What is aromatherapy, what is it for and how does it work?

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for health benefits. The molecules that make up essential oils are active ingredients that exert different therapeutic effects on the body.

What is aromatherapy used for? Some ongoing research

The anti-infective properties of some essential oils and their spectacular effectiveness have been awakening the interest of the scientific community for more than 80 years. Numerous investigations are still being carried out today.

They have been held regularly for years scientific studies with the aim of verifying the effectiveness of certain essential oils to reduce stress levels, to resolve anxiety states and even to modify the perception of painfor example with essential oils of lavender and rosemary.

In Japan, atmospheric diffusion is already used in workplaces to reduce stress and improve performance.Some hospitals and private clinics in France and Spain have installed diffusers to get rid of the typical “hospital smell” (smell that makes us sick!) or to help cancer patients to feel better (Peltzer-La Tourelle hospital center, Verviers, France). In the United States, pilot tests are being carried out with soldiers to treat post-traumatic stress with essential oils.

The benefits of aromatherapy

The benefits of essential oils They can be summed up in these qualities:

They act globally. Essential oils have the particularity of acting globally: on a physical, nervous and emotional levelwhich differentiates them from other natural therapeutic agents.promote health. They are “eubiotic”, that is, they favor life by rebalancing the “terrain”: they selectively destroy pathogens and promote optimal health.They respect the intestinal flora and favor their balance.They act smart. They “know” where they have to go, that is, they go directly to the organs with which they have an affinity.They have several properties. They usually gather unique and powerful properties. For example, compact oregano essential oil is antiviral, bactericidal, fungicidal, antiparasitic, and immunostimulant.They do not create dependencies.They have no side effects. Respecting the recommendations for use and with adequate knowledge they do not cause side effects at physiological and therapeutic doses.They balance and harmonize. They stop acting when the therapeutic function has been carried out.

How essential oils work depending on the routes of administration

These benefits can come from air or respiratory route (diffusion/inhalation), topical (in massages or local applications) or oral.

When it comes to harmonizing emotional states and disorders of nervous origin direct inhalation or atmospheric diffusion are recommended (in this case use pure essential oils) and the dermal application of one or several essential oils, pure or diluted in vegetable oil if they are potentially irritating. In this case they are used in massage or in specific points of the body.

Most of those who know aromatherapy are unaware of or reject the orally as a way to administer essential oils. This route is normally supervised by doctors or health professionals since there is risk of overdose and may be contraindicated in some cases, as we discussed at the end of this article.

Aromatherapy by direct inhalation or atmospheric diffusion: why is smell so powerful?

When we inhale through the nose, an elaborate chemical process begins with great speed. The chemical signals are transformed into electrical responses before reaching the olfactory bulb, from where they are transmitted to the brain.

“Men can close their eyes to greatness, to horror, to beauty and close their ears to melodies or seductive words… but they will not be able to escape the perfume. Because the perfume is the brother of the breath. With him he enters men and if they want to live they have to breathe it.

And once inside, the perfume goes directly to the heart. And there he decides categorically between inclination and contempt, aversion and attraction, love and hate. Who dominates the smells, dominates the hearts of men.»

Patrick Süskind thus describes in his novel Perfume he power of smells to provoke emotions In the man. The aromatic molecules that compose them are interpreted and exert a concrete action on the organism thanks to our sophisticated sense of smell.

Breathing in a certain fragrance you can experience intense happiness, be transported to the past or feel sexual excitement. There are also smells that can arouse sadness, nostalgia or strong physical reactions of rejection, such as headaches or vomiting.

Smell is the only one of our senses capable of providing us with a emotional experience without the intervention of the rational brain (the neocortex).

Olfactory information first reaches the limbic system and the hypothalamus., responsible for emotions, feelings, instincts and impulses. These brain areas are also related to memory and manage the release of hormones. For this reason, odors have the power to directly modify behavior and bodily functions.

Finally, part of the odor information reaches the cerebral cortex and becomes conscious.

Topical aromatherapy: effectiveness beyond the skin

Essential oils have a great affinity with the skin. They easily pass through it, allowing the aromatic molecules to immediately reach the circulatory system thanks to the numerous blood vessels located in the dermis.

Dominique Baudouxan important reference in scientific aromatherapy and director of the Belgian laboratory Pranarôm, insists on remembering that essential oils work on the skin, through the skin and beyond the skin.

Massages are often used to combine the benefits that these provide with the properties of essential oils.

Precautions when using essential oils

The numerous psychosensory benefits obtained from aromatherapy make it an ally of health, but some precautions must be taken into account. Not because they are natural substances, essential oils are devoid of contraindications or toxicity in some cases.

As we can see, innocent odorous liquids are not handled but powerful concentrates, authentic quintessences capable of providing incredible benefits when used with the proper knowledge and due respect.

essential oils cigars should never be used on mucous membranes (nose, genital or anal area) nor in eyes and ears.Handwashing after using essential oils is essential.pregnant. Pregnant women under three months are advised not to use essential oils orally. Atmospheric diffusion does not represent any danger for them. From the fourth month they can use them under medical supervision or a health professional.
Essential oils that should not be used during pregnancy are:Peppermint (Mentha X piperita)Sage (sage officinalis)Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica)Rosemary camphor (Rosmarinus officinalis qt camphor)hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis ssp off.)lavender (Lavandula stoechas)Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)Spice cloves (Eugenia caryophyllus)Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum, Cinnamomum cassia either Cinnamomum zeylanicum)Oregano (Origanum compactum)Savory (Satureja montana)Thymol thymol (Thymus vulgaris qt thymol)Palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii)Thyme geraniol (Thymus vulgaris qt geraniol)Lactation. During lactation the medical or specialized supervision is still recommended.Children. Children under three years they should not take essential oils by mouth.Asthma and respiratory allergies. The people who suffer they should not inhale essential oils directly. If you suffer from asthma, you should avoid directly breathing essential oils highly concentrated in cineole.Sensitive skin. Before using an essential oil, people with sensitive skin or allergic terrain should place two drops in the crook of the elbow and wait 15 minutes for Verify that it does not produce any reaction or irritation.Sun exposure. the essences of citrus o photosensitizing essential oils should not be used before exposing yourself to the sun, especially the bergamot.caustic oils. Cinnamon essential oil and those containing phenols (oregano, savory, cloves, thyme thymol) are very caustic for the skin. Therefore, cigars should not be used on the skin or mucous membranes.Conservation. Do not leave the bottles within the reach of children. Remain well covered and protected from light.Quality. To guarantee optimal use and better tolerance, it is advisable to purchase 100% pure, 100% natural and integral biochemically defined (chemotyped) essential oils, if possible with organic certification.

New and modern technologies have made it possible to know exactly the composition of essential oils and therefore also define potentially toxic molecules.