although there are currently no specific regulations governing the activity of aromatherapy, nor do they educate aromatherapists with the same There are some organizations that are working to achieve this.
The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy ( NAHA For its acronym in English) and the Alliance of International Aromatherapists Are two institutions that are working to achieve a national educational standard for U.S. They also try to achieve standardization of certification in aromatherapy.
Many schools in this country offer certification programs approved by the NAHA.
On the other hand, in Canada , The federation of aromatherapists has established regulations for the certification of those who wish to provide these Treatments, including professional conduct, standards that guarantee the safety of treatments and a public directory of aromatherapists Certificates.
Aromatherapy Techniques
Professionals in this area administer the essential oils by various methods, which are listed below:
- Indirect Inhalation. Place the oil in a room flavoring or put a few drops on a napkin that is close to the nose of the patient.
- Direct Inhalation . A few drops of oil are placed in warm water, inside a container that acts as a personal inhaler.
- Massages. The essential oil is diluted in another vehicle oil and applied by massage.
Other routes of administration include essential oils diluted in bath water, with salts or lotions for immersion baths, and bandages.
It is important to emphasize that most of the essential oils can not be applied purely directly on the skin, because they are very concentrated And may cause irritation.
Before applying, these oils are diluted with other neutral oils. They should not have contact with the eyes. If this happens, the area must be rinsed with plenty of water.
Aromatherapy should be applied with caution in pregnant women and children. Preferably, essential oils should not be ingested. In some Countries such as Germany or France, essential oral administration techniques are applied, but this type of treatment must be closely Controlled by properly trained professionals.
Aromatherapy Applications
Aromatherapy has generally focused on achieving psychological and behavioral effects in patients. It is often used to decrease Anxiety levels And tension, especially in people suffering from a chronic or terminal illness.
It has been shown that aromatherapy can have effects on alertness, mood and State of mind Of people, being sedated or Stimulant, depending on the essential oil used.
In addition, aromas are also capable of improving self-perception of health and well-being, and stimulating or inhibiting sexual arousal.
Here is a list of the most used essential oils in aromatherapy, and their possible effects on the body:
- Lemon. Lemon essential oil can lift your spirits, due to its antidepressant effect. This effect has been scientifically Animals, and it is highly likely that it will soon be tested in humans as well.
- Rosemary. It promotes alertness and mental agility, Improve attention and the capacity of concentration .
- Lavender. It has sedative effects, decreases stress and anxiety and favors good rest during sleep.
- Jasmine . It improves reaction time, some athletes use it to Improve their performance.
- Green apple. This essential oil is used to decrease headaches in people with migraine.
For him Anxiety treatment , Is usually used a combination of essential oils, including lavender, melissa, bergamot, Chamomile, vanilla, and orange.
For the depression Lemon, marjoram, mint, rosemary, sandalwood and geranium are used. To combat fatigue , Essential oils of eucalyptus, jasmine, mint, pacholí and vanilla are useful.
For headaches, cinnamon, chamomile, ginger , Lavender, ylang ylang, among others.
In the relief of mild respiratory symptoms, such as nasal congestion for example, clove essential oil, cypress, Eucalyptus, fennel, rosemary, juniper and tea tree, among others.
What do the scientists say?
Many studies have been published demonstrating the antimicrobial effects of topically applied essential oils on animals. Some Oils are able to inhibit the herpes simplex virus, while others do not allow the development of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus , Or the growth of common infectious fungi, such as Candida albicans.
On the other hand, European and Japanese studies in rats have shown that exposure to different odors has stimulating or Sedatives, depending on which essential oil is used in therapy. Behavioral changes have also been observed in situations of tension or pain.
For example, one of these studies showed that lavender oil in particular had a significant sedative effect on animals.
Two other European studies showed that rats exposed to certain pleasant odors had less response to stimuli Painful
On the other hand, in Japan some studies showed an improvement in certain immune markers in rats, in situations of tension, after which They were exposed to the aroma of certain essential oils.
Human studies
Well, you're probably waiting anxiously for data from human studies.
In an analysis of many scientific studies conducted, the results of which were published in 2000, it was shown that the massage complemented with Aromatherapy has an anxiolytic effect.
In other research it was found that patients who received an aromatherapy massage treatment with lavender essential oils , Showed improvements in the Quality of your dream And fewer symptoms of depression, compared with patients
Who received a massage without aromatherapy.
It should be noted that the patients who participated in this research were receiving treatment for cancer and in the fight against their disease, They lived situations that caused them symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
A trial of 103 cancer patients showed that aromatherapy massages made with chamomile essential oil are able to lower anxiety levels and also Symptoms of depression In this type of Patients.
On the other hand, research in this area also shows that aromatherapy massages are able to lower blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration rate, effects that could be due to the Decreased stress And the greater Relaxation of the patient.
There are also human trials that demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of certain essential oils. Within the framework of an investigation To this subject, a group of hospitalized patients received standard antibiotic treatment to eradicate a strain Staphylococcus aureus Resistant to methicillin.
In the same study, another group of patients received a treatment with cream containing tea tree essential oil and liquid soap Body with the same oil. Treatment with essential oils showed similar effectiveness to conventional treatment, but the advantage is that Conventional medications can have adverse side effects, whereas this hardly ever happens in aromatherapy treatments.
Finally, researchers from the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom found that Aromatherapy and other alternative techniques, such as bright light, may be useful in controlling the behavior of patients with dementia.
According to the scientists who carried out the study, in the course of the year 2001 they realized three experiments with aromatherapy, finding Very promising results.
The essential oil of lemon and lavender oil, applied by inhalation or topical application to the skin, was able to decrease the Symptoms of agitation in their patients, improving the quality of their sleep.
As you can see, the aromas can really influence your behavior, they are able to alleviate many symptoms and even cure infections. Aromatherapy can Help you Decrease stress , the anxiety And symptoms of depression.
Just be sure to receive these types of treatments in safe places, through the performance of properly trained health professionals.