Aromatherapy?

I think they smell nice, and I know from personal experience that pleasant scents can be calming and contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, which can aid in a person's healing. We have many patients who like to use aromatherapy in labor. Beyond that, I'm skeptical of any medical claims of the efficacy of aromatherapy.

They are a pleasant smelling placebo in my opinion.

It's far nicer than smelling staph epidermidis feet.

2 minutes ago, klone said:

It's far nicer than smelling staph epidermidis feet.

Truer words have not yet been spoken ?

Many of them are evidenced based for some things, but not the catch all many claim. You have to use essential oils, versus fragrance oils, in order for them to work. The most common misuse of essential oils is to over-use the scent. The oils are supposed to be used for short bursts rather than a constant infusion.

12 hours ago, klone said:

I think they smell nice, and I know from personal experience that pleasant scents can be calming and contribute to a feeling of wellbeing, which can aid in a person's healing. We have many patients who like to use aromatherapy in labor. Beyond that, I'm skeptical of any medical claims of the efficacy of aromatherapy.

Agree 100%! I have a diffuser and have a few scents that I love that are calming and pleasant. When people start rubbing a particular oil on a particular square inch of a particular body part to cure a particular health problem, or even ingesting them, they lose me. I also have grave concerns about the predatory nature of the big name EO companies and consider them pyramid schemes, but that's neither here nor there.

1 hour ago, LibraSunCNM said:

Agree 100%! I have a diffuser and have a few scents that I love that are calming and pleasant. When people start rubbing a particular oil on a particular square inch of a particular body part to cure a particular health problem, or even ingesting them, they lose me. I also have grave concerns about the predatory nature of the big name EO companies and consider them pyramid schemes, but that's neither here nor there.

Certainly! I've met people who use some of these big name companies exclusively and they sound straight up brainwashed. I've heard things like "put this oil on your feet and it will help such and such!"-Doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

On the other hand, I have an oil blend that I use as a muscle rub if I've had a particularly long day and am sore, it seems to help. I do think that EOs have some valuable uses, but I don't buy into the cure all thing either.

I went to an aromatherapy class (taught by an RN) at my last hospital. The hospital was doing an aromatherapy trial for just lavender for calming and ginger for nausea. The RN that taught the class said that aromatherapy had peer-reviewed scientific evidence to back it up, but did not offer any.

My thought is, if much of the info out there is offered by an MLM (multi-level marketing) company, then "buyer beware". I don't buy it. I find the oils pleasant, but I remain skeptical that there is any medical value.

I never used essential oils to cure or remedy anything with the exception of my dog's anxiety. When we first adopted my dog he had periods of anxiety especially when he thought he was alone. I put some lavender essential oil in the diffuser (I bought it as a candle alternative) and played instrumental Christian hymns for him, and he calmed down right away. I later found out that lavender oil is toxic to dogs...oops.

I think aromatherapy has its place (along with herbal therapy, meditation, massage, music/art therapy, etc) as complementary medicine and should not be used in potentially life-threatening situations. It'd be interesting to see more medical research done on essential oils and aroma therapy.