Aromatherapy: Essential Oils, Benefits, and How It Works
Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 31 Jul 2026
Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics
Synopsis
Learn how aromatherapy uses essential oils and plant compounds to support mood, stress relief, and wellbeing, plus its history and clinical uses.
At a Glance
- 1 - The term aromatherapy was coined by French scientist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse.
- 2 - Gattefosse first used the procedure to treat the wounded during World War I and later grouped essential oils by their properties.
- 3 - When oils are inhaled, the aroma is believed to activate cells in the nose that send signals to the limbic system of the brain, which governs emotion and thinking.
- 4 - The Bioesse Inhalation Patch delivers essential oils without skin contact, lasts six to eight hours, and is used in settings like hospitals, nursing homes, and hospices.
Topic Definition
- Aromatherapy
Aromatherapy is a practice that uses plant materials and aromatic plant oils, including essential oils and other fragrant compounds, to influence a person's mood and mental or physical wellbeing. The oils are typically extracted from specific plants and then applied by massaging them into the skin, inhaling them through the air, or adding them to bath water for a soothing effect. Practitioners believe that inhaling these scents activates the limbic system of the brain and that oils absorbed through the skin enter the bloodstream to support the immune, nervous, and circulatory systems. It is generally offered as a complementary therapy alongside standard care rather than a replacement for professional medical treatment, and while many users report benefits such as stress relief and improved mood, scientific evidence supporting its wider therapeutic claims remains limited.
Overview
What is Aromatherapy?
Aromatherapy has been a part of human history for centuries past. It dates back to the Egyptian times when essential oils were extracted from plants by soaking them for a while and then filtering out the oils through a linen bag.
Aromatherapy uses plant materials and aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, and other aromatic compounds for altering one's mood, cognitive, psychological or physical wellbeing. Aromatherapy can be offered as a complementary therapy or, more controversially, as a form of alternative medicine. Complementary therapy can be offered alongside standard treatment, with alternative medicine offered instead of conventional treatments, conventional treatments being often scientifically proven.
Some records have it that the procedure now known as aromatherapy was used by Hippocrates and other historic Egyptian physicians. But it did not become general knowledge until late in the 1920s, when the French scientist Rene-Maurice Gattefosse first used the procedure in treating the wounded of World War I. The term 'Aromatherapy' was coined by this scientist. After continuous researching, he discovered that certain essential oils have different healing properties. He went ahead to classify these plant essential oils into groups like antiseptic, stimulating, calming, anti-toxic, etc. based on their healing properties.
Aromatherapy has come along way from that starting point. Interest has been increasing in this area of holistic healing, with many users claiming that aromatherapy encourages stress relief and self-healing. One, therefore, wonders, how does aromatherapy works and how far can it realistically go with self-healing, emotional and mental uplifting?
Basically, with aromatherapy, aroma-rich oils are extracted from specific plants. These oils are mixed with other materials like alcohol, oils, lotions etc. to give the desired effects on the body. These formulated oils are then applied to the body by either massaging them into the skin, inhaling though air disbursement or pouring into bath water for a soothing and calming effect on the body.
When massaged to the skin, it is believed that the oils are absorbed into the body through the pores on the skin and then directly into the blood stream. The oils are believed to be lipophilic in nature, making it easy to gain entrance into body cells to exert their healing effects. Oils in the bath water seem to follow this pattern too, except that the effect of the oil water mixture tend to add an extra soothing and relaxing feeling to the body. This would be understood better if you think about what a cool shower does to a tired body on a hot afternoon.
When inhaled, the aroma of the oils is believed to activate cells in the nose, sending sensory signals to the limbic system of the brain. This is the part of the brain that takes care of higher sensory functions like emotion, thinking, and intelligence. It is believed by practitioners that it can be used emotionally to invigorate, calm and relieve stress and physically to help treat or alleviate certain conditions by stimulating the body's immune system, the nervous system or the circulatory system.
Although, not much scientific evidence is available to support the claims, aromatherapy practitioners believe that aromatherapy can be applied to a wide array of therapeutic treatments including physical and mental conditions, burns, infections, depression, sleep deprivation and high blood pressure.
The best advice is that, aromatherapy should be seen as an adjunct to the normal body healing system. It should be used to complement the body's immune function, but not as a replacement for professional medical attention, especially in people with evident signs and symptoms of a medical condition.
Aromatherapy could be well effective in uplifting moods, relieving stress and perhaps invigorating the mind, but the therapeutic powers of these plant oils should probably not be overstretched beyond these limits.
Small bottles of essential oils line the shelves of a metal ornamental tree holder.
Clinical Aromatherapy Programs
The use of essential oils in clinical aromatherapy programs is experiencing rapid growth, as health care providers search for natural and effective measures to help relieve their patient concerns such as anxiety, nausea, and fatigue. Studies support that it decreases the need for costly medications before or after treatments. Not only do integrative therapies help decrease costs, but they can dramatically improve the patient satisfaction score for the health care facility as the patient feels more engaged in their treatment plan.
Hospitals looking to upgrade their clinical aromatherapy programs from drops of essential oils on cotton balls are making the switch to the Bioesse Inhalation Patch. The patch is a patented delivery method for providing the benefits of essential oils through inhalation. Practitioners now have a clean and simple alternative for administering essential oils without dermal contact. It only takes seconds to open and apply, will last 6-8 hours, and there is no mess to clean up. The patch is pre-filled with a controlled dosage of 100% premium therapeutic quality essential oils for ease of use in facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. Its cost-effectiveness makes it practical to use in pre-op, post-op, and general use such as the ER, ortho, behavioral science, rehab and many more treatments.
Facts and Statistics
- Some hospitals and universities are researching further on the use of aromatherapy oils.
- Some companies in Japan are pumping these oils through air conditioning to improve employee efficiency.
- Aromatherapy massage is one of the most popular complementary therapies among patients with cancer, and the most widely practiced within cancer care settings.
- Aromatherapy carries a risk of several adverse effects and this consideration, combined with the lack of evidence of its therapeutic benefit, makes the practice of questionable worth.
- Aromatherapy massage has been shown to relieve self-reported symptoms of anxiety in the immediate aftermath of the therapy, and patients perceive aromatherapy massage as positive and beneficial.
- Many people classify aromatherapy as a type of alternative treatment or a division of holistic medicine. While others believe that aromatherapy is a proven science used both in the prevention and treatment of disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is aromatherapy safe during pregnancy
Some essential oils are not recommended during pregnancy, so it is best to consult a doctor or qualified practitioner before using aromatherapy while pregnant.
Can essential oils be applied directly to the skin
Most essential oils are highly concentrated and are usually diluted with a carrier oil or lotion before skin contact to reduce the risk of irritation.
Are essential oils safe to use around pets
Certain essential oils can be toxic to cats, dogs, and other animals, so pet owners should research each oil and consult a veterinarian before using them at home.
What is the difference between essential oils and fragrance oils
Essential oils are extracted from plants, while fragrance oils are often synthetic scent blends that are not used for therapeutic aromatherapy purposes.
How should essential oils be stored
Essential oils are best kept in dark glass bottles away from heat and direct sunlight to help preserve their quality and slow down deterioration.
Can children use aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be used with children in some cases, but oils and doses should be chosen carefully and ideally under guidance from a health professional.
Do you need training to practice aromatherapy professionally
Many regions offer certification and training programs for aromatherapists, and formal education helps practitioners use essential oils safely and effectively.
Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.
Last updated: