Aromatherapy

The main tools of aromatherapy are essential oils ^[5] . Components of essential oils can form in various parts of plants; later they can be distributed in the tissues of the plant; as a rule, they accumulate to a large extent in certain tissues, in a dissolved or emulsified state. They are products of secondary plant metabolism ^[7] .

Starting from the 20s of the last century, with the development of perfume chemistry, which learned to imitate the aromas of concentrated volatile substances obtained from plants, the term “essential oils” began to be applied to artificial or synthetic products similar to those obtained by extraction from plants.

In English, so that one concept is not replaced by another, there are special notations. The term "Essential oils" is used to mean natural essential oils. Artificially created essential oils are called "Fragrances oils" ("Aromatic oils", that is, fragrances ). In Russian, unscrupulous sellers sometimes use the same term for these products - “essential oils”, which causes not only confusion, but can seriously harm health during aromatherapy practice. Artificially created "essential oils" in chemical composition usually have nothing to do with natural ones. They are exclusively related by aroma . To distinguish natural oils from artificial flavors, a rule has been introduced: all natural essential oils must have the botanical name of the plant from which it is derived. For example, if the name of the essential oil says: " rosemary essential oil ", this may mean that the product is of artificial origin. Rosemary natural essential oil should be indicated as follows: Rosemary essential oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) , where the botanical name of the plant from which it is derived is indicated in parentheses.

To avoid confusion, which can have serious negative consequences for those who use aromatherapy as a treatment method, one of the textbooks on aromatherapy ^[8] proposed the introduction of new terms. It was proposed that natural essential oils be given the term “which more fully reveals their properties and purpose”: “phyto essences”. For artificial "essential oils" it was proposed to leave the former name - "essential oils". Currently, these new terms are used in some places by practicing aromatherapists, but due to their low prevalence, they can only increase misunderstanding and introduce additional confusion.

Even if some natural essential oils were known to people in the early period of the development of human society, most of the aromas obtained by people were used in the form of rubbing (ointments) and incense . Anthropologists believe that primitive " perfumes " began with the burning of tarry incense . Over time, plants rich in aromatic substances were mixed with animal and vegetable oils to lubricate the body during ritual ceremonies. Across the African continent, people have covered their skin with fragrant oils, thereby protecting themselves from heat and drying out of the skin. This practice was spread all the way to the shores of the Mediterranean , where athletes lubricated their bodies with aromatic oils before sporting events. In ancient Egypt, in Heliopolis , the city of the Sun, tar was burned in the morning, myrrh at noon, and kifi at sunset. ^[9]

China

In China, the first book on herbal medicine appeared about two thousand years BC. e. during the Chin Han Dynasty. Followers of Taoism believed that the soul of plants lives in the aromas of plants. They believed that the same drugs from plants have different effects on different functions of the body and every little thing should be taken into account in the treatment, down to the order in which the plants should be mixed, and the time of day, when the human body can a patient-friendly balance between yin and yang was achieved ^[10] .

India

In India, the Ayurveda philosophy ( Sanskrit : the doctrine of the knowledge of life, from “ayur” - “life” and “veda” - “knowledge”), the doctrine of the complex treatment of man, developed. Nowadays, such treatment is called holistic. All aspects of life should work together - nutrition, lifestyle, way of thinking, etc. One of the key components of holistic treatment is the realization that vital energy plays a significant role in healing processes (“ prana ”). ^[10]

Indian doctors received information from the religious source of the Veda , which lists some medical prescriptions that are considered the first recorded prescriptions in the history of mankind. The book also describes the spiritual and philosophical concept according to which people are part of nature, and the preparation of medicines from plants is a sacred action. Ayurvedic system is one of the oldest methods of treating diseases using plants. However, first of all, it is a philosophical system in which treatment was accompanied by physical exercises and spiritual meditation in order to achieve harmony between the physical and spiritual principles. ^[10]

Ancient Egypt

The influence and merits of Ancient Egypt in the development of plant science are priceless. Having traced the history of the ancient world and familiarized with the ancient texts found by archaeologists, we can confidently assert that we owe much to the ancient Egyptians in modern knowledge of the plant world. The knowledge of ancient Egyptian doctors and priests, set forth in papyri and, as a continuation, in the books of Dioscorides , Pliny the Elder and other ancient authors, formed the basis of modern knowledge about plants. Unfortunately, the primary sources have survived to this day in a very fragmentary and incomplete form. ^[eleven]

Ancient Greece

Most of the medical knowledge about the healing properties of plants came to early Greece from Egypt . In the VII century BC e. Athens , the capital of Greece, was a major trading center, where among others flourishing incense shops were flourishing. Products of incense plants were sold in these shops, mainly thick ointments based on olive, almond, and castor oils. Infusions were made from marjoram , lily , thyme , sage , anise , roses , iris and other plants. Incense was considered a gift from the gods and was mainly used for religious ceremonies. ^[10]

The real heyday of the incense era came in Ancient Greece after Alexander the Great made his victorious campaigns in Egypt and Asia Minor . The great commander borrowed from the Persians the tradition of using incense precisely to receive pleasure from beautiful aromas, and not only for use in religious rites (as was customary earlier). ^[12]

Egyptian priests , possessing the secrets of incense, piously believed in their divine essence and believed that man should not touch the priceless gift of the gods. Therefore, they condemned to look at how Alexander of Macedonia appeased not only his heated body with precious drops of sacred incense, but also used it to aromatize the throne and other household items. Outraged by the behavior of the Greeks, the Egyptian priests decided not to reveal to the "barbarians" secret knowledge about the healing properties of plants. ^[13]

Ancient Rome

The Romans made a significant contribution to the development of healing by plants, adding to the traditional rituals used in Egypt and Ancient Greece with incense , bath procedures and massage . In the 1st century AD e. Rome imported about 2,800 tons of frankincense and 550 tons of myrrh per year. Both men and women literally bathed in incense, and the slaves serving them were called "cosmetae". The Romans used aromatic substances of three types: ladysmata (ladysmata) - solid ingredients, stimata (stymmata) - aromatic oils and diapasmata (diapasmata) - perfumes in the form of powder. ^[fourteen]

The Greek pharmacist Galen (131-200 CE), who lived in Rome, described in more than 20 books how to prepare medicines from plant and animal ingredients. As a tribute to Galen’s accuracy, the term “Galena pharmacy” appeared in his notes. Soon, a new direction, apothecary, grew out of the drug business. Doctors diagnosed the disease and prescribed a medicine, and pharmacists or pharmacists were preparing drugs. Thus, the term “ materia medica ”, meaning “medical materials”, was synonymous with substances and products obtained from natural sources and used by doctors of that era. ^[fifteen]

After the fall of the Roman Empire, the knowledge of the Greeks and Romans was inherited by scholars in the Middle East . During the barbarian raids on Rome, thousands of educated people, fearing for their lives, were forced to seek shelter in the cities of the Middle East. They carried books with invaluable knowledge with them, in which all the great legacy of previous generations was collected, including the experience of healing with plants. Ancient books were translated into Arabic. Arab scientists seized and developed the science of plants. Perhaps the most complete work that has survived to this day is the “ Canon of Medicine ”, written by an Arab alchemist, astronomer, philosopher, mathematician, doctor and poet named Ibn Sina ( Avicenna ) (980-1030). ^[fifteen]

Dark Times of the Plant World

With the fall of the Roman Empire, the progress of science in Europe stopped, and with it the science of healing with plants fell into decay. The knowledge that came from ancient times was mainly concentrated in monasteries and inaccessible to ordinary people. The early Middle Ages was characterized by a superstitious attitude towards plants. Some plants have been directly targeted. Many superstitions have appeared . So, for example, among people of that era there was a belief that a scorpion lives under the bottom of a pot with a basil . And if you inhale the aroma of basil, a scorpion can get into the brain. ^[fifteen]

For almost a thousand years after the fall of the Roman Empire in Europe, the plant world, along with other branches of knowledge, was forgotten. People who dared to engage in healing with the help of herbs were legally destroyed.

During the Renaissance , the thirst for knowledge returned. To know Europe sought to collect all the famous literary sources in its private libraries. A tradition has also emerged of cultivating plant-rich gardens, where medicinal plants were adjacent to ornamental plants. Some of the aristocrats instructed artists to make beautiful, although not always accurate, catalogs of their plant collections. Universities began to study the botany and plant life of "medicinal" gardens. ^[fifteen]

Russia

The art of healing plants in Russia also has its long traditions, transmitted orally, from generation to generation. Often herbalists were afraid, attributing to them magical abilities. There is almost no data on the development of herbal medicine on the territory of ancient Rus .

The Scythians who lived in the Northern Black Sea Region from the Dnieper to the Don (VII – I centuries A.D.), successfully used various plants in medical practice. Pliny the Elder noted that Scythian medicinal plants were used as an excellent therapeutic agent not only in the homeland, but also far beyond its borders - in Greece and Italy . The spread of Scythian medicinal plants is also evidenced by the writers and philosophers of antiquity Herodotus , Aristotle , Cato the Elder , and Plavt .

“Scythian women rub pieces of cypress, cedar and incense on a rough stone, adding water. Then, with the dough obtained from grinding, they coat their entire body and face. From this, the body acquires a pleasant smell, and when the smeared layer is washed off the next day, it becomes clean and shiny. ” ^[16]

“Having taken hempseed, the Scythians crawl under a felt yurt and then throw it on hot stones. From this, so much smoke and steam rises that no Hellenic steam bath can compare with such a bath. Enjoying it, the Scythians scream loudly with pleasure ” ^[17] . The experience of the Scythians was inherited by residents of Kievan and then Muscovite Russia.

In the 9th – 10th centuries, information about the medicinal properties of herbs began to gradually penetrate into Kievan Rus . Mostly they came from Byzantium . The first official doctor in Russia was the Greek Moann Smer (1053-1125), who was invited by Vladimir Monomakh . Grasses were brought from Constantinople ( Constantinople ) and from the Genoese colonies in Crimea . In the XI century, herbal treatment passed into the hands of monks , who began to organize the collection and processing of herbs. At this time, written works appear describing the accumulated experience - herbalists and greenery, copies of which were widely distributed among the people. ^[eighteen]

In the XIII-XV centuries, during the time of the Mongol-Tatar invasion, almost all of the early manuscripts on medicine died. Only after the overthrow of the Mongol-Tatar yoke did communication between Russia and the West European countries again establish itself. In Moscow under Ivan IV in 1581. the first pharmacy was opened to serve the royal court, the work of which was built on the Western European model. Then, in 1581, the "Pharmaceutical hut" was opened, which professed traditional Russian folk medicine. ^[eighteen]

In the reign of Boris Godunov , the Pharmaceutical Hut was transformed into the Obtekarsky Order , which included dryers, warehouses, pharmacies and other utility rooms. In these years, more and more medical literature begins to appear in Russia. I would especially like to highlight the so-called helicopter cities (“helicopter” - means “garden”, “flower garden”, “garden”). Translations of books by Western European authors on the use of medicinal plants were called windbreeds. They remained very popular until the 19th century. ^[eighteen]

In the 19th century, the use of medicinal plants in Russian medical institutions was significantly reduced due to the success of chemistry, which made it possible to isolate and use highly active medicinal preparations obtained from plant materials. However, many Russian scientists did not stop the study of plants and their use for therapeutic purposes.

In 1876, Robert Koch discovered microbes that cause anthrax. In 1884, the scientist proved that terpenes (components of a number of EMs) suppress and can even destroy microbes that cause, in particular, anthrax and tuberculosis . ^[19]

In 1910, Martindale showed that oregano essential oil is the strongest plant-based antiseptic of all antiseptics known at that time. ^[twenty]

Dr. Rene Gattefosse was the first to summarize the healing effects of various essential oils. In 1935, Rene-Maurice Gattefosse first coined the term “aromatherapy” as the name for the heading in the magazine “Modern Perfumes”, where he published from December 1935 to the end of 1936 excerpts from his not yet published book “Aromatherapy: Essential Oils and Vegetable Oils hormones "(1937). ^[21]

During the Second World War, Dr. Valnet fought in the ranks of the French army. When antibiotic supplies for the front were reduced, Dr. Valnet began using essential oils to treat the wounded. To his surprise, essential oils perfectly suppressed various infections. Valnet's case was continued by two of his students; Dr. Paul Belaiche and Dr. Jean Claude Lapraz. It was found that essential oils have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties, and are also excellent oxygen carriers at the cellular level. ^{[22] [23]}

In 1949-1950, Schroeder developed a method that later became known as the “aromatogram” (a test method that allows you to investigate the effectiveness of essential oils for treating a wide range of diseases). ^[twenty]

In 1954-1956, Kellner (Kellner) and Kobert (Kobert) published a study on the effect of 175 essential oils on eight bacteria that spread through the air, as well as on various fungi. ^[twenty]

In 1964, Jean Valnet published the book The Practice of Aromatherapy. Valnet discovered that with the help of essential oils it is possible to treat psychiatric patients, while the result of treatment was felt almost immediately. ^[24]

Austrian beautician Marguerite Maury put forward the idea of ​​the combined use of essential oils and massage. Margaret Mori's Guide to Aromatherapy: The Secret to Life and Youth is a famous book that was first published in 1961. ^[25]

In 1972, H. Audoui, P. Belash, J. Bourgeon, P. Duraffourd, C. Duraffourd, M. Girault ) and J.K. Lapraz used the aromatogram method to develop methods for treating essential oils with a wide range of infectious diseases. Forty essential oils and one tincture were investigated. ^[twenty]

In 1977, Robert Tisserand published the first book on aromatherapy in English, The Art of Aromatherapy. ^[26]

In 1978, Paul Belache published his three-volume work on the clinical use of aromatherapy to treat a wide range of infections and degenerative diseases. In his work, The Use of Phytotherapy and Aromatherapy (Traite de phytotherapie et d'aromatherapie), Dr. Paul Belache proved that essential oils of oregano, thyme, clove, cinnamon and tea tree have very strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. ^[27]

In 1979, Kubeczka developed guidelines for determining the quality of essential oils used for medical purposes. ^[28]

In 1990, Pierre Franchomme and Daniel Penoel published the medical aromatherapy guide L'aromatherapie exactement. ^[twenty]

In France, essential oils are currently used primarily to control infections. In France, certificates of aromatherapists and phytotherapists can only be obtained by certified doctors. In the USA, only doctors, nurses, aestheticians, and massage therapists can practice aromatherapy. In Russia, the practice of aromatherapists is not regulated by the state. In the distribution network, most of the essential oils are classified as cosmetics , and only a very small fraction of the oils are produced in accordance with the Pharmacopoeia. ^{[ source? ]}

Research in aromatherapy is ongoing. However, at present they are shifted towards the isolation and study of individual components from the composition of essential oils. So, for example, the main chemical substance from the composition of lemongrass essential oil - citral - is a strong irritant to the skin. While lemongrass essential oil, which contains up to 90% of citral, does not have such an effect. This is because the composition of essential oils is not fully understood. Many substances have not yet been identified. Out of 300 components, only no more than 170 substances are known ^[7] .

The revival of aromatherapy

It was the aromatogram technique that initiated the revival of aromatherapy, despite the fact that previously unknown and unused essential oils were rejected by medical pharmacology ^[29] . Dr. Valnet compiled an aromatogram of approximately 60 essential oils. ^[24] Their ability to suppress infections has been astounding. It was found that the most effective essential oils that kill infections contain the same components. Knowledge of the chemical composition of essential oils with anti-infectious properties makes it possible to use these properties.

• Phenols: carvacrol, thymol and eugenol - are extremely strong antibacterial substances
• Cinnamaldehyde is as strong as the mentioned phenols (used as anti-infectious agents)
• A wide spectrum of activity of monoterpenols: linalool, terpineol, geraniol, tuyanol and menthol - are effective and useful in the fight against bacterial infections.
• Sesquiterpenols: carotol and viridiflorol - are very strong anti-infective substances.
• Aldehydes: citral, citronellal and cumininal are important antibacterial substances.
• Ketones: verbenone, thujone, camphor, pinocamphone, krypton, fenhon, menton, piperitone and carvone are effective in infections accompanied by mucous secretions.
• Oxides: especially 1,8-cineole - are an important anti-infectious molecule and an agent that tones the lymphatic system.
• Thymol, carvacrol and eugenol are well known as powerful antifungal agents. ^[24]

Since 1990, the non-profit organization National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA ), which publishes the English-language journal Aromatherapy ( English Aromatherapy Journal ), has been operating in the United States. In 2006, the non-profit organization International Alliance of Aromatherapists ( English Alliance of International Aromatherapists ) was created there to unite professional aromatherapists from around the world ^[30] .

As in the West, periods of ardent interest in aromatherapy were replaced by times of persecution, decline and oblivion. Nevertheless, for almost half a century in the USSR, plant volatile, plant antibiotics and essential oils have been seriously studied. The term phytoncides was first proposed in 1928 by the famous Soviet microbiologist Boris Tokin . Later propaganda of aromatherapy ideas was promoted by Professor Vyacheslav Nikolaevsky, an enthusiast of the widespread use of essential oils as bioregulators, including in pulmonology and hazardous industries.

Dozens of candidate and doctoral dissertations were defended in the USSR ^{[ what? ]} , valuable information was obtained on the mechanisms of action of volatile aromatic substances on humans and on microorganisms; finally, many drugs were created - including the well-known Ingalipt, Kameton , Camphomen, Proposol . However, the range of available essential oils was limited to three to five items made from domestic raw materials. And to create a broad scientific and practical base, a much wider spectrum was required, which could be provided only by import.

Currently, aromatherapy in Russia is experiencing a decline in terms of research. However, it is widely used in everyday life at the level of mass use without any serious scientific approaches and taking into account world achievements in the field of aromatherapy. This process is not under the control of the state, which can lead to serious health problems. So, for example, on Internet sites you can find many recipes with the participation of essential oils, where the basic rule of aromatherapy safety is prohibited, which prohibits the use of essential oils in their pure form . It is forbidden to apply essential oils with a high content of aldehydes in undiluted form on the skin and mucous membranes ^[31] . Almost all essential oils contain components that can cause allergic reactions.

The National Cancer Institute (USA) informs patients that aromatherapy is used as an accompanying therapy to reduce anxiety, stress, pain, nausea and can be combined with massage and acupuncture to manage symptoms, in addition to standard treatment ^[4]

Aromatherapy specialists still do not have a common opinion on the scope of aromatherapy ^[32] .

Aromatherapy exposure mechanisms

There are three possible mechanisms of action of aromatherapy:

• Pharmacological : after the use of essential oils in the body, chemical changes occur due to the interaction of the components of the essential oils with hormones , enzymes , body acids , and other factors ;
• Physiological : essential oils have a stimulating or calming, restoring effect on organs or tissues of the body, and the nervous system may be involved in this process ;
• Psychological : as a result of inhalation of aromas of essential oils, an individual (conscious or subconscious) response of the body to an odor arises. An emotional reaction, in turn, can cause mental or physiological changes in the body ^[7] .

Aromatherapy Methods

Aromatherapy is used in three ways ^[4] :

• indirect inhalation: in the room where the patient is located, essential oil is sprayed or tissue impregnated with it is placed;
• direct inhalation: the patient breathes through an individual inhaler in which the oil floats in hot water;
• massage: during massage aromatherapy, the essential oil is dissolved in the base and rubbed into the skin.

In the practice of aromatherapy, there are several ways to use essential oils ^[7] :

Indoor use:

• ingestion
• rectal administration
• vaginal administration

Outdoor application:

• massage;
• bathtubs;
• compresses.

Air Spray:

• inhalation ;
• aroma lamps ;
• aromaculones;
• sprays .

Safety and contraindications

The use of aromatherapy can cause serious side effects until the death of the patient. Together with the lack of evidence of effectiveness, this raises doubts about the admissibility of using this method in any conditions ^[33] . The components of essential oils can cause allergies, especially with prolonged exposure ^[5] .

A study of the essential oils used in aromatherapy showed an extremely low level of side effects and risks when used as directed. Many essential oils are allowed as components of food, but eating large amounts of essential oils is not recommended ^[4] .

With prolonged contact of essential oils with the skin, allergic reactions and skin irritation are possible. Citrus fruits and other oils can increase sensitivity to sunlight when applied to the skin before exposure to the sun ^[4] .

Since 2006, nurses at Froedtert Hospital (Wisconsin, USA) have been conducting a project to streamline patients' use of essential oils, which patients use to relieve symptoms. For safety reasons, they do not recommend applying oil to the skin (causes irritation), swallowing (danger of poisoning), and using nebulizers (bacteria and infections). As a safe method, it is recommended to put a piece of cloth dampened with essential oil nearby or attach to clothes ^[34] .

When using essential oils in undiluted form, they can irritate the skin, as they are highly concentrated ^[35] . Therefore, for external use, they are usually diluted with jojoba oil , olive and coconut oil. In addition, many essential oils contain chemical sensitizers (which means that after a number of uses they cause skin allergies).

Long-term use of the most common oils - lavender and tea tree oil is associated with breast enlargement ( gynecomastia , a rare disease) in boys during puberty. Although the 2007 experiment, which showed this result, involved overweight boys, which already makes them predisposed to gynecomastia. Cambridge University professors in the field of hormonal changes in children say that "... essential oils can mimic estrogens " and "we should be careful in using essential oils." Later, the effect of enhancing the action of estrogen (female sex hormone) and the weakening of the action of androgens (male sex hormones) were confirmed in these essential oils ^{[4] [36] [37]} .

Like any biologically active substances , essential oils that do not pose a danger to the general public can adversely affect the health of pregnant and lactating women. Some recommend medicinal purposes to add essential oils to food, but aromatherapists do not approve of this because of the high concentration of toxins in the oils. Essential oils such as eucalyptus oil are extremely toxic for oral administration. Reception of 4-5 ml. eucalyptus oil can cause severe poisoning ^[38] . People have reported toxic liver poisoning when they use sage, hyssop , thuja and cedar oils with food. Therefore, oils must be stored out of the reach of children.

Oil intake and application to the skin can have a negative interaction with many drugs. For example, the external use of certain oils can cause bleeding in those taking warfarin and an anticoagulant . ^[39]

For animals

Cases of severe, sometimes fatal, poisoning of cats with tea tree oil are known (in composition and toxicity similar to eucalyptus) ^[40]

В рецензируемых научных журналах нет опубликованных исследований использования ароматерапии при лечении рака ^[4] .

Такие эффекты ароматерапии, как расслабление и ясность сознания могут возникать не в результате физиологического действия, а от эффекта плацебо ^[41] . Медицинские профессора всего мира единогласно пришли к мнению, что несмотря на то, что некоторые ароматы действительно имеют благоприятное воздействие на эмоциональное и физическое состояние пациентов, в настоящий момент этого недостаточно, чтобы сделать однозначное положительное мнение о влиянии ароматерапии на человека. ^[42] И хотя in vitro эксперимент показал антибактериальные и противовирусные эффекты от применения ароматерапии, научные исследования эффектов ароматерапии на сегодняшний день недостаточны. ^{[43] [44]} Разработанное с помощью слепого метода исследование в области клинической психологии , касающееся тяжелой деменции показало следующие результаты: нет долгосрочного положительного эффекта от массажа, только удовольствие , получаемое благодаря используемым аромамаслам , имеющим приятный запах. ^{[45] [46]} Также эфирные масла находят своё применение в создании стоматологических средств для полоскания рта. ^[47]

Помимо вышеперечисленных способов применения, курс ароматерапии назначают, как метод борьбы с раком ; однако, по данным Американского онкологического общества , "не существует научного доказательства того, что ароматерапия является эффективным методом борьбы с такой болезнью, как рак." ^[42]

В систематическом обзорном исследовании 2007 года (опубл. в 2009) американские ученые проанализировали все статьи о лечебных эффектах запахов, из них только 18 оказались пригодными для научного анализа ^{[5] [48]} . Но и в этих исследованиях не были учтены различия культуры, опыта, пола и др. В итоге оказалось, что эффект ароматерапии лучше объясняется её психологическим эффектом, чем физиологическим ^[48] .

Австрийские учёные в исследовании терапевтического эффекта лавандового масла (действ. вещ-во — линалоол ) наносили линалоол на кожу добровольцев. Наблюдаемый эффект снижения систолического давления крови оказался равным таковому у массажа. Признать его терапевтический эффект мешает тот факт, что чистый массаж делает то же самое ^[5] .

Российские исследователи выяснили, что вдыхание мяты снижает уровень кортизола (он регулирует стресс), и они сделали вывод, что мята снижает стресс. Все наблюдаемые эффекты можно объяснить также через психологическое воздействие: человек реагирует на запах согласно своему опыту и ожиданиям, а также через обучение. Психологическое объяснение подтвердили результаты эксперимента с плацебо-контролем ^[5] .

В систематическом обзорном исследовании 2017 года показано, что ароматерапия имеет потенциал как эффективный вариант терапии для облегчения симптомов при депрессии, и ароматерапия при массаже действует лучше, чем ароматерапия путём ингаляции. При этом у половины включенных в обзор исследований низкое качество, также сравнение затруднено тем, что у всех исследований значительно различается методология ^[49] .

• Душистые вещества
• Эфирное масло
• Альтернативная медицина
• Благовония

• Войткевич, С. А. Эфирные масла для парфюмерии и ароматерапии. : справ. — М. : Пищевая промышленность, 1999. — 329 с. — ISBN 5-89703-008-1 .
• Монтень, Мишель. Ch. LV. О Запахах // Опыты = Michel de Montaigne. Les Essais. Bordeaux: Simon Millanges, 1580 : [пер. с фр. ] / Перевод А. С. Бобовича и др.. — М. : Голос, 1992. — Книга вторая.

Книги по ароматерапии

• Миргородская, Светлана Алексеевна. Аромалогия : Quantum Satis. — М. : Навеус, 1999. — 272 с. — 30 000 экз. — ISBN 5-900040-05-4 .
• Ирисова, Ольга Анатольевна. Ароматерапия : Практическое руководство / Рецензент д. биол. н., проф. И. А. Соколов. — М. : Изд-во МГУ, 2002. Перепечатано 2009 г. — 120 с. — 6000 экз. — ББК 52.81 . — УДК . — ISBN 5-211-04672-2 .
• Солдатченко С. С. Ароматерапия. : Профилактика и лечение заболеваний эфирными маслами. / Солдатченко С. С., Кащенко Г. Ф., Пидаев А. В.. — Изд. 2-е, испр. and add. — Симферополь : Таврида, 2002.
• Николаевский В. В. Ароматерапия.. — 2000. — ISBN 5-225-04541-3 .
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