SCIENCE of AROMATHERAPY

Essential oil products are often used for aromatherapy, a form of alternative medicine in which therapeutic effects are credited to aromatic compounds. This has been backed up by research into the effects of essential oils on the brain.


As explained by Johns Hopkins Medicine, the molecules from essential oils can be absorbed through the skin. These molecules also travel through olfactory nerves in the nose and enter the brain, where they have been found to affect the brain—and especially its emotional center, the amygdala.


It is notable that the researched health benefits of essential oils have created demand in pharmaceutical and medical applications. Studies show that these oils do not exhibit side effects unlike other conventional medicines and drugs and this will probably be a significant boosting factor.


This kind of acceptance by the medical community means that increasingly, essential oil products are being used in homes—and also in office, school, and hospital settings. It is now common to find essential oils being used in hospices.


Going forward, the health benefits of essential oils products are anticipated to trigger their demand in applications such as the treatment of fatigue, anxiety and depression.

 

FURTHER READING

Aromatherapy: Do Essential Oils Really Work? 

Essential Oils Used in Aromatherapy: A Systemic Review