{{Mergefrom|Aromatherapy Candles|date=April 2007}}
{{Citations missing|date=July 2007}}

{{Mind-body interventions}}
'''Aromatherapy''' is a disputed form of [[alternative medicine]] that uses volatile liquid plant materials, known as [[essential oils]] (EOs), and other scented compounds from plants for the purpose of affecting a person's mood or health. Essential oils differ in chemical composition from other [[herb]]al products because the [[distillation]] process only recovers the lighter phytomolecules. For this reason essential oils are rich in [[monoterpenes]] and [[sesquiterpenes]], as well as other [[Volatile_Organic_Compounds|VOC]] substances ([[ester]]s, aromatic compounds, non-[[terpene]] [[hydrocarbones]], some organic [[sulfide]]s etc.).

Aromatherapy is a generic term that refers to any of the various traditions that make use of essential oils sometimes in combination with other alternative medical practices and spiritual beliefs. It has a particularly [[Western culture|Western]] currency and persuasion. Medical treatment involving aromatic scents may exist outside of the West, but may or may not be included in the term 'aromatherapy'.

== History ==

Aromatherapy had been around for 6000 years or more. The Greeks, Romans, and ancient Egyptians all used aromatherapy oils. The Egyptian physician Imhotep recommended fragrant oils for bathing, massage, and for embalming their dead nearly 6000 years ago. Imhotep is the Egyptian god of medicine and healing. Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used aromatherapy baths and scented massage. He used aromatic fumigations to rid Athens of the plague.

Aromatherapy has roots in antiquity with the use of aromatic oils. However, as currently defined, aromatherapy involves the use of distilled plant volatiles, a twentieth century innovation. The word "aromatherapy" was first used in the 1920s by French chemist René Maurice Gattefossé, who devoted his life to researching the healing properties of essential oils after a lucky accident in his [[perfume]] laboratory. In the accident, he set his arm on fire and thrust it into the nearest cold liquid, which happened to be a vat of NOx Ph232 or more commonly known as [[lavender oil]]. Immediately he noticed surprising pain relief, and instead of requiring the extended healing process he had experienced during recovery from previous burns—which caused redness, heat, inflammation, blisters, and scarring--this burn healed remarkably quickly, with minimal discomfort and no scarring. Jean Valnet continued the work of Gattefossé. During [[World War II]] Valnet used essential oils to treat [[gangrene]] in wounded soldiers.

== Modes of application ==

The modes of application of aromatherapy include:
*'''aerial diffusion''' for environmental fragrancing or aerial disinfection
*'''direct inhalation''' for respiratory disinfection, decongestion, expectoration
*'''topical applications''' for general massage, baths, compresses, therapeutic skin care
*'''oral, rectal, vaginal interfaces''' for infection, congestion, parasites, perfumery for body fragrancing, anointments

== Materials ==

Some of the materials employed include:

* ''[[Essential oil]]s'': Fragrant oils extracted from plants chiefly through [[distillation]] (e.g. [[eucalyptus]] oil) or expression ([[grapefruit]] oil). However, the term is also occasionally used to describe fragrant oils extracted from plant material by any [[solvent extraction]].
* ''[[Absolute (substance)|Absolutes]]'': Fragrant oils extracted primarily from flowers or delicate plant tissues through [[solvent]] or [[supercritical fluid]] extraction (e.g. [[rose]] absolute). The term is also used to describe oils extracted from fragrant butters, concretes, and enfleurage pommades using [[ethanol]].
* ''[[Phytoncide]]s'': Various [[volatile organic compound]]s from plants that kill [[microbe]]s. Many [[terpene]]-based fragrant oils and [[sulfur]]ic compounds from plants in the genus "''[[Allium]]''" are phytoncides, though the latter are likely less commonly used in aromatherapy due to their disagreeable [[odor]]s.
* ''[[Herbal distillate]]s'' or hydrosols: The aqueous [[by-product]]s of the distillation process (e.g. [[rosewater]]). There are many herbs that make herbal distillates and they have culinary uses, medicinal uses and skin care uses. Common herbal distillates are [[rose]], [[lemon balm]] and [[chamomile]].
* ''[[Infusion]]s'': Aqueous extracts of various plant material (e.g. infusion of [[chamomile]])
* ''[[Carrier oil]]s'': Typically oily plant base [[triacylglyceride]]s that dilute essential oils for use on the skin (e.g. [[almond|sweet almond]] oil)

{{POV-section|date=December 2007}}

== Theory ==

Aromatherapy is the treatment or prevention of disease by use of [[essential oils]]. Two basic mechanisms are offered to explain the purported effects. One is the influence of aroma on the [[brain]], especially the [[limbic system]] through the [[olfactory system]]. The other is the direct pharmacological effects of the [[essential oils]]<ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Seenivasan Prabuseenivasan , Manickkam Jayakumar and Savarimuthu Ignacimuthu
| date= 2006
| year =
| month =
| title = In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils
| journal = BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine
| volume = 6
| issue = 39
| pages =
| issn =
| pmid =
| doi = 10.1186/1472-6882-6-39
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}</ref>. While precise knowledge of the [[synergy]] between the body and aromatic oils is often claimed by aromatherapists, the efficacy of aromatherapy remains to be proven. However, some preliminary clinical studies show positive effects. <ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Kim HJ
| date =
| year = 2007
| month = Jun
| title = Effect of Aromatherapy Massage on Abdominal Fat and Body Image in Post-menopausal Women.
| journal = Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi
| volume = 37
| issue = 4
| pages = 603-12
| issn =
| pmid = 17615482
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language = Korean
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Rho KH, Han SH, Kim KS, Lee MS.
| date =
| year = 2006
| month = Dec
| title = Effects of aromatherapy massage on anxiety and self-esteem in korean elderly women: a pilot study
| journal = Int J Neurosci
| volume = 116
| issue = 12
| pages = 1447-55
| issn =
| pmid = 17145679
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}
</ref>

In the English-speaking world, practitioners tend to emphasize the use of oils in massage. Aromatherapy tends to be regarded as a complementary modality at best and a [[pseudoscience|pseudoscientific]] fraud at worst.<ref>http://www.srmhp.org/archives/aromatherapy.html</ref>

On the continent, especially in [[France]], where it originated, aromatherapy is incorporated into mainstream medicine. There, the use of the antiseptic, antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties of oils in the control of infections is emphasized over the more "touchy feely" approaches familiar to English speakers. In France some essential oils are regulated as [[prescription drug]]s, and thus administered by a [[physician]]. French doctors use a technique called the aromatogram to guide their decision on which essential oil to use. First the doctor cultures a sample of infected tissue or secretion from the patient. Next the growing culture is divided among [[petri dish]]es supplied with [[agar]]. Each petri dish is inoculated with a different essential oil to determine which have the most activity against the target strain of microorganism. The antiseptic activity manifests as a pattern of inhibited growth.<ref>http://www.florihana.com/en/aromatogram.htm The Aromatogram</ref><ref>http://www.pranarom.co.uk/en/essential_oil/aromatogramme Aromatogram</ref>

In many countries essential oils are included in the national [[pharmacopoeia]], but up to the present moment aromatherapy as science has never been recognized as a valid branch of medicine in the [[United States]], [[Russia]], [[Germany]], or [[Japan]].

Essential oils, phytoncides and other natural [[volatile organic compound|VOCs]] work in different ways. At the scent level they activate the [[limbic system]] and emotional centers of the [[brain]]. When applied to the skin (commonly in form of "massage oils" i.e. 1-10% solutions of EO in carrier oil) they activate thermal receptors, and kill microbes and fungi. Internal application of essential oil preparations (mainly in pharmacological drugs; generally not recommended for home use apart from dilution - 1-5% in fats or mineral oils, or hydrosoles) may stimulate the [[immune system]].

== Choice and purchase ==

Oils with standarized content of components (marked FCC, for Food Chemical Codex) have to contain a specified amount of certain aroma chemicals that normally occur in the oil. But there is no law that the chemicals cannot be added in synthetic form in order to meet the criteria established by the FCC for that oil. For instance, [[lemongrass]] essential oil has to contain 75% [[aldehyde]] to meet the FCC profile for that oil, but that aldehyde can come from a chemical refinery instead of from lemongrass. To say that FCC oils are "food grade" then makes them seem natural when in fact they are not necessarily so.

Undiluted essential oils suitable for aromatherapy are termed ''therapeutic grade,'' but in countries where the industry is not regulated, therapeutic grade is based on industry consensus and is not a regulatory category. Some aromatherapists take advantage of this situation to make misleading claims about the origin and even content of the oils they use. Likewise, claims that an oil's purity is vetted by [[mass spectrometry]] or [[gas chromatography]] have limited value, since all such testing can do is show that various chemicals occur in the oil. Many of the chemicals that occur naturally in essential oils are manufactured by the perfume industry and adulterate essential oils because they are cheaper. There is no way to distinguish between these synthetic additives and the naturally occurring chemicals.

The best instrument for determining whether an essential oil is adulterated is an educated nose. Many people can distinguish between natural and synthetic scents, but it takes experience.

Whichever oils you choose, be guided by your natural preference. If you like an oil, it follows that you will enjoy using it. If you feel duty-bound to use it because it is supposed to be good for your particular ailment but you hate the aroma, don’t buy it. It is your body’s way of telling you to choose something else.

To smell an oil, waft the open bottle under your nose, moving it from the right to the left at about chin height while you gently inhale. Don’t sniff or use the bottle like an inhaler—this does not make the aroma more potent, and could be dangerous with oils that have overpowering aromas.

== Price ==
{{howto}}
{{Inappropriate tone|date=December 2007}}


Oils vary in price based on the amount of the harvest, the country of origin, the type of extraction used (steam distillation, CO₂ extract, [[enfleurage]]), and how desirable the oil is. Indian Sandalwood (''[[Santalum album]]'') is considered more desirable than Australian Sandalwood (''[[Santalum spicatum]]''), based upon the aroma, and is twice as costly, mainly because the species that yields Indian Sandalwood essential oils is endangered. Organic and wild harvested essential oils also tend to be more expensive.

“Organic” does not always mean “best”. In some cases oils from countries like [[India]] may not receive organic certification due to a lack of information regarding the oil’s origin rather than product being substandard in some way.

Below is a list of relative costs of essential oils:

Lower cost: [[clove]], [[eucalyptus]], [[grapefruit]], [[lavender]], [[lemon]], [[peppermint]], [[patchouli]], [[pine]], [[rosemary]], [[tea tree]]

Middle cost: [[basil]], [[bergamot]], [[cedarwood]], [[chamomile]], [[clary sage]], [[geranium]], [[ginger]], [[juniper]], [[thyme]], [[ylang ylang]]

High cost: [[frankincense]], [[jasmine]], [[neroli]], [[rose]], [[sandalwood]]

== Pharmacological effects attributed to essential oils ==
* '''antibacterial''' ''[[In vitro]]'' testing has confirmed antibacterial effects in certain oils including [[rosemary]], [[clove]], [[Lime (fruit)|lime]], [[cinnamon]], and [[tea tree oil]].<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = io A, Cermelli C, Fabio G, Nicoletti P, Quaglio P.
| coauthors =
| title = Screening of the antibacterial effects of a variety of essential oils on microorganisms responsible for respiratory infections.
| journal = Phytother Res.
| volume = 21
| issue = 4
| pages = 374-7
| date= April, 2007
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17326042
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Luqman S, Dwivedi GR, Darokar MP, Kalra A, Khanuja SP.
| coauthors =
| title = Potential of rosemary oil to be used in drug-resistant infections.
| journal = Altern Ther Health Med.
| volume = 13
| issue = 5
| pages = 54-9
| date= Sept-Oct 2007
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17900043
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Prabuseenivasan S, Jayakumar M, Ignacimuthu S.
| coauthors =
| title = In vitro antibacterial activity of some plant essential oils.
| journal = BMC Complement Altern Med. 2006 Nov 30;6:39
| volume = 6
| issue = 39
| pages =
| date= Nov 30, 2006
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17134518
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Ferrini AM, Mannoni V, Aureli P, Salvatore G, Piccirilli E, Ceddia T, Pontieri E, Sessa R, Oliva B.
| coauthors =
| title = Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil possesses potent anti-staphylococcal activity extended to strains resistant to antibiotics.
| journal = Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol.;19(3):.
| volume = 19
| issue = 3
| pages = 539-44
| date= 2006 Jul-Sep
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17026838
| accessdate = }}</ref>
* '''antiviral''' Supported for [[tea tree oil]], [[lemongrass]], [[sandlewood]], [[peppermint]], [[ginger]], [[thyme]], and [[hyssop]] in ''[[in vitro]]'' testing against [[Herpes]]<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Schnitzler P, Koch C, Reichling J.
| coauthors =
| title = Susceptibility of drug-resistant clinical herpes simplex virus type 1 strains to essential oils of ginger, thyme, hyssop, and sandalwood.
| journal = Antimicrob Agents Chemother.
| volume = 51
| issue = 5
| pages = 1859-62
| date= 2007 May
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17353250
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Schuhmacher A, Reichling J, Schnitzler P.
| coauthors =
| title = Virucidal effect of peppermint oil on the enveloped viruses herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 in vitro.
| journal = Phytomedicine
| volume = 10
| issue = 6-7
| pages = 504-10
| date= 2003
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 13678235
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Minami M, Kita M, Nakaya T, Yamamoto T, Kuriyama H, Imanishi J.
| coauthors =
| title = The inhibitory effect of essential oils on herpes simplex virus type-1 replication in vitro.
| journal = Microbiol Immunol.
| volume = 47
| issue = 9
| pages = 681-4
| date= 2003
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 14584615
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Benencia F, Courrèges MC.
| coauthors =
| title = Antiviral activity of sandalwood oil against herpes simplex viruses-1 and -2.
| journal = Phytomedicine.
| volume = 6
| issue = 2
| pages = 119-23
| date= 1999 May
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 10374251
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Allahverdiyev A, Duran N, Ozguven M, Koltas S.
| coauthors =
| title = Antiviral activity of the volatile oils of Melissa officinalis L. against Herpes simplex virus type-2.
| journal = Phytomedicine.
| volume = 11
| issue = 7-8
| pages = 657-61
| date= 2004 Nov
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 15636181
| accessdate = }}</ref>
* '''antifungal''' Supported by ''in vitro'' testing for [[lavender]], [[thyme]], [[clove]], [[juniper]], and [[tea tree oil]]<ref>
{{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Chaieb K, Zmantar T, Ksouri R, Hajlaoui H, Mahdouani K, Abdelly C, Bakhrouf A.
| coauthors =
| title = Antioxidant properties of the essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata and its antifungal activity against a large number of clinical Candida species.
| journal = Mycoses.
| volume = 50
| issue = 5
| pages = 403-6
| date= 2007 Sep
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17714361
| accessdate = }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Pinto E, Pina-Vaz C, Salgueiro L, Gonçalves MJ, Costa-de-Oliveira S, Cavaleiro C, Palmeira A, Rodrigues A, Martinez-de-Oliveira J.
| coauthors =
| title = Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Thymus pulegioides on Candida, Aspergillus and dermatophyte species.
| journal = J Med Microbiol.
| volume = 55
| issue = Pt 10
| pages = 1367-73
| date= 2006 Oct
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17005785
| accessdate = }}
</ref><ref>
{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Nenoff P, Haustein UF, Brandt W.
| coauthors =
| title = Antifungal activity of the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree oil) against pathogenic fungi in vitro.
| journal = Skin Pharmacol.
| volume = 9
| issue = 6
| pages = 388-94
| date= 1996
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 9055360
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = 1333-8
| coauthors =
| title = Antifungal activity of Juniperus essential oils against dermatophyte, Aspergillus and Candida strains.
| journal = J Appl Microbiol.
| volume = 100
| issue = 6
| pages = 1333-8
| date= 2006 Jun
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 16696681
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink =D'Auria FD, Tecca M, Strippoli V, Salvatore G, Battinelli L, Mazzanti G.
| coauthors =
| title = Antifungal activity of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil against Candida albicans yeast and mycelial form.
| journal = Med Mycol.
| volume = 43
| issue = 5
| pages = 391-6
| date= 2005 Aug
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 16178366
| accessdate = }}</ref>
* '''anti-inflammatory''' Reported in in-vitro assays of clove, cinnamon, sage, eucalyptus, black cumin and bay leaf<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Oniga I, Pârvu AE, Toiu A, Benedec D.
| coauthors =
| title = Effects of Salvia officinalis L. extract on experimental acute inflammation.
| journal = Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi.
| volume = 111
| issue = 1
| pages = 290-4
| date= 2007 Jan-Mar
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17595884
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Chaieb K, Hajlaoui H, Zmantar T, Kahla-Nakbi AB, Rouabhia M, Mahdouani K, Bakhrouf A
| coauthors =
| title = The chemical composition and biological activity of clove essential oil, Eugenia caryophyllata (Syzigium aromaticum L. Myrtaceae): a short review.
| journal = Phytother Res.
| volume = 21
| issue = 6
| pages = 501-6
| date= 2007 Jun
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17380552
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Silva J, Abebe W, Sousa SM, Duarte VG, Machado MI, Matos FJ.
| coauthors =
| title = Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of essential oils of Eucalyptus.
| journal = J Ethnopharmacol.
| volume = 89
| issue = 2-3
| pages = 277-83
| date= 2003 Dec
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 14611892
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Chao LK, Hua KF, Hsu HY, Cheng SS, Liu JY, Chang ST.
| coauthors =
| title = Study on the antiinflammatory activity of essential oil from leaves of Cinnamomum osmophloeum.
| journal = J Agric Food Chem.
| volume = 53
| issue = 18
| pages = 7274-8
| date= 2005 Sep 7
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 16131142
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Hajhashemi V, Ghannadi A, Jafarabadi H.
| coauthors =
| title = Black cumin seed essential oil, as a potent analgesic and antiinflammatory drug.
| journal = Phytother Res.
| volume = 18
| issue = 3
| pages = 195-9
| date= 2004 Mar
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 15103664
| accessdate = }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Sayyah M, Saroukhani G, Peirovi A, Kamalinejad M
| coauthors =
| title = Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity of the leaf essential oil of Laurus nobilis Linn.
| journal = Phytother Res.;(7):
| volume = 17
| issue = 7
| pages = 733-6
| date= 2003 Aug
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 12916069
| accessdate = }}</ref>
.
* '''anxiolytic''' Reported in animal models using oils of lavender, rose and angelica <ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Shaw D, Annett JM, Doherty B, Leslie JC.
| coauthors =
| title = Anxiolytic effects of lavender oil inhalation on open-field behaviour in rats.
| journal = Phytomedicine
| volume = 14
| issue = 9
| pages = 613-20
| date= 2007 Sep Epub 2007 May 4
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 17482442
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = de Almeida RN, Motta SC, de Brito Faturi C, Catallani B, Leite JR.
| coauthors =
| title = Anxiolytic-like effects of rose oil inhalation on the elevated plus-maze test in rats.
| journal = Pharmacol Biochem Behav.;():
| volume = 77
| issue = 2
| pages = 361-4
| date= 2004 Feb
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 14751465
| accessdate = }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| last =
| first =
| authorlink = Chen SW, Min L, Li WJ, Kong WX, Li JF, Zhang YJ.
| coauthors =
| title = The effects of angelica essential oil in three murine tests of anxiety.
| journal = Pharmacol Biochem Behav.
| volume = 79
| issue = 2
| pages = 377-82
| date= 2004 Oct
| url =
| doi =
| id = PMID: 15501315
| accessdate = }}</ref>
* '''antispasmotic'''
* '''invigorating'''
* '''antioxidant'''

== Popular uses ==

*[[Basil]] is used in perfumery for its clear, sweet and mildly spicy aroma. In aromatherapy, it is used for sharpening concentration, for its uplifting effect on [[depression (mood)|depression]], and to relieve [[headache]]s and [[migraine]]s. Basil oil has many [[chemotype]]s and some are known to be [[emmenagogue]]s and should be avoided during [[pregnant|pregnancy]].

*[[Bergamot orange|Bergamot]] is one of the most popular oils in perfumery. It is an excellent insect repellent and may be helpful for both the [[urinary tract]] and for the [[digestive tract]]. It is useful for skin conditions linked to stress, such as [[cold sores]] and [[chicken pox]], especially when combined with eucalyptus oil. Bergamot is a flavoring agent in [[Earl Grey tea]]. But cold-pressed Bergamot oil contains ''bergaptene'', a strong [[photosensitizer]] when applied to the skin, so only distilled or 'bergaptene-free' types can be topically used.

*[[Black pepper]] has a sharp and spicy aroma. Common uses include stimulating the circulation and for muscular aches and pains. Skin application is useful for bruises, since it stimulates the circulation.

* [[Citronella oil]], obtained from a relative of [[lemongrass]], is used as an insect repellant and in perfumery.

* [[Clove]] oil is a topical [[analgesic]], especially useful in [[dentistry]]. It is also used an antiseptic, [[antispasmodic]], [[carminative]], and [[antiemetic]].

* [[Eucalyptus]] oil is often used in combination with [[peppermint]] to provide relief for the airways in case of [[common cold|cold]] or [[influenza|flu]].

* [[Jasmine]] is used as an [[aphrodisiac]]

* [[Lavender oil]] is used as an antiseptic, to soothe minor cuts and burns, to calm and relax, and to soothe headaches and migraines.

* [[Lemon]] oil is uplifting and anti-stress/[[anti-depressant]]. In a Japanese study, lemon [[essential oil]] in vapour form has been found to reduce [[Stress (medicine)|stress]] in [[mouse|mice]].<ref name="aromatherapy">{{cite web
| coauthors = Komiya M, Takeuchi T, Harada E
| title = Lemon oil vapor causes an anti-stress effect via modulating the 5-HT and DA activities in mice.
| publisher = PubMed.gov
| date= 2006-06-15
| url = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16780969&query_hl=6&itool=pubmed_docsum
| accessdate = 2007-04-26 }}</ref>

*[[Rose]] is used as an [[aphrodisiac]]

* [[Sandalwood]] oil is used as an [[aphrodisiac]]

* [[Tea tree oil]] and many other essential oils have [[topical]] (external) [[antimicrobial]] (i.e. [[antibacterial]], [[antifungal]], [[antiviral]], or [[Parasite|antiparasitic]]) activity and are used as [[antiseptic]]s and [[disinfectant]]s.<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16161028&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum][http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=15555788&query_hl=1&itool=pubmed_DocSum] Antibacterial activity of essential oils from Australian native plants.</ref>

* [[Thyme]] oil<ref>http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmed&cmd=Retrieve&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=16690225&query_hl=14&itool=pubmed_docsum Antimicrobial and antiplasmid activities of essential oils.</ref>

* [[Yarrow oil]] is used to reduce [[joint]] [[inflammation]] and relieve cold and [[influenza]] symptoms.

* [[Ylang-ylang]] oil is used as an [[aphrodisiac]]

== Criticism ==

The consensus among most medical professionals in the [[U.S.A.]] and [[England]] is that while pleasant scents can boost relaxation and may have related benefits for patients, there is currently insufficient scientific proof of the effectiveness of aromatherapy in general.<ref>http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/aromatherapy/HealthProfessional/page3 Aromatherapy and Essential Oils</ref> Scientific research on the cause and effect of aromatherapy is limited, although ''in vitro'' testing has revealed some antibacterial and antiviral effects and a few double blind studies have been published.<ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Ballard CG, O'Brien JT, Reichelt K, Perry EK
| date= 2002
| month = Jul
| title = Aromatherapy as a safe and effective treatment for the management of agitation in severe dementia: the results of a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Melissa.
| journal = J Clin Psychiatry
| volume = 63
| issue = 7
| pages = 553-8
| issn =
| pmid = 12143909
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H.
| date =
| year = 2002
| month = Apr
| title = Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study.
| journal = Int J Geriatr Psychiatry
| volume = 17
| issue = 4
| pages = 305-8.
| issn =
| pmid = 11994882
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}</ref>

Like many [[alternative medicine|alternative therapies]], few controlled, [[double-blind]] studies have been carried out&mdash;a common explanation is that there is little incentive to do so if the results of the studies are not [[Patentability|patentable]]. Researchers at [[Sloan-Kettering]] have found that aromatherapy significantly reduces [[claustrophobia]] attacks for patients undergoing [[MRI]] scans<ref>http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/40873/aromatherapy_science_the_facts_and.html</ref>; however, studies of similar rigor are far from numerous. Some benefits that have been linked to aromatherapy, such as relaxation and clarity of mind, may arise from the [[placebo effect]] rather than from the inherent properties of the scents themselves.

Skeptical literature suggests that aromatherapy is based on the [[anecdotal evidence]] of its benefits rather than proof that aromatherapy can cure diseases. Scientists and medical professionals acknowledge that aromatherapy has limited scientific support, but critics argue that the claims of most aromatherapy practitioners go beyond the data, and/or that the studies are neither adequately controlled nor peer reviewed.

Customers should be aware that aromatherapy may be unregulated, depending on the country. The term "aromatherapy" has been applied to such a wide range of products that many are labeled "aromatherapy" products simply because they contain essential oils, although they may provide no therapeutic benefit.

Some proponents of aromatherapy believe that the claimed effect of each type of oil is not caused by the chemicals in the oil interacting with the senses, but because the oil contains a distillation of the "[[Vitalism|life force]]" of the plant from which it is derived that will "balance the energies" of the body and promote healing or well-being by purging negative vibrations from the body's energy field. Arguing that there is no [[scientific method|scientific evidence]] that healing can be achieved, and that the claimed "energies" even exist, many [[scientific skepticism|skeptics]] reject this form of aromatherapy as [[pseudoscience]] or even [[quackery]].

== Safety concerns ==

In addition, there are potential [[Alternative medicine#Criticism of alternative medicine|safety concerns]].
Because essential oils are highly concentrated they can only be safely used in small amounts, measured in drops. For this reason they must be stored out of the reach of children. As with any bioactive substance, an essential oil that may be safe for the general public could still pose hazards for pregnant and lactating women. Many essential oils can irritate the skin unless diluted with a carrier oil such as sweet [[almond]] oil, [[olive oil]], [[hazelnut]] oil, and [[rose hip]] seed oil. A few cases have been reported of toxic reactions like [[liver]] damage and seizures<ref>{{cite journal
| quotes =
| author = Millet Y, Jouglard J, Steinmetz MD, Tognetti P, Joanny P, Arditti J.
| date =
| year = 1981
| month = Dec
| title = Toxicity of some essential plant oils. Clinical and experimental study.
| journal = Clin Toxicol.
| volume = 18
| issue = 12
| pages = 1485-98
| issn =
| pmid = 7333081
| doi =
| id =
| url =
| language =
| format =
| accessdate =
| laysummary =
| laysource =
| laydate =
| quote =
}}</ref> Phototoxic reactions may occur with certain [[citrus]] oils such as [[lemon]] or [[Lime (fruit)|lime]] <ref>http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1312240 Hyperpigmented macules and streaks</ref>. Also, many essential oils have chemical components that are sensitisers (meaning that they will after a number of uses cause reactions on the skin, and more so in the rest of the body). Just remember essential oils are made up of chemicals, although they are not man-made (they are distilled), in the concentrations they are in; just the same, overexposure can cause reactions. Aromatherapy oils and scents can potentially have negative health consequences if used incorrectly or in an unlucky/unwise combination with prescription-based pharmacology.
A Database of over 400 Essential Oil material safety data sheets can be accessed through the Liberty Natural Products Website: [http://libertynatural.com/msd/Msdlist.htm Liberty Natural Products MSDS Database]

== References ==
<references/>

=== Journals ===

* [http://www.naha.org/journal.htm Aromatherapy Journal]
* [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=JournalURL&_cdi=6955&_auth=y&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=0e4b203f6b02250f9d7888636094345c International Journal of Aromatherapy]
* [http://www.aromascentsjournal.ca/articles.html Aroma Scents Journal ]

== External links ==
* [http://www.naha.org/ The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy]
* [http://www.ifaroma.org/ International Federation of Aromatherapy]
* [http://www.herbalgram.org/iherb/herbalgram/articleview.asp?a=2450 Aromatherapy: What Is It?]
* [http://www.naha.org/safety.htm Aromatherapy and Essential Oil Cautions and Safety Information ]
* [http://takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/therapies/aromatherapy/research What Does the Research Say About Essential Oils?]
* [http://www.aromabar.com/articles/baud55.htm Antiviral and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils]
* [http://www.nature-helps.com/agora/agora.htm The Aromatherapy Global Online Research Archives]

==Criticism==
* [http://www.cf.ac.uk/biosi/staff/jacob/teaching/sensory/olfact1.html Smell Research by Tim Jacob: ''Aromatherapy - does it work?'']
* [http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/aroma.html Aromatherapy: Making Dollars out of Scents]

== Further reading ==

* Maria Lis-Balchin, Aromatherapy science - a guide for healthcare professionals, éd. Pharmaceutical Press (2006)
* Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D., Advanced Aromatherapy : The Science of Essential Oil Therapy, (ISBN 0-89281-743-7)
* Kurt Schnaubelt, Ph.D., Medical Aromatherapy : Healing With Essential Oils (ISBN 1-883319-69-2)
* The Practice of Aromatherapy: A Classic Compendium of Plant Medicines and Their Healing Properties (ISBN 0-89281-398-9)
* ?, Food Chemicals Codex (ISBN 0-309-08866-6)
* Christopher Wanjek, Bad Medicine : Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Distance Healing to Vitamin O, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (ISBN 0-471-43499-X)
* Dr. Jean Valnet, The Practice of Aromatherapy (ISBN 0852071434)

[[Category:Mind-body interventions]]
[[Category:Aromatherapy| ]]

[[ar:طب الروائح]]
[[de:Aromatherapie]]
[[et:Aroomiteraapia]]
[[es:Aromaterapia]]
[[eo:Aromoterapio]]
[[fa:عطردرمانی]]
[[fr:Aromathérapie]]
[[hr:Aromaterapija]]
[[it:Aromaterapia]]
[[he:ארומתרפיה]]
[[lv:Aromaterapija]]
[[nl:Aromatherapie]]
[[ja:アロマセラピー]]
[[pl:Aromaterapia]]
[[pt:Aromaterapia]]
[[ru:Ароматерапия]]
[[sk:Arómoterapia]]
[[sl:Aromaterapija]]
[[sr:Ароматерапија]]
[[fi:Aromaterapia]]
[[sv:Aromaterapi]]
[[uk:Ароматерапія]]
[[bat-smg:Aruomaterapėjė]]
[[zh:芳香療法]]