Medical Benefits Aromatherapy
Medical Benefits Aromatherapy - What are our doctors say?
Medical aromatherapy, sometimes called aromatic medicine, is most commonly practiced in France. Modern French aromatherapy originated when medical doctors came to regard the use of essential oils as a specialized part in medical practice.
In medical aromatherapy, the approach is primarily scientific with the emphasis on treating physical illness and diseases.
How does medical aromatherapy works?
The first is the doctor make a consultation with the patient and then they select essential oils which need to be used. The selection of essential oils is made after various lab tests have been completed. These essential oils are chosen for their effectiveness in treating viral, bacterial and fungal infections or for their effect on internal organs. Application methods maybe internal or external with high doses. That's why with medical aromatherapy there are possibilities of allergic reactions, skin irritations, and toxic overdose.
There has been a growing acceptance of the therapeutic benefits of aromatherapy within the medical and health care profession, and to a lesser extent within educational service. This is in part due to efforts of aromatherapists to reach out the community and share their healing touch. Another reason is many nurses become interested in massage and aromatherapy and introduce it in their work.
And in more recent years, medical science began proving the remedial benefits of essential oils, helping the aromatic plants regain their popularity.
Medical Benefits Aromatherapy
Price and Price in Aromatherapy for health professional (1999) have compiled the experiences of aromatherapists working in health care and report that patients have benefited in the following ways:
- Improved sleep
- Easing of tension in muscle spams (eg. cerebal palsy)
- Improved co-operation
- Improved interest in activities
- More acceptance of touch by carers
- Reduction in anxiety in coronary patients
- Lowering blood pressure
- Improved regularity of bowel movements with abdominal massage and essential oils
- Reduction in the need of tamazepan (a sedative and tranquiliser)
Medical aromatherapy works best for physical illness such as serious bacterial infections. And it is probably less effective for more chronic types of ailments. Medical aromatherapy should always be performed under the guidance of a certified aromatherapist
Reference :
Aromatherapy for Massage Practitioners By Ingrid Martin
Aromatherapy: A Practical Approach By Vicki Pitman
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