Aromatherapy is a natural, noninvasive way to improve mood, reduce anxiety and pain. It uses oil from different plants to stimulate your sense of smell and release feel-good hormones in the brain.
When choosing oils for aromatherapy, look for a pure, undiluted product. Avoid fragrance or perfume oils, which are often made with chemicals.
What are essential oils?
Depending on their unique chemical structure, essential oils may have a variety of therapeutic properties. Aromatic compounds from flowers, plants, bark, leaves, wood, roots, twigs, fruits and seeds are extracted by steaming or pressing them to create essential oils. It can take several pounds of plant material to produce just a single bottle of oil.
These oils can be inhaled directly or applied to the skin. When inhaled, they travel from the olfactory nerves to the brain and affect the amygdala, an area of the limbic system linked to emotions.
When applied to the skin, they may be absorbed through pores or mixed with a carrier oil for massages. It’s important to choose a high-quality oil that hasn’t been diluted or mixed with chemicals. You should avoid fragrance or perfume oils, which are usually blended with essential oils and contain fillers like paraffin wax. Look for a label that says “100% pure” to be sure you’re getting a quality oil.
How do I use essential oils?
Inhalation is the most common way to use essential oils. You can directly inhale the oil out of the bottle, use a diffuser, or add it to a carrier (like jojoba) and apply it to your skin.
The scent of an essential oil can stimulate the parts of the brain connected to smell, so inhaling a soothing lavender or energizing citrus oil may help with stress and anxiety or improve your mood. You can also apply the oils to your skin in aromatherapy massage or in a bath.
You can find essential oils in many body care products and perfumes, but you should always look for a “certified pure therapeutic grade” label on the packaging. Essential oils aren’t regulated by the FDA, and some are adulterated with synthetic chemicals or have a different chemical composition that won’t provide a health benefit. If you choose to buy your own essential oils, consider working with a certified aromatherapist.
Can essential oils help with cancer?
Research suggests that essential oils can help ease the side effects of cancer treatment. For instance, studies have shown that frankincense oil can soothe aches and pains associated with chemotherapy or radiation treatment, and can calm nausea and vomiting.
Another study showed that aromatherapy can improve sleep quality in patients with cancer, a major cause of fatigue. The researchers found that pharmacological therapies are often not effective and can lead to drug dependence, lethargy, or mental confusion [5]. Non-pharmacological approaches to improve sleep are therefore attracting attention.
It’s not clear how aromatherapy works, but it is believed that the smell of the oils stimulates olfactory receptor cells in the nose and sends signals to parts of the brain (such as the amygdala and hippocampus) that control emotions and memory. It is thought that these signals may then influence physical and emotional well-being. Essential oils can be used in various ways, such as applying them to the skin or using a diffuser.
Can essential oils help with anxiety?
The scent of certain essential oils can soothe the nervous system and reduce feelings of anxiety. They are thought to affect areas of the brain that control emotions and memories, such as the limbic system.
Researchers suggest that the calming and relaxing effects of many essential oils may be attributed to the fact that they contain components that bind to nerve receptors in the nose. This can activate the hypothalamus, which signals the release of feel-good chemicals like serotonin.
Frankincense oil, which is extracted from the resin of the Boswellia tree, can promote relaxation and balance emotions. It can also help reduce stress-related symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue.
Other popular essential oils include lavender, chamomile and clary sage. These can be used in an aromatherapy diffuser or diluted with a carrier oil and applied to the skin. They can also be added to a warm bath for an aromatic soak. Lavender is especially good for reducing stress and anxiety, since it can improve sleep quality.
