Aromatherapy: Does it work?

It sure works for me, but I am a fragrance hound just as I am a decorator hound, and pleasant aromas are cathartic to moods and memories—much like music.

Essential oils can be inhaled or applied topically for the purpose of eliciting a physical and/or an emotional response (that is healing) in the body. When inhaling an essential oil, the olfactory (smelling) nerves are stimulated from the molecules’ travel and ultimately wind up in the limbic (emotional behavior) system. When applied to the skin, the essential oils are absorbed through the skin and then enter the blood stream reaching other parts of the body, as needed for healing.

Essential oils as defined would be oils derived from flowers or herbs whose purpose is to heal cells, tissues, organs and then, finally, systems. There is a 30-50-20 rule that serves as a “blending guideline” in the natural medicine world. It suggests that a ratio of 30% top notes, 50% middle notes and a 20% base notes that would create a balanced and long-lasting aromatic therapy. The top notes are light and fresh while the middle notes are considered the “heart” of the fragrance and, finally, the base notes provide depth and longevity. A practical teaching application of this principle would be: three drops of the top note, five drops of the middle note, and two drops of the base note for a total of 10 drops. Of course, the top notes are the ones you smell first and they would be along the lines of citrus such as lemongrass, orange or grapefruit. Examples of the 50% notes would be the floral fragrances such as lavender, geranium or rosemary. And then, some of the 20% base notes would be earthy scents such as sandalwood, patchouli or frankincense.

Many questions about aromatherapy abound such as:

1) Does it have solid benefits?

ANSWER: These can help with stress, anxiety and sleep disorders but its effectiveness can vary according to the user. It can and should be tried first (as opposed to drugs), but should not be used to replace professional medical care.

2) How do the essential oils penetrate our bodies?

ANSWER: They take time to penetrate and diffuse through our skin tissue but is accomplished in two ways: either trans dermally or via hair follicles, sebaceous or sweat glands.

3) Is there true science behind their healing benefits?

ANSWER: No, aromatherapy is not scientifically proven as cures for any diseases and the evidence for its benefits is mixed and often inconclusive. But I can state from my experience of walking into a room that is fragrant—I automatically become calmer and more relaxed. “Calm and relaxed” is a condition all need in order for homeostasis to occur which simply means “your body is functioning as it is supposed, which means you are healthy.” It should be a gradual process of using the oils as some folks have experienced adverse impacts with heart rates and/or blood pressure.

4) How long does it require to see improvement/results?

ANSWER: They take time. “Result time” can take anywhere from seconds to weeks, depending upon application mode and desired results. Inhaling can be immediate as opposed to topical which may take minutes to reach the bloodstream. For chronic conditions, even a daily application can take weeks or months for progress to be noticed.

5) Why doesn’t establishment medicine use this as a first line of defense?

ANSWER: Establishment medicine does not recognize natural medicine or traditional Chinese medicine cures mostly due to the fact that these alternatives can’t be patented and, therefore, money isn’t to be made off the oils or herbs. As well, oftentimes, (even though there are risks) prescription medications give more instant results.

6) Can we use essential oils every day?

ANSWER: Obviously, exposure to the same oil/oils on a daily basis can cause the oils to lose their efficacy. Short, interrupted diffusing sessions (30-60 minutes) will always be more effective and safer than continuous long-term diffusing.

7) Can you use any of the essential oils in a tea?

ANSWER: It is best to only make teas from herbs; for ingestion, oils can be toxic. Olive oil you can drink (one ounce before bedtime is very good) but make certain it is a high-end brand.

All in all, aromatherapy provides very positive reactions; many scents can take us back to early childhood experiences and an easier time to live!

After the new year, there will be a new product hitting the market which is an aromatic spray for a plethora of uses. It will be a 24-hour deodorant, a spray-on hair refresher, and the same for dogs (in between groomer visits), a linen closet freshener, a lingerie drawer freshener, a spray that can be utilized on clothes if you need to get wrinkles out (before throwing in dryer for five minutes), and other uses you may come up with, yourselves. This product will be called “All-n-1” and the company name is called “Makin Scents!” Once available, I will let you know at the end of my column, but the best news is that it is a “custom” service, and the product can be scented with ANY of the hundreds of designer scents available on the market. Also, the product can be made with essential oil or your favorite herbal scents!