Aromatherapy
Smell is a powerful and evocative sense, but can it really improve your wellbeing?
What is it?
Essential oils from flowers, fruits, trees and leaves are used therapeutically and to help improve overall health and wellbeing. It's thought that the oils' scents stimulate receptors in the nose, prompting chemical changes in the brain.
How does it work?
Practitioners often use aromatherapy oils in therapeutic massage. As the oils are highly concentrated, they are diluted in a carrier oil (such as grapeseed or almond) to avoid irritating your skin and to ease movement of the masseur's hands. You won't be given a medical diagnosis, but trained aromatherapists will take a medical history at your first appointment to determine the best oils for you.
It's easy and safe to use aromatherapy at home. You can buy ready-mixed massage oil and then rope in a willing friend or partner, or use the inhalation method by adding a few drops to your bath, an oil burner or tissue.
What are the benefits?
Many people use aromatherapy to help them relax and improve their sense of wellbeing. It claims to help stress-related problems and relive anxiety. Others say the oils can ease chronic conditions. On the whole, you're pretty safe experimenting with oils, but do chat to your doctor (GP) first if you're pregnant, have skin allergies or epilepsy or if you're using homeopathic remedies. As the oils are concentrated, keep them away from eyes and naked flames for obvious reasons.
I've given and received plenty of aromatherapy massages, using a range of oils with various properties; some are relaxing others can be uplifting. It's amazing how well they work.
Where's the proof?
There's no shortage of research and trials into the effects of aromatherapy, many of which look into its effect on cancer patients and dementia. A study by Cooke and Ernst in the British Journal of General Practice concluded that 'aromatherapy can be helpful for anxiety reduction for short periods' but they found no evidence that it had lasting effects, good or bad. Other research, studying the effects of aromatherapy on cancer patients, had similar conclusions. It's thought that larger follow-up studies are necessary to build up any solid evidence.
Getting treatment
Many practitioners operate privately, so you'll need to cough up anything from £25 to £90 per massage, sometimes cheaper if you find students who need guinea pigs to practise on.
Treatment is available through the NHS, but much depends on your doctor's willingness to prescribe complementary medicine, and the funding they have available for this kind of treatment. The NHS Directory of Complementary and Alternative Practitioners is a resource for GPs to find registered practitioners. If you're trying to get a referral from your GP, go armed with the address of the website. You don't have to be registered or regulated to practice aromatherapy in the UK, but it's easy to find a qualified practitioner in your area - both The Aromatherapy Council and The International Federation of Aromatherapists, have postcode searches on their sites.
Case study - Nikki, 18
I studied aromatherapy as part of my NVQ 3 course in massage. At first I thought it was a bit of a placebo but then after using it myself, I realised it was working. The body has the ability to connect smells to memories or actions, which is really clever - aromatherapy has loads more potential than people realise. I've given and received plenty of aromatherapy massages, using a range of oils with various properties; some are relaxing others can be uplifting. It's amazing how well they work. I gave a client a massage with some relaxing oils recently, went out with my mates after and fell asleep - just from smelling the oil while I was using it! Since studying aromatherapy, I've also started using oil burners and incense in my room as well, and that's helped me through a lot of things. I believe there's potential for it to help with medical problems as well - but I wouldn't recommend running out and buying a few bottles of oil in place of going to the doctor! I understand some people might not put much faith in "a load of smelly oil" but if you're open-minded, it can really help.
If you're considering a complementary treatment or therapy for any medical condition, always consult your doctor (GP) first. This is to make sure it doesn't conflict with any existing course of treatment you may be taking, and also to check it won't have a negative impact on your health.
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