Aromatherapy uses extracts of fragrant plants to help improve mental and physical health. These are called essential oils. They can be inhaled or put on the skin during massage or bathing.
Aromatherapy may relieve some types of anxiety, including trait anxiety, which is a constant state of anxiety. See Fig. 2 for indicative population and outcome groupings.
Benefits
Aromatherapy uses scents (called essential oils) from plants to improve mental and physical health. The oils are distilled or cold pressed from parts of the plant, including leaves, bark, roots, seeds, flowers, and peels. Each oil has a different mix of chemicals that gives it its smell. You can inhale the oils or put them on your skin. Some people use them to help with anxiety or sleep problems. Other people apply them to treat skin infections or other medical conditions.
For example, lavender has a soothing effect and can lower blood pressure. Other studies show that it reduces state anxiety, which is the immediate feeling of fear and nervousness that can trigger sweaty palms or a racing heart. It also may ease the symptoms of depression.
However, some oils can be poisonous before dilution and should never be ingested. It’s best to work with a trained professional and consult your doctor before trying aromatherapy.
Techniques
Aromatherapy uses extracts of essential oils, which are the fragrant parts of plants, to improve your health. They can be inhaled through a diffuser or placed on your skin during massage. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine and complements conventional treatment.
When inhaled, essential oils stimulate the brain and nervous system. This can cause a chain reaction that results in physical responses throughout the body. These reactions include decreased stress, improved sleep, and an increase in circulation.
Inhaled oils are often mixed with a carrier oil, which helps the scents disperse evenly. Carrier oils also have properties that benefit the skin. For example, they can help make the skin feel smooth and supple.
Incorporate clinical aromatherapy into the facility’s symptom management plan. Identify the steps to get the program started, such as identifying champions for a clinical aromatherapy practitioner course. These people can then lead the program by teaching and mentoring nurses. Identify preoutcome and postoutcome measures for measuring the effectiveness of aromatherapy in the facility.
Precautions
Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be harmful if not used properly. It is best to use a certified aromatherapist or medical professional for proper guidance in your use of essential oil products.
People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid using any essential oils because they may have toxic effects on a developing embryo or fetus. Some oils can also interfere with medications or exacerbate certain health conditions.
Swallowing undiluted essential oils can be poisonous and cause serious illness. It is advised that you only ingest pure, undiluted essential oils under the guidance of a trained clinical aromatherapist.
Pregnant women should not use hyssop oil, and people with high blood pressure should not use stimulant oils such as rosemary. Ingesting oils containing estrogen-like compounds such as fennel, aniseed and sage can be toxic to some people with estrogen-dependent tumors (breast or ovarian cancer). If you have any questions about the safety of a particular oil, consult a qualified healthcare practitioner.
Side effects
Aromatherapy has been shown to be helpful in reducing anxiety and pain. It may also decrease nausea, retching, and coughing in some people having stem cell transplantation. A study at Memorial Sloan-Kettering found that smelling orange oil helped reduce nausea and pain in children having chemotherapy.
When you smell an essential oil, special cells in your nose (olfactory receptors) notice the molecules and send messages to your brain that affect many body functions. For example, the chemicals in some essential oils stimulate your limbic system to produce certain hormones that can make you feel relaxed or alert.
It’s important to know that most aromatherapy oils aren’t safe to swallow and can be poisonous if ingested. They should never be taken by mouth, but may be inhaled or mixed with a carrier oil and applied to the skin. Certain oils can cause contact dermatitis, and some (especially citrus) can make your skin more sensitive to sunlight.
