Aromatherapy was coined by the French chemist Rene Maurice Gattefosse in 1920s to describe the practice of using essential oils taken from plants, flowers, roots, seeds, etc. for healing.
According to Robert Todd Carrolls The Skeptics Dictionary, the term is a bit misleading, since the aromas of oils, whether natural or synthetic, are generally not themselves therapeutic. Carroll adds that aromas are used to identify the oils, to determine adulteration, and to stir the memory, but not to directly bring about a cure or healing. It is the "essence" of the oil--its chemical properties--that gives it whatever therapeutic value the oil might have. Furthermore, vapors are used in some but not all cases of aromatherapy. In most cases, the oil is rubbed onto the skin or ingested in a tea or other liquid. Some aroma therapists even consider cooking with herbs a type of aromatherapy.
As aroma therapists went on with dubious claims, Stephen Barrett, MD, looked into these claims at QuackWatch.org. One of the companies he looked at is Aroma Vera, Inc., of Los Angeles . This company claims: essential oils have the power to purify the air we breathe while they relax, stimulate, soothe or sharpen our senses . . . a wonderful antidote to the air pollution and sensory imbalance of modern life. It also claims inhaling the scents balances the biological background, revitalizes the cells, and produces a strong energizing effect on the sympathetic nervous system.
Another company claiming that essential oils can be used for many different purposes from athletes foot to enlightenment and almost every point between! is Joint Adventure, of Rogers , Arkansas .
Still part of Dr. Barrettes growing dossier is a practitioner claiming that the technique addresses the nervous system and the energy fields of the body. It soothes the body, cleans the body, clears the body, and tones the body. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Wormwood, states that there are around 300 essential oils and that they constitute an extremely effective medical system.
In the Skeptics Dictionary, Carroll concludes: I would not reject aromatherapy out of hand, however. When I have a cold and a stuffy nose, I'll use Vicks Vaporous, a mixture of camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil. Strictly speaking, I suppose I am a practicing aroma therapist. However, when I look at what people who call themselves aroma therapists claim, I have to conclude that aromatherapy is a mostly a pseudoscientific alternative medical therapy. It is a mixture of folklore, trial and error, anecdote, testimonial, New Age spiritualism and fantasy.
I agree with Carrolls findings. I recently bought a Marjoram scent from Aromas Naturals, a company based in Spain and with ISO 9001 certification. I first had my dad use it at night, to test its claim that it will eliminate snoring. My purchase had a 40day guarantee. Guess what? I ended up not returning it, although I was highly skeptical at first. I even bought another jar for myself.
The question is whether it was able to eliminate snoring?
As far I know from my family members it sure has eliminated a major portion of it.
According to Robert Todd Carrolls The Skeptics Dictionary, the term is a bit misleading, since the aromas of oils, whether natural or synthetic, are generally not themselves therapeutic. Carroll adds that aromas are used to identify the oils, to determine adulteration, and to stir the memory, but not to directly bring about a cure or healing. It is the "essence" of the oil--its chemical properties--that gives it whatever therapeutic value the oil might have. Furthermore, vapors are used in some but not all cases of aromatherapy. In most cases, the oil is rubbed onto the skin or ingested in a tea or other liquid. Some aroma therapists even consider cooking with herbs a type of aromatherapy.
As aroma therapists went on with dubious claims, Stephen Barrett, MD, looked into these claims at QuackWatch.org. One of the companies he looked at is Aroma Vera, Inc., of Los Angeles . This company claims: essential oils have the power to purify the air we breathe while they relax, stimulate, soothe or sharpen our senses . . . a wonderful antidote to the air pollution and sensory imbalance of modern life. It also claims inhaling the scents balances the biological background, revitalizes the cells, and produces a strong energizing effect on the sympathetic nervous system.
Another company claiming that essential oils can be used for many different purposes from athletes foot to enlightenment and almost every point between! is Joint Adventure, of Rogers , Arkansas .
Still part of Dr. Barrettes growing dossier is a practitioner claiming that the technique addresses the nervous system and the energy fields of the body. It soothes the body, cleans the body, clears the body, and tones the body. The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, by Valerie Ann Wormwood, states that there are around 300 essential oils and that they constitute an extremely effective medical system.
In the Skeptics Dictionary, Carroll concludes: I would not reject aromatherapy out of hand, however. When I have a cold and a stuffy nose, I'll use Vicks Vaporous, a mixture of camphor, menthol and eucalyptus oil. Strictly speaking, I suppose I am a practicing aroma therapist. However, when I look at what people who call themselves aroma therapists claim, I have to conclude that aromatherapy is a mostly a pseudoscientific alternative medical therapy. It is a mixture of folklore, trial and error, anecdote, testimonial, New Age spiritualism and fantasy.
I agree with Carrolls findings. I recently bought a Marjoram scent from Aromas Naturals, a company based in Spain and with ISO 9001 certification. I first had my dad use it at night, to test its claim that it will eliminate snoring. My purchase had a 40day guarantee. Guess what? I ended up not returning it, although I was highly skeptical at first. I even bought another jar for myself.
The question is whether it was able to eliminate snoring?
As far I know from my family members it sure has eliminated a major portion of it.
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