Aromatherapy methods

Different products are available from jasmine according to the method of extraction. Solvent extraction gives the concrete use of alcohol, followed by filtration of insoluble waxes, on the concrete separates the absolute and an essential oil is produced by steam distillation of the absolute. The absolute is most commonly used in aromatherapy. It is a viscous orange brown liquid... 

The choice of essential oils and quantities used for aromatherapy will vary according to a number of factors. These include method of use, size, age, state of health of the client and purpose of the treatment. In aromatherapy, dosages... 

In recent years, Americans and others have tended to rely less and less on modern, scientific medical practices and remedies for treating many medical conditions. Popular magazines, television shows, and newspapers routinely include stories about alternative medical treatments, aromatherapy, herbal and natural remedies, magnet therapy, touch therapy, psychic healing, acupuncture, and homeopathy. The debate over the efficacy of such treatments continues. It is safe to say, however, that most, if not all, of these treatment methods have not been subjected to the same rigorous scientific standards as most modern medical practices and treatments. 

From these scarce data, it is clear the most practices in aromatherapy are not based on science, and to make a clear distinction, several experts have proposed that experimentally proven methods should be called aromachology. 

Various methods are used to apply the treatment in aromatherapy. The most usual methods are the... 

A bowl of hot water with drops of essential oil, often used for soaking feet or used as a bidet. Again, the essential oil does not mix with the water. This is, however, a useful method for inhaling essential oils in respiratory conditions and colds the essential oil can be breathed in when the head is placed over the container and a towel placed over the head and container. This is an established method of treatment and has been used successfully with Vicks VapoRub, olbas oil, and Eucalyptus oils for many years, so it is not surprising that it works with aromatherapy essential oils ... 

Aromatherapists themselves have also been affected by sensitization (Crawford et al., 2004) in a 12 month period under study, prevalence of hand dermatitis in a sample of massage therapists was 15% by self-reported criteria and 23% by a symptom-based method and included the use of aromatherapy products in massage oils, lotions, or creams. In contrast, the suggestion that aromatherapists have any adverse effects to long-term usage of essential oils was apparently disproved by a nonscienti c survey (Price and Price, 1999). 

Many aromatherapists feel that they know that aromatherapy works as they have enormous numbers of case studies to prove it. But the production of lists of positive results on diverse clients, with diverse ailments, using diverse essential oils in the treatments, and diverse methods of application (which also frequently change from visit to visit for the same client) does not satisfy scienti c criteria. 

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