The Effects of Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy, the use of essential oils to promote healing, well-being, and relaxation, has been garnering more and more attention lately. A vast selection of essential oil diffusers can be found in almost any major store such as Target, Walmart, Nordstrom, Anthropologie, and Urban Outfitters. It’s become mainstream and trendy due to the rise of the “self-care” movement that advocates for people to take care of their emotional, physical, and mental health. Aromatherapy’s promise to heal the mind, body, and soul probably sounds attractive to many of the people who take part in self-care. It sounds like a miracle cure, but is it too good to be true? This article will address that question by diving into the usage, effectiveness, and history of aromatherapy.

Essential oils are highly concentrated plant​ ​extracts made by steaming or pressing plants, flowers, bark, leaves, ​or​ fruit and distilled from resins (Babar, et al., 2015). The processing allows the oils to be extracted from the plants’ pockets, reservoirs, glandular hairs, specialized cells, and intercellular space (Babar, et al., 2015). The oils naturally have antibacterial, antiviral, or anti-inflammatory properties (Babar, et al., 2015). The most popular oils are lavender, eucalyptus, rosemary, chamomile, citrus, and peppermint (Lakhan, et al., 2016). Eucalyptus oil has proved its efficacy in treatment of metabolic, infectious, multifactorial diseases like bronchitis, asthma, wounds, burns, and rheumatoid arthritis (Babar, et al., 2015). Lavender contains linalool, which has sedative effects, and linalyl, which has narcotic effects; together, they improve the mental health of patients with anxiety (Babar, et al., 2015). Lavender also promotes cell growth, which is the key to treating burns and abrasions of the skin (Babar, et al., 2015).

More research needs to be conducted to address how essential oils affect pain, but there has been sufficient proof that essential oils do have a positive effect on mood. In a 2017 study, researchers found that percutaneous coronary intervention patients in the ICU had lower anxiety levels, increased sleep quality, and stabilized blood pressure after inhalation of a blend of lavender, roman chamomile, and meroli (Cho, et al., 2017). Ohio State University found that while lemon oil did result in mood improvement, neither lemon nor lavender oil altered pain, heart rate, blood pressure, or stress hormone levels (Deng, 2011). A different double-blind, randomized, and controlled clinical trial found that citrus oil did elevate mood as well as relieve pain, nausea, and vomiting (Babar, et al., 2015). The Mie University School of Medicine has found that depressed patients required smaller doses of antidepressants after exposure to citrus aromatherapy (Deng, 2011). A study from the University of Vienna showed that orange oil aromatherapy decreased anxiety in patients (Deng, 2011). Since pain is subjective and can be affected by many factors, it is difficult to pinpoint how aromatherapy reduces pain; however, aromatherapy has proven to be beneficial in treating pain in combination with conventional treatments (Lakhan, et al., 2016). It is also cost-effective and comes with fewer side effects than pharmaceutical drugs (Lakhan, et al., 2016). More research needs to be done to settle controversial benefits and physiological mechanisms of essential oils.

The most common modes of aromatherapy administration are inhalation and as a topical application (Babar, et al., 2015). When essential oils are inhaled through the nose, the molecules dissolve in the mucus lining of the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity and stimulate olfactory receptors (Deng, 2011). Then, the olfactory nerves carry the signal to the olfactory bulb, which processes the scent (Deng, 2011). Mitral cells are responsible for taking the output signal to the olfactory cortex, which permits the perception of scent, and to the brain’s limbic system and amygdala, which control emotional learning and memory and explains why smells are linked to memories (Deng, 2011). The brain releases serotonin, endorphins, and noradrenaline in response and produces a feeling of euphoria and calmness (Babar, et al., 2015). A study done at the Monell Chemical Senses Center found that scents that are perceived as positive can result in improved cognitive performance due to placebo effect (Deng, 2011). Essential oil can also be applied to the skin for multiple purposes, like to relax the muscles, heal burns, and disinfect wounds (Gujral, 2019). When essential oils are applied on the skin, it is absorbed into the circulatory system, and excreted in 3-6 hours after application (Kolonay, 2015).

Works Cited
Babar Ali, Naser Ali Al-Wabel, Saiba Shams, Aftab Ahamad, Shah Alam Khan, Firoz Anwar. (2015). Essential oils used in aromatherapy: A systemic review.​ Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine​, Volume 5, Issue 8, Pages 601-611, ISSN 2221-1691, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apjtb.2015.05.007.
Bauer, B. A. (2017, May 24). Aromatherapy: Is it worthwhile? Retrieved May 28, 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/expert-answers/aromather apy/faq-20058566
Cho, M. Y., Min, E. S., Hur, M. H., & Lee, M. S. (2013). Effects of aromatherapy on the anxiety, vital signs, and sleep quality of percutaneous coronary intervention patients in intensive care units.​ Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM,​ 2013, 381381. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/381381
Deng, C. (2011, November 16). Aromatherapy: Exploring Olfaction. Retrieved May 28, 2020, from http://www.yalescientific.org/2011/11/aromatherapy-exploring-olfaction/
Gujral, H. (2019, August 17). Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? Retrieved May 28, 2020, from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/aromatherapy-do-esse ntial-oils-really-work
Kolonay, B. (2015, August 7). The Science of Aromatherapy - Mid-Atlantic ALCA. Retrieved May 28, 2020, from ​https://www.midatlanticalca.org/the-science-of-aromatherapy/​.
Lakhan, S. E., Sheafer, H., & Tepper, D. (2016). The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in Reducing Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. ​Pain research and treatment,​ 2016​, 8158693. ​https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8158693​.