Wellness Approach Using Aromatherapy
The approach to realign the body is mostly through inhalation, direct contact absorption and to a lesser degree ingestion of the essential oil either as a dilute or for some mild oils undiluted. With inhalation, the oils are thought to penetrate the bloodstream via lungs to activate the limbic system and emotional centers of the brain. When applied to the skin (sometimes during a carrier oil), they activate thermal receptors and kill pathogens (such as bacteria and fungi). If taken orally, essential oils are thought to activate the immune system.
Research in Science Studies
In western culture, validation of medical therapies comes through empirical research. Rising popularity of aromatherapy with main-stream society has prompted researchers to require a nearer examine this ancient therapy. Although still largely unproven by a large breadth of research, preliminary studies, each in vitro and clinical, show positive effects using this medicinal therapy.
Depression: At the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2009), researchers printed a review of the effectiveness of aromatherapy to decrease depression and symptoms of depression arising from numerous varieties of chronic medical conditions. Continued use of aromatherapy for depression was supported with more controlled studies recommended.
Dementia: The standard treatment for dementia in standard drugs is to use neuroleptics or antipsychotic drugs. In elderly individuals such medicine are poorly tolerated, particularly for patients with severe dementia. Researchers from the Wolfson Research Center, UK (2002) conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled study on using aromatherapy (combined with the antipsychotic) as a treatment for agitation in individuals with severe dementia. Once 4 weeks of treatment, results indicated that there was a 35% improvement in agitation and that the active treatment (using Melissa officinalis) was well-tolerated by the patients. Researchers support further studies to analyze using aromatherapy as an adjunct or different to traditional treatments.
Anxiety: Laboratory results (using animals) indicate statistically vital differences when aromatherapy was applied. Clinical trials are few. Yet, one joint review by the University of Newcastle and Northumbria, United Kingdom (2006), looked at the pharmacology of essential oils and found proof that essential oils exert measurable psychological effects in humans. Researchers concluded that aromatherapy provides a potentially effective treatment for a vary of psychiatric disorders, especially since the facet effects are minimal (if non-existent) compared to standard psychotropic drugs.
Travel Excitement in Pets: Response to therapeutic treatments administered to animals is typically much quicker than in humans. At the Queen's University of Belfast Canine Behavior Center (2006), researchers checked out the consequences of aromatherapy (diffused lavender essential oil) to manage travel excitement in dogs. Researchers found that dogs spent significantly additional time at rest than moving around and suggested the employment of aromatherapy as a sensible alternative to expensive and typically adverse responses of traditional treatments.
Concluding Thoughts
Recent science studies indicate that aromatherapy is effective for conditions like anxiety, depression and boosting cellular immune functions. In many of the studies reviewed, scientists are suggesting further research (rather than dismissing) for possible uses of essential oils as an alternative or complement to conventional medical practices. What has been used for centuries might soon notice its place amongst hospitals and medical offices world-wide. The evolution of plant phytochemicals over millennia has served within the preservation of their species. It is probably that such chemicals will be soon asked for on a larger scale for human survival as well.
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Catty Parker has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Aromatherapy, you can also check out his latest website about: