Aroma therapy

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Aromatherapy the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants has been practiced for thousands of years and studies have shown that aromatherapy might have health benefits, including:

• Relief from anxiety and depression

• Improved quality of life, particularly for people with chronic health conditions

• Improved sleep

Smaller studies suggest that aromatherapy with lavender oil may help:

• Reduce pain for people with osteoarthritis of the knee

• Improve quality of life for people with dementia

• Reduce pain for people with kidney stones

Essential oils used in aromatherapy are typically extracted from plants and then distilled. The highly concentrated oils may be inhaled directly or indirectly or applied to the skin through massage, lotions or bath salts. Some essential oil manufacturers have oils that can be taken internally, but research on the safety and efficacy of this method is extremely limited.

Aromatherapy is thought to work by stimulating smell receptors in the nose, which then send messages through the nervous system to the limbic system — the part of the brain that controls emotions.