The tale of Aromatherapy: Science or Fiction?
April 19, 2020
While the popularity of aromatherapy is soaring, so are the questions surrounding its scientific authenticity. At this very moment, innumerable people are googling “what is aromatherapy?” and are being confused by the numerous intricate, scientific, botanical and wellness terms thrown at them by the internet. Is it science? Is it art? What does wellness really entail?
Let’s find out!
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy is the use of fragrance to enhance health and promote feelings of well-being. Wellbeing could be either emotional, psychological, physical or a combination of all three. This “aroma” usually comes from essential oils or concentrated aromatic liquids extracted from plants.
If you dig a little further, you will discover that the Egyptian, Chinese, and Indian communities have been using the principles of aromatherapy for centuries. But the term aromatherapy was first coined by René-Maurice Gattefossé in France in the early 20th century after accidentally treating a burn with a vat of lavender oil. But that was literally ages ago, and the world of aromatherapy has evolved a lot since then! So, let’s keep digging further
A Modern Makeover
With the lifestyle changes, dearth of time for self-care, hectic work lives accompanied by stress and anxiety, there is an indispensable need to turn to nature once again to find the pathway to wellness which has long been shrouded in mystery. Voila! Make room for aromatherapy. From being an ancient aromatic healing medium, it has come a long way!
Aromatherapy has evolved to encompass the use of essential oils for skincare, psychological wellbeing, household and personal hygiene, and medicine – or perhaps holistic healing. Set against a shift towards wellness combined with clean and organic beauty, pure aromatherapy is once again being embraced for its therapeutic benefits. With mood-boosting capabilities from energizing to sleep-inducing, aromatherapy had truly undergone a modern resurgence.
How does Aromatherapy work?
Before walking through the working of aromatherapy, it is imperative to note that it can be used in one of the three ways depending on the need of the person.
Topical use : This is of use onto the skin. Generally, used for the purpose of massage, baths and or therapeutic skin care.
Direct inhalation : Person breaths the oils straight in those are evaporating, because this is commonly used for respiratory disinfection and the benefits of decongestion.
Aerial diffusion : Different oils evaporate into the air. The main aim is to provide the air a specific fragrance or to disinfect it.
Exploring Olfaction
Now as for the working, it is believed that the wispy scent of essential oils stimulates the part of our brain which is connected to smell, the olfactory system. And when it is stimulated a signal is sent to the limbic system of the brain that controls our emotions and retrieves learned memories, where a chemical is then released which makes the person, who is getting the aromatherapy feel relaxed, stimulated and or calm. The essential oils are said to have a direct pharmacological effect. Many people believe that there is a synergy between the body and aromatic oils use for aromatherapy.
Aromatherapy has come a long way from being all about scented candles and lavender baths. Today, it surely has some degree of scientific and quantitative value. There are several notable studies that have been carried out on the essential oils to understand their impact on anxiety, elevating mood and reducing pain. The PubMed website is an online index of medical studies. Type “essential oil” into the search box and you’ll see over 7,000 results citing successful results of aromatherapy.
How does Aromatherapy help me?
As per the Blue Cross Blue Shield report , since 2013, millennials have seen a 47% increase in major-depression diagnoses. The overall rate increased from 3 to 4.4% among 18- to 34-year-olds. In the jam-packed lifestyle today, we barely have a moment to stop and focus on ourselves. Well, anything that relaxes you psychologically will be physically beneficial to your health. The mind and body are interlinked, so your mental state will affect your physical state.
These days, we’re so stressed-out and busy that we find it difficult to completely switch off. But we need to take more care of our mental health. In fact, the World Health Organization states that “there is no health without mental health”. Anything we can do to reduce stress is good! Scientists have discovered that a positive outlook results in faster healing and better immunity. So, anything that boosts your mental wellbeing – like aromatherapy – has the potential to boost your overall health.
What does the future look like for Aromatherapy?
From a research perspective, the focus lies mainly on the essential oils which are the core elements of aromatherapy. Each essential oil is made up of around 100 separate chemical constituents, each one playing a specific part in a plant’s biology. These chemical constituents all have effects on humans too, ranging from physical to psychological benefits.
By focusing on the essential oils and further research into their effectiveness and roles within the ecosystem, the aromatherapy industry shall continue to establish itself as a science as well as an art. From incense sticks in our living rooms to sleep inducing pillow mists, from skincare rituals to aromatic candles, aromatherapy is here to stay. The niche that this ancient science has carved for itself is expected to only grow deeper.
People seeking natural remediations will be seen turning to aromatherapy for alternative medicine, cosmetic effects, and spiritual benefits or even for a combination of all three. Essential oils shall continue to help us look good, smell good and feel good thereby enabling holistic wellbeing. Well, some say they might be the key to solving modern-day issues
- The Essènci team -