Abstract

AROMATHERAPY: A HOLISTIC HEALING TREATMENT USING ESSENTIAL OILS

Kotresh Yaligar* and Boyapati Madhulatha

Abstract

At the moment, the use of alternative and complementary therapies in mainstream medicine has gained momentum. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary therapies that use essential oils as the major therapeutic agents to treat several diseases. The essential or volatile oils are extracted from the flowers, barks, stems, leaves, roots, fruits, and other plant parts by various methods. It came into existence after the scientists deciphered the antiseptic and skin permeability properties of essential oils. Inhalation, local application, and baths are the vital methods used in aromatherapy that utilize these oils to penetrate the human skin surface with a marked aura. Once the oils are in the system, they re-modulate themselves and work in a friendly manner at the site of malfunction or the affected area. This type of therapy utilizes various permutations and combinations to get relief from numerous ailments like depression, indigestion, headache, insomnia, muscular pain, respiratory problems, skin ailments, swollen joints, urine-associated complications, etc. The essential oils are more beneficial when other aspects of life and diet are given due contemplation. This review explores the information available in the literature regarding therapeutic, medical, cosmetic, psychological, olfactory, massage aromatherapy, safety issues, and different plants used in aromatherapy.

Keywords: Aromatherapy, Complementary therapy. Essential oils, Healing, etc.