Does Aromatherapy Work?

The smell of peppermint from a candy store, the aroma of lavender from a bubble bath, the scent of a rose on an evening walk – many scents can affect humans. The effect may be as simple as provoking a pleasant memory or more of a therapeutic effect.

Aromatherapy uses essential oils from plants for a therapeutic benefit in complementary medicine. Essential oils are made by steaming or pressing various parts of a flower, herb, grass, or tree plant (such as the seed, fruit, leaves, needles, bark, root, petal, and peel) to extract the compound that produces the fragrance. It takes an abundant amount of the plant to extract a small amount of its essential oil. True essential oils are concentrated and not blended with other chemicals or fragrances. Essential oils are not regulated; therefore, the quality of essential oils can vary.

The US Food and Drug Administration classifies essential oils as cosmetics. Essential oils are typically used by inhaling the scent or applying a diluted form topically to the skin for absorption. Essential oils are usually not taken orally. Strict instruction and supervision from a health care provider are necessary when taking them orally due to the varying quality of the essential oils on the market and the higher risk of side effects, including kidney or liver injury, when ingested.

Aromatherapy is generally considered safe, but there are possible side effects. When inhaled or applied topically, side effects may include allergic reactions and skin, eye, and nasal mucosal irritation.

Although there is little research about the effectiveness of aromatherapy, the articles below review some of the available research for essential oils with possible therapeutic benefits as a complementary treatment approach to conditions including pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, and insomnia.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7309671/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7520654/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1043661820316844

Aromatherapy should not replace medical treatment for any condition, but considering its use in conjunction with your ongoing medical treatment may be helpful for you. Not everyone will have the same response to essential oils. For example, the aroma of one essential oil may calm one family member, but another member may become agitated and anxious. Therefore, discussing aromatherapy with your healthcare provider before implementing it in your treatment plan is important.