Aromatherapy in Health Care

Abstract

Aromatherapy is a distinct form of medicine based on the medicinal properties of essential oils. Essential oils have a variety of therapeutic activities including antiseptic, sedative, anti- inflammatory, antispasmodic, anti-fungal, anti-viral, stimulant, relaxant, diuretic, euphoric and digestive. Aromatherapy was brought into practice when antiseptic and skin permeability properties of essential oils were discovered. The methods used in aromatherapy are inhalation, local application and baths, which allow the essential oils to enter in to the body. Essential oils effect human health in various ways such as, psychotherapy by odours and mood creator. This New Aromatherapy is based on the scientific approach using traditional

knowledge on medicinal properties of plants and also on psychoactive effects of essential oils. The fragrance compounds besides creating a happy feeling behave like pharmacologically active substance. The aromatherapy has been applied in order to verify the so-called healing effects of fragrance compounds and essential oils. In aromatherapy different blends of essential oils are used for various ailments like muscular aches and pains, respiratory problems, insomnia, headache, swollen joints, urinary problems, etc. Therapeutic properties and uses of major essential oils will be discussed in this paper.