While the number
of people citing specific benefits of aromatherapy (and especially stress
reduction) is endless the clinical data proving its effectiveness is rather
limited. First of all, doctors have been using essential oils
in France for many years for its proven antibiotic and
antiviral qualities (Buckle 1993).
While it is very well documented, much of this clinical
research has been done in France
and has not been translated into English (Trevelyan 1993).
Which is rather unfortunate.
Another
problem in obtaining data on the effectiveness of aromatherapy is that
much of the research that appears to prove that aromatherapy
does alleviate stress is
combined with massage therapy. Which, does not provide
a clear understanding of what
helps decrease stress; the use of essential oils or the
massage therapy.
The
actual published scientific literature on aromatheapy and its use in stress
reduction is rather limited. There is a magnitude of
anecdotal evidence from very reliable sources such as doctors and nurses
but there are few objective studies that evaluate the effects of aromatheapy.
In 1992 the United States Congress created the Office of Alternative
Medicine at the National Institute of Health. But, to
date the OAM has not studied
aromatherapy.
Nevertheless,
there have been a limited number of studies, which will be presented
in this paper along with discussions from various researchers
or experts in this field.
Back
to Aromatherapy and Stress Reduction Page
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