Benefits and the use of aromatherapy and essential oils

Aromatherapy is the use of aromatic materials, such as essential oils and other aromatic compounds, to improve psychological and physical well-being. Aromatherapy is offered in conventional medicine as an additional supportive treatment in addition to traditional therapies, or as a separate form of alternative medicine.

Aromatherapy has been actively used in Western Europe, mainly as a supportive treatment for conventional medicine, as many essential oils have antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. In France, for example, some essential oils can only be used as prescription medicines and can only be prescribed by a doctor.

Various products are used in aromatherapy. It is therefore important to emphasize that some fragrances are not natural or of botanical origin, but are synthetically created, and therefore don't have healing properties such as pure and natural essential oils. Such synthetic oils should only be used for aromatherapy purposes and not applied topically to the skin. However, essential oils are not directly oils, but aromatic organic chemical compounds extracted from various parts of the plant, such as flowers, bark, stems, leaves, roots, etc. It has been reported that the inhaled aroma of essential oils stimulates our brains and that pure essential oils can also be applied on the skin (preferably diluted in a carrier oil in a concentration with at least 5% as they are highly concentrated). Through the skin, essential oils are absorbed into our bloodstream and can thus help heal the body as a whole.

Incense has also been used for aromatherapy purposes through the ages, but as it emits smoke and smells relatively intensely, it is not suitable for all people. Many prefer to use essential and aromatic oils instead of incense. Precisely because, unlike incense, they don't emit smoke and their aroma is softer and smoother.

History of aromatherapy

Essential oils have been used since ancient cultures. They are known to have been used by the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans for over 6,000 years. In ancient times, ancient cultures discovered how to extract the natural oils from herbs and other plants and how to use them in a variety of products, from everyday skin care products and perfumes to all kinds of medicines. Essential oils have traditionally been used for therapeutic and hygienic purposes, but also for spiritual and ritual purposes.

In Western society, the word "aromatherapy" was introduced by the French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé, who described essential oils and their beneficial properties in his book written on 1937. In the book, he describes how he discovered the beneficial effects of essential oils on July 25, 1910, while working in his perfume laboratory when there was a sudden explosion. In this book, he describes the event as follows: “In my personal experience, after a laboratory explosion covered me with burning substances which I extinguished by rolling on a grassy lawn, both my hands were covered with a rapidly developing gas gangrene. Just one rinse with lavender essence stopped “the gasification of the tissue”. This treatment was followed by profuse sweating, and healing began the next day."

By the 1950s, aromatherapy became a popular practice also among healthcare professionals, from physiotherapists to doctors. Even today, aromatherapy is used as a supportive treatment alongside conventional medicine. Aromatherapy did not spread in America until the 1980s, and since then, the popularity of essential and aromatic oils has grown.

How to do aromatherapy at home by yourself?

Aromatherapy is usually done by inhalation or by topical application to the skin.

Inhalation means that the essential or aromatic oils are sprayed or evaporated into the air, through which they can then be inhaled. An aroma diffuser, oil burner, aroma spray or steam bath can be used.

In addition to a pleasant and relaxing aroma, such inhalation helps relieve respiratory ailments, reduces mucosal swelling and, of course, has positive psychological effects.

Inhaling essential oils also stimulates our sense of smell and the part of the brain that is involved in smelling, including our nose and our brain. Molecules that enter our body through the nose or mouth travel to the lungs and from there to the whole body. When these molecules reach the limbic system beneath our cerebral cortex, which is associated with our emotions, they also affect our heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, memory, stress levels, and hormonal balance.

Topical use means that the essential oils added to massage oils, body care or bath products are absorbed through the skin into our body. By massaging the areas of the body where the oil is applied, it can also lead to faster absorption by accelerating blood circulation. According to some opinions, oils are better absorbed from areas of the body with more sweat glands and/or hair follicles - such as the palms of the hands or the top of the head.

Essential oils should never be applied directly to the skin. They should always be diluted with a carrier oil before applying to the skin. If you want to make a dilution with a smaller concentration, 0.5-1.0%, add 3-6 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of base oil. If you want a stronger concentration, add 30 drops of essential oil to 30 ml of base oil. It is considered safe for adults to use a diluted mixture with a maximum concentration of 5% essential oil.

Allergy test

Allergies should always be tested before applying the essential oil to the skin. Even if you have used them before, as allergies can sometimes develop over time.

To perform an allergy test, dilute the oil to half the amount of the mixture that you plan to use later. Apply the mixture to the inside of your wrist and massage it into the skin.

If you don't have an allergic reaction within the next 24-48 hours, you can start using it with confidence. Should an allergic reaction still occur during subsequent use, the oil should be discontinued immediately and inhalation of the oil should be avoided.

Beneficial properties

In general, it has been concluded that aromatherapy is a supportive and complementary treatment to conventional medicine. Aromatherapy alone can't treat diseases or rashes, but it can effectively support and aid the conventional treatment of various conditions.

Experience has shown that aromatherapy can help reduce and alleviate, for example:

• nausea,
• pain and throbbing,
• anxiety, restlessness, stress, and depression,
• fatigue and insomnia,
• muscle pain,
• headache,
• circulatory disorders,
• menstrual disorders and ailments in women,
• menopausal ailments,
• alopecia or general hair loss,
• psoriasis, but you should consult your doctor first about how and how much essential oil to use,
• indigestion, such as peppermint oil, is a good remedy here, but it should be remembered that essential oil should not be swallowed (!),
• for toothache and mucosal ulcers - clove essential oil works well here, but the oil should not be swallowed, but applied topically.

In fact, many other beneficial and positive properties are attributed to aromatherapy and essential oils.

Safety of use and potential risks

Although essential oils have very beneficial healing properties, it must be remembered that in most cases they are 100% pure plant extracts and therefore they must be used with care and certain techniques must be followed for their safe use.

Each essential oil has its own chemical composition and purpose, so it is recommended to discuss it with an aromatherapist, nurse, doctor, or pharmacist before use. A specialist with knowledge of aromatherapy can recommend and teach the use of which oil and in what concentration should be used for a certain health condition.

People with any of the following conditions should be very careful when using aromatherapy products and preferably should consult a knowledgeable healthcare professional prior to use:

• allergies or hay fever,
• asthma,
• eczema or psoriasis,
• epilepsy,
• hypertension or high blood pressure.

Aromatherapy is not recommended during pregnancy and breastfeeding, as scientific studies have not confirmed its safety for fetal development and some oils may be passed on to the baby with breast milk.

It must also be kept in mind, as has already been mentioned, that all products used in aromatherapy are not natural or of botanical origin, but are synthetic aromatic oils. This information should read from the labels of the products if it is a pure or diluted essential oil or an aromatic oil instead. Since aromatic oils don't have healing properties like pure and natural essential oils, such synthetic oils may only be used by inhalation.

Since essential oils affect our bodies, we must definitely monitor which oil to use, because not all oils are suitable for everyone. It should considered that the chemical compounds in the essential oil may react with various drugs, reducing the effects of some drugs or exacerbating health problems.

For example, people with high blood pressure problems should avoid stimulant oils such as rosemary. Oestrogen-affected breast or ovarian cancer should avoid oils that act similarly to estrogen, such as fennel, anise, and sage.

Pure essential oils can be toxic without dilution and therefore special care should be taken when using them topically. As I have already described, it is considered safe for an adult to use a dilution with a maximum essential oil concentration of 5%.

Ingestion of essential oils is extremely dangerous and can be fatal! Some oils produce toxins that can damage the liver, kidneys, or nervous system. They can also react with other medicines when used internally and cause unforeseen and unexpected changes in the gastrointestinal tract.

Even when your diluted oils, you should pay attention to which carrier oils has been use for the dilution, as some oils are made from nuts or seeds, which can cause an allergic reaction.

Citrus oils can make the skin sensitive to UV rays. It should therefore be noted that as some essential oils cause photosensitivity (cold extracted citrus oils), they should not be applied to the skin right before direct exposure sunlight, as it may irritate the skin or cause skin burns. It is recommended to wait at least 12 hours after topical use of the oil.

Side effects

Aromatherapy can sometimes have side effects such as nausea, headaches, or mild allergic reactions, but they are usually very mild and go away quickly.

Preservation of essential oils

When storing essential oils, they must be kept away from light, heat, and oxygen, as they can affect the purity and composition of the oil.

Essential oils must be kept out of reach of children and pets!