Aromatherapy-

Aromatherapy is the use of pure essential oils from fragrant plants (such as peppermint, sweet marjoram, bay, caraway, peppermint, chamomile, and rose) to help relieve health problems and improve the quality of life in general.  The Cochrane collaborative found no consistent evidence of reduction of pain, improvement of sleep, or reduction in clinical depression.  Internal use of most of the essential oils is completely untested for safety.  Slick marketing causes naïve practitioners to believe “therapeutic grade” oils are the only ones that can be used internally, when in reality there is no evidence use of these oils is safe.  The Alliance of International Aromatherapists gives this statement on the internal use of essential oils: “AIA does not endorse internal therapeutic use (oral, vaginal or rectal) of essential oils unless recommended by a health care practitioner trained at an appropriate clinical level. An appropriate level of training must include chemistry, anatomy, diagnostics, physiology, formulation guidelines and safety issues regarding each specific internal route (oral, vaginal or rectal). Please refer to the AIA Safety Guidelines for essential oil use.”  Most practitioners suggesting such oils have not had the requisite training, however in the absence of safety studies, there is no amount of training that can insure safety.  Historical use of these substances internally is also not evidence of proof of safety.  There are a few studies demonstrating capsules of peppermint can improve the pain from inflammatory bowel diseases by altering gut flora but aromatherapists have not put enough time nor effort into proving the safety or efficacy of their therapies. There are several essential oils that should not be taken internally due to risks of liver damage include buchu, cassia, aniseed, basil, bay, clove, fennel, and tarragon. Other essential oils that may cause toxicity taken internally include camphor, mugwort, nightshade, pennyroyal, rue, savin, southernwood, stinging nettles, tansy, thuja, wintergreen, wormseed, and wormwood.  Painbytes assessment: one thumb down- no evidence of efficacy for pain but no real harms shown from topical use.  There are some oils that are consumed internally and this is potentially overtly dangerous. Finally, a 21st century use of “aromatherapy” especially offered as “relaxation”  is a code word for some sex trade offerings. http://www.cochrane.org/CD003150/DEMENTIA_aromatherapy-for-promotion-of-relaxation-and-sleep-relief-of-pain-and-reduction-of-depressive-symptoms-in-dementia

https://www.naha.org