The Science Behind Aromatherapy

By Juliana Goodwin

Pam Samson discovered aromatherapy when her sister was battling cancer.

Samson's sister used aromatherapy to relax and combat nausea caused by her treatments. Samson, manager at Incense & Peppermints in Springfield, Mo., has been hooked ever since: "I'm an enthusiast."

Aromatherapy is the use of scent to support good health. It has been around for thousands of years, and was used by the Chinese, Indians, Egyptians and others.

Aromatherapy incorporates essential oils, which the National Cancer Institute defines as scented liquids taken from certain plants using steam or pressure. Essential oils contain the natural chemicals that give the plant its "essence" (odor and flavor). They often are inhaled or applied topically.

Essential oils are highly concentrated. For example, it takes about 220 pounds of lavender flowers to make about one pound of essential oil, according to the institute.

There is mixed research on whether aromatherapy is truly beneficial. Believers say it can aid digestive problems, ease nausea, boost the immune system and promote relaxation, among many other physical and mental benefits. It's commonly used in conjunction with massage therapy.

Aromatherapy is not regulated, and advocates say people interested in it need to be aware of what real aromatherapy is before they try it.

"They can practice on their own, but you really have to know what you are doing," says Mary Witman, an instructor at the Professional Massage Training Center in Springfield, Mo., who has used aromatherapy for years. "It can be dangerous without knowing the quality of the oils."
There are two main schools of thought on why aromatherapy might be effective, according to the National Cancer Institute.

One thought: Essential oils are derived from plants, so they might affect the body in unique ways.

Essential oils do have benefits in nature, says Dr. Lance Luria, the medical director of St. John's Integrative Medicine Program.

"Their function in the plant community is to help the plant's immune system," Luria says. Plants use chemicals to fight off bacteria and fungi. "They even battle back against the harmful effects of sunlight by making phytonutrients we call antioxidants. Both fungi and plants make chemicals to protect themselves from bacteria, and so we think of these substances as antimicrobial."

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