Trends in aromatherapy
0Aromatherapy is a fairly recent art and science – only named in 1928 as Aromatherapy – the use of essential oils for a therapeutic benefit.
Prior to the invention of the name AROMATHERAPY – essential oils were used in pharmacy as digestive and other aids and are still found in the Martindale (pharmacopeia of substances used in medicines) with properties such as carminative. Essential oils were mainly extracted for their fragrance and used in perfumes. Much further back in history, essential oils, or aromatic plant extracts were use in Roman and Egyptian cultures.
Since 1928 up until the mid 1980’s Essential oils were used therapeutically in France and to a lesser degree in UK. However since the 1960’s and 1970’s the emphasis of Scientific proof of a substance having an effect on the human body cast doubt on the efficacy of Essential oils (aromatherapy) and the use was diminished and negated vehemently by the pharmaceutical industry as their domination and power grew. The past forty to fifty years has seen an explosion of pharmaceutical preparations with the strong message of there being a pill for every ill.
It has been a time of chemical domination and only recently are we asking – why – especially in Western cultures – where there is accessibility to the most modern drugs, are there (arguably) so many ‘sick ‘ people? Why is depression, anxiety and insomnia so common when we have so many pills to treat these conditions ? but I am getting off the point…
In response to scientific validation, trials are being conducted all over the world in small but significant ways to endorse, prove and validate the therapeutic benefit of using essential oils. Aromatherapy is gathering credibility as experiments are being conducted. have a look at the link to an article published about PMS and the benefits of lavender http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23724853/
This kind of research is so exciting for me as ever since I decided to find something other than a drug to make people feel better, I have unwaveringly believed that there is enormous value in natures’ precious extracts – commonly known as essential oils.
The research link above was published in PubMed which comprises more than 22 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books.
About the Author
Ask Dory
Doryce Sher, co-founder of Aromatic Apothecary, is one of South Africa’s leading advocates on the regulation of complementary medicine, with a particular interest in Aromatherapy.
Serving on and representing various health boards in South Africa, it is her passionate aim to ensure people are aware that there are choices when it comes to health and well-being.
Doryce would love to hear from. If you have a question, comment or would simply like to tell her your story, do so below. We look forward to hearing from you.