Aromatherapy and essential oils

Aromatherapy and essential oils

Aromatherapy

is a form of alternative medicine that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as essential oils (EOs), and other aromatic compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's
mood or health.

Scientific evidence is growing and preliminary but encouraging for a number of health issues. Essential oils differ in chemical composition from other herbal products because the distillation process only recovers the lighter phytomolecules.

For this reason essential oils are rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, as well as other VOC substances (esters, aromatic compounds, non-terpenehydrocarbons, some organic sulfides etc.).

Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual
beliefs.

Popular use of these products include massaging products, medicine, or any topical application that incorporates the use of true, pure essential oils in their products. Medical treatment involving aromatic compounds exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term 'aromatherapy'.

Modes of application



The modes of application of aromatherapy include:

• Aerial diffusion: for environmental fragrancing or aerial
  
• disinfection

• Direct inhalation: for respiratory disinfection, decongestion,
• expectoration as well as psychological effects

• Topical applications: for general massage,
• baths, compresses, therapeutic skin care

• Materials

• Some of the materials employed include:

• Essential oils: Fragrant oils extracted from plants chiefly through steam distillation (e.g. eucalyptus oil) or expression (grapefruit oil). However, the term is also occasionally used to describe fragrant oils extracted from plant material by any solvent extraction
• .
• Absolutes: Fragrant oils extracted primarily from flowers or delicate plant tissues through solvent or supercritical fluid extraction (e.g. rose absolute). The term is also used to describe oils extracted from fragrant butters, concretes, and enfleurage pommades using ethanol.

• Phytoncides: Various volatile organic compounds from plants that kill microbes. Many terpene-based fragrant oils and sulfuric compounds from plants in the genus "Allium" are phytoncides, though the latter are likely less commonly used in aromatherapy due to their disagreeable odors

• .
• Herbal distillates or hydrosols: The aqueous by-products of the distillation process (e.g. rosewater). There are many herbs that make herbal distillates and they have culinary uses, medicinal uses and skin care uses. Common herbal distillates are rose, lemon balm
• and chamomile

• infusion
• Aqueous extracts of various plant material
• (e.g.infusion of chamomile)

• Carrier oils: Typically oily plant base triacylglycerides that dilute essential oils for use on the skin (e.g. sweet almond oil)

Pharmacological effects attributed to essential oils

• Antibacterial: In vitro testing has confirmed antibacterial effects in certain oils including rosemary, clove, lime, cinnamon, and tea tree oil

• .
  
• Antiviral: Supported for tea tree oil, lemongrass, sandalwood,
• peppermint, ginger, thyme, and hyssop in in vitro testing against Herpes

• Antifungal: Supported by in vitro testing for lavender, thyme, clove, juniper, and tea tree oil

• Anti-inflammatory: Reported in in-vitro assays of clove, cinnamon, sage, eucalyptus, black cumin and bay leaf

• Anxiolytic: Reported in animal models using oils of lavender, rose and angelica

• Antispasmotic (spasmolytic): Spasmolytic properties for catnip, lavender and New Zealand tea tree oils have been reported in animal studies.

• Invigorating:

• Antioxidant

Popular uses

• Basilis used in perfumery for its clear, sweet and mildly spicy aroma. In aromatherapy, it is used for sharpening concentration, for its uplifting effect on depression, and to relieve headaches and migraines. Basil oil has many chemotypes and some are known to be emmenagogues and should be avoided during pregnancy.
  
  

• Bergamot is one of the most popular oils in perfumery. It is an excellent insect repellent and may be helpful for both the urinary tract and for the digestive tract. It is useful for skin conditions linked to stress, such as cold sores and chicken pox, especially when combined with eucalyptus oil. Bergamot is a flavoring agent in Earl Grey tea. Cold-pressed Bergamot oil contains bergaptene, a strong photosensitizer when applied to the skin, so only distilled or 'bergaptene-free' types can be topically used.
  
• Black pepper has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains. Skin application is useful for bruises, since it stimulates the circulation.
• Citronella oil, obtained from a relative of lemongrass, is used as an
• insect repellent and in perfumery.
• Clove oil is a topical analgesic, especially useful in dentistry. It is also used an antiseptic, antispasmodic, carminative, and antiemetic.

• Eucalyptus oil is often used in combination with peppermint to provide relief for the airways in case of cold or flu.
• Geranium oil is used as an astringent, antiseptic and diuretic.

• Jasmine is used as an aphrodisiac.

• Lavender oil is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, for insomnia and to soothe headaches and migraines.

• Lemon oil is uplifting and anti-stress/anti-depressant. In a Japanese study, lemon essential oil in vapour form has been found to reduce stress in mice.
• Lemon oil aroma may enhance one's mood, and help with relaxation.
• Rose is used as an aphrodisiac.

• Sandalwood oil is used as an aphrodisiac.

• Tea tree oil and many other essential oils have topical (external) antimicrobial (i.e. antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic) activity and are used as antiseptics, disinfectants,and in mouthrinses.

• Yarrow oil is used to reduce jointinflammation and relieve cold and
• influenza symptoms.
• Ylang-ylang oil is used as an aphrodisiac