Aromatherapy

Excerpts from the entry on Aromatherapy in Relieving Pain Naturally by Dr. Sylvia Goldfarb and Roberta W. Waddell. For full entries on all 37 conditions and 27 treatments, order the book.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils from plants to treat a wide variety of conditions. It may be considered a subspecialty of herbal therapy. The essential oils used in aromatherapy are condensed from those parts of the plant that give them their fragrance, protect them from predators, and attract insects for pollination. These essential oils carry the plant’s vital energy which, in turn, raises the vital energy of the person who uses them. They help balance the body’s functioning and alleviate some medical conditions. Essential oils can stimulate the immune system to develop natural antibodies. There are three main ways that essential oils are used: direct inhalation; steam inhalation, and application to the skin for absorption.

Also in this entry:

• The History of Aromatherapy
• How Aromatherapy Works
• Painful Conditions that Respond Well to Aromatherapy
• Advantages of Aromatherapy
• How to Use Essential Oils
• Cautions
• Clinical Studies

See below for full list of all conditions and treatments in the book. Or, download a complete Condition entry or Treatment entry for free.