Aromatherapy Makes Medical Scents
Remember how you felt when you took a deep breath of that ocean air? What about arriving home to the mouth-altering smell of mom's freshly made chocolate chip cookies? Yes, it's true, we have all been involved with aromatherapy.
Scents are an important and integral part of our life. It takes just eight molecules to trigger our sense of smell. This is then linked to the limbic system in our brain, which is the "remote control" of our emotions, memories, intuition and sexual response (Viagra users take note). How often has a certain scent triggered a memory, either good or bad? Maybe you have noticed a certain scent reminded you of a relaxing hike in the forest or the odor of a medicine that reminded you of a visit to the doctor's office. No doubt this is pretty common.
Aromatherapy is the ancient art of using plant and flower essences for healing and altering one's emotional state. In fact, for many centuries cultures such as the Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Indians have used aromatic plants for health purposes. Some of their uses were for repelling disease-carrying insects and for attempting to ward off the plague. Today, how many of us have used citronella candles to keep mosquitoes away and a cedar scent to keep moths out of our closets?
The modern term aromatherapy was formalized in the 1920's by the French chemist Rene'-Maurice Gattefosse. After burning his hand he used lavender oil because it was the only substance immediately available.To his surprise, he found that the pain and redness from the burn healed very quickly, which he attributed to the lavender oil. Current scientific studies have yielded some significant results. A recent article in the British medical journal The Lancet demonstrated that elderly patients who needed large doses of sleeping pills responded very well and had a good night's sleep when a lavender aroma was wafted into their bedroom. In another study scientists at Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York did an experiment with patients who complained of claustrophobia when they were placed in a confined space to have an MRI. After exposure to the aroma of lavender, the study revealed the patients to be significantly less claustrophobic, without the previous increase in their heart rate.
Additionally, I was able to find information about another study regarding aromatherapy which was publicized in 1978. This time it concerned treatment for the common cold. Patients were asked to inhale steam from hot water or the vapors from hot chicken soup. Dr. Mom's soup won by a wide margin. Still, there are not enough formal medical studies to back up the many health claims by certain individuals or companies regarding aromatherapy, so at this time, the current feeling of the traditional medical community is to be cautious with aromatherapy. Some people have had allergies, asthma, skin conditions and other adverse reactions to this therapy.
Certainly, some essential oils have the potential to relieve stress or change one's mood. Please keep in mind that everyone is different, and the effect of scents can vary from person to person, similar to how some of us like the smell of coffee in the morning, while others do not.
Here is a list of some of the most popular essential oils used for aromatherapy and their common effects on mood.
RELAXING... lavender, geranium and chamomile
UPLIFTING... tangerine, clary sage and bergamot
INVIGORATING... rosemary, pine, mint, nutmeg and ginger
For therapeutic results, these scents are most commonly dispersed with diffusers or scented candles, but there are other ways. Bottom line: communicate with your physician if you are considering using essential oils for medical conditions. Please be aware that essential oils are very concentrated and only a few drops are usually needed. Work with a professional, and you too may enjoy some of the pleasant aspects of aromatherapy.
