| Aromatherapy
Initially used as a beauty treatment, aromatherapy is becoming increasingly popular as a medical and therapeutic therapy. Anne Woodham explores the power of scents Essential oils derived from plants are said to have different therapeutic properties. Some are calming, others stimulating and uplifting. Such oils have been used for healing and relaxation by many cultures for thousands of years. Myrrh and frankincense are mentioned in the Bible and the ancient Egyptians used oils to embalm the dead. So how can it be made to work for you? A few drops of essential oil can be either added to a vegetable carrier oil for a relaxing massage or placed in a vaporiser (a bowl of water warmed over a candle) to scent a room. Six or eight drops added to a warm bath may also encourage relaxation. Medicinal oils like eucalyptus or peppermint can be added to a bowl of steaming hot water for inhalation, or placed on a tissue or handkerchief to sniff when needed. Plant roots, flowers, leaves and stalks (even trees in some instances) are processed to extract the oils. Distillation is the most common method of extraction, whereby the plant is boiled or steamed until the oil vaporises. This was developed about a thousand years ago by the Persian physician Ali ibn-Sina (Avicenna) and brought to Europe by returning Crusaders in the Middle Ages.
How does it work? The psychological effects of smell have been well researched at centres such as the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Chicago, but the biochemical pathways that may enable specific scents to have particular effects is less well known. Studies on hospital patients in the UK show that massage with essential oils of neroli or lavender can relieve anxiety. According to researchers at the Cardiff Smell Lab, Cardiff University, smell activates the same part of the brain where epilepsy often starts. Dr Tim Betts, a neuropsychiatrist at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, found that epileptic patients who conditioned themselves to associate the smell of certain essential oils (jasmine, ylang ylang, camomile, lavender) with relaxation could prevent the onset of a seizure simply by sniffing the oil. But oils of fennel, rosemary, camphor and hyssop increased the risk of seizure for some patients. Medical interest in essential oils was rekindled in the early 20th century by Rene-Maurice Gattefosse, a French chemist who was impressed by the healing powers of lavender oil when applied to a burn. Some French doctors now regularly prescribe essential oils for certain conditions, with a similar approach to herbalists.
What is it good for?
What to watch out for
If buying essential oils for self-help, be prepared to pay for quality. Only pure, additive-free oils should be used. They should be in dark glass bottles to protect them from light and have internal droppers to allow accurate measurement. Aromatherapy massage is usually based on Swedish massage techniques. Therapists' fees vary according to location and length of treatment, but range from £25-£35 for an hour.
How can I find it?
The two largest members of the above are:
International Federation of Aromatherapists
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