Aromatherapy is the art of using scent to promote relaxation, influence mood and, according to some, create a healing environment in the body. Aromatherapists diffuse volatile liquid plant materials called "essential oils" into the air, believing that the tiny molecules are absorbed in the nose and carried directly to the hypothalamus of the brain where they perform their healing works.

Though any scent--whether natural or synthetic--can promote relaxation, proponents of "true" aromatherapy insist on using only those fragrances taken from freshly harvested botanicals. Practitioners call those fragrant materials "essential oils", believing that these materials contain the "essence" of the plant.  

What It Can Do For You

Three types of aromatherapy are currently practiced in the U.S.:

• Esoteric Aromatherapy is the practice of using scent to promote wellbeing primarily through relaxation and is probably the most common form of aromatherapy in practice today. Essential oils are diffused into the air or added to personal care products to create a warm, enveloping ambiance. Personal preference plays a key role in the choice of scents used.
• Holistic Aromatherapy is similar to esoteric aromatherapy in that essential oils are either diffused into the air or applied topically; the difference lies in the intent of the user. Holistic aromatherapy is practiced with specific healing goals in mind. Unlike esoteric aromatherapy, which deals mainly with personal preference, holistic practitioners choose their oils deliberately. Holistic aromatherapists address both the physical and spiritual aspects of their art and work to blend the two into a single healing exercise.  
• Medical aromatherapy is by far the least practiced of the aroma arts in this country although it's considerably more common in Europe and Asia. Medical aromatherapy promotes (and even encourages) the ingestion of specific essential oils for a variety of medical conditions, especially infectious diseases. Medical aromatherapists focus on an oil's "active" properties--those chemical constituents that practitioners believe give the oils their healing powers.

Finding a Qualified Practitioner

Aromatherapy has never been recognized as a legitimate medical practice in the U.S. and there are no accredited educational programs in existence at this time. The vast majority of aromatherapists practising in the U.S. today have no medical training at all. Before you hire an aromatherapist, ask about his or her educational background. The practitioner you choose should have a solid understanding of natural medicine and a thorough understanding of the botany involved. 

What The Critics Say

Outrageous claims of near-miraculous healings coupled with scant scientific evidence of its efficacy have done much to hurt aromatherapy's reputation in the U.S. Critics are quick to point out that practitioners often have no formal training at all. Well-publicized schisms within the major aromatherapy associations have further damaged aromatherapy's image.

Confessions from a Former Aromatherapist

There was a time when I took aromatherapy quite seriously but absurd healing claims and a lack of a credible science nearly destroyed my faith in the medical use of scented botanicals. Today, I can't possibly endorse the ingestion of essential oils and I'm definitely skeptical about most of the medical claims being made by other practitioners but I'll willingly confess to using natural botanical oils every day--especially as air fresheners. Essential oils have none of the "solvent" under-smell of artificial products.

Lisa Barger

Lisa Barger is a traditional naturopath specializing in Natural Health Education. Ms. Barger holds certification in Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Herbology, Native American Herbalism, Iridology, Homeopathy and Naturopathy.

She is in private practice in Little Rock, AR.