WELCOME

TO
AROMATHERAPY
PRESENTED BY :-
MRS. DEBAJANI SAHOO
M.Sc. Nursing 1st year.
( session 2015-17 )
 AROMATHERAPY
Definition
• Aromatherapy is a holistic treatment based on
the external use of essential aromatic plant oils
to maintain and promote physical, psychological,
and spiritual wellbeing. The essential oils may be
used in massage, added to a warm bath, used to
moisten to the affected part of the body, added
to a vaporizer for inhalation, or diffused
throughout a room.
HISTORY
• Natural healing is an ancient practice, documented in cave
paintings at least 80,000 years old. Through the ages more than
three-fourths of the world’s populations have relied on
remedies from nature.

• The term aromatherapy ( aromatherapie in the original French)

was coined in 1928 by a French chemist, René Maurice
Gattefossé, to describe the therapeutic use of aromatic
substances (essential oils) in wound healing.

• Gattefossé discovered the healing properties of essential plant

oils accidentally; after burning his hand in a laboratory accident,
he found that lavender oil healed his burns in a very short time
CONT…..
• He then experimented with plant oils in
treating soldiers wounded in World War I, and
found that there were several essential oils
that speeded physical healing. As the practice
of aromatherapy expanded, it came to
incorporate a holistic emphasis on healing or
invigorating all levels of a person's being.
PURPOSE

• It relax from stress , and enjoy the sensory

experiences of massage, warm water, and
pleasant smells.
• Aromatherapy is thought to improve a
person's mental outlook and sense of well-
being by affecting the limbic system via the
olfactory nerve, or the sense of smell.
• The limbic system is the area of the brain that
regulates emotions.
CONT…..
• Relaxing and pleasant smells stimulate
emotional responses of pleasure and relaxation.
• From a holistic perspective, aromatherapy is a
form of preventive health care.
• Most aromatherapists believe that
aromatherapy should not be used as a
substitute for mainstream medical or
psychiatric care, but as an adjunct to it.
CONT…..
• Aromatherapy is considered to be a useful
complementary treatment for the relief of
depression, anxiety, insomnia , panic disorder ,
stress-related physical disorders, menstrual
cramps, and some gastrointestinal complaints. For
example, peppermint oil calms gastrointestinal
spasms when ingested, or taken by mouth.
• Aromatherapy has a measurably calming effect on
the symptoms of dementia in elderly people.
CONT…..
• Aromatherapy can be used by itself, or
combined with Swedish massage,
acupressure, reflexology, or light therapy to
reinforce the positive results of these
treatments.
• people can also use aromatherapy at home as
part of self-care.
Precautions

• Careful to purchase them from reliable sources.

• Be aware on synthetic compounds for natural
essential oils, which are expensive to produce.
• To avoid applying essential oils directly to the skin
as a form of perfume.
• When essential oils are used in massage, they are
always diluted in a carrier oil.
• Avoid taking essential oils internally without a
consultation with a physician or naturopathist.
• Possible exceptions may be peppermint oil and
aloevera.
DESCRIPTION
• Most are prepared by
• steam distillation, a process in which the flowers, leaves, or
other plant parts are heated by steam from boiling water.
• The vapors that result then pass through a condenser that
separates the scented water from the essential oil, which is
siphoned off into a separate container.
• Other methods of extracting essential oils include
• expression, or squeezing, which is limited to citrus oils;
• effleurage , in which flower petals are placed on a bed of
purified fat that soaks up the essential oils; and
• maceration, in which the plant parts are crushed and
covered with warm vegetable oil that absorbs the essential
oils.
PREPARATION
• Aroma therapists recommend the use of fresh
oils and oil mixtures in the techniques
described above. Both essential oils and
vegetable carrier oils deteriorate over time
and should not be kept longer than one or two
months; thus, it is best to mix only small
quantities of massage oils or salves at any one
time.
• No special preparation for an aromatherapy
treatment is required on the patient's part.
HOW TO USE
• Massage: This is the technique that most people associate
with aromatherapy. For use in massage, essential oils are
mixed with a vegetable carrier oil, usually wheat germ,
avocado, olive, safflower, grapeseed, or soya bean oil. A ratio
that is commonly recommended is 2.5–5% essential oil to 95–
97.5% carrier oil.
• Full-body baths: In this technique, the essential oil is added to
a tubful of warm (but not hot) water as the water is running.
The dosage of essential oil is usually 5–10 drops per bath.
• Hand or foot baths: These are often recommended to treat
arthritis or skin disorders of the hands or feet as well as sore
muscles. The hands or feet are soaked for 10–15 minutes in a
basin of warm water to which 5–7 drops of essential oil have
been added.
CONT…..
• Inhalations: This technique is used to treat sinus problems
or such nasal allergies as hay fever. Two cups of water are
brought to a boil and then allowed to cool for five to ten
minutes. Two to five drops of essential oil are added to the
steaming water, and the person leans over the container
and inhales the fragrant vapors for five to ten minutes.
• Diffusion: This technique requires the use of a special
nebulizer to disperse microscopic droplets of essential oil
into the air, or a clay diffuser that allows the oil to
evaporate into the air when it is warmed by a small votive
candle or electric bulb. Diffusion is recommended for
treating emotional upsets.
CONT…..
• Compresses: These are made by soaking four or five
layers of cotton cloth in a solution of warm water and
essential oil, wringing out the cloth so that it is moist but
not dripping, and applying it to the affected part of the
body.
• The compress is then covered with a layer of plastic
wrap, followed by a pre-warmed towel, and kept in
place for one or two hours. Aromatherapy compresses
are used to treat wounds, sprains, bruises, sore muscles,
menstrual cramps, and respiratory congestion.
CONT…..
• Aromatic salves: Salves are made by melting
together 1 1/4 cup of vegetable oil and 1 oz of
beeswax in a double boiler over medium heat, and
adding the desired combination of essential oils.
• Internal use: Some essential oils such as oil of
peppermint and cinnamon can be used to make
teas or mouthwashes, or mixed with a glass of
honey and water. The dose depends on the oil, but
a physician, naturopathist, or other practitioner
should be consulted.
Aftercare

• Aromatherapy does not require any

particular form of aftercare, although
many patients like to rest quietly for
a few minutes after a bath or
massage with essential oils.
Risks

• No risks involved in external aromatherapy when

essential oils are diluted as recommended.
Benzoin and other essential oils derived from tree
resins should not be used internally.
• A few cases have been reported of dissociative
episodes triggered by fragrances associated with
traumatic experiences.
• Patients in treatment for
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or any of
the dissociative disorders should consult their
therapist before they use aromatherapy.
Normal results

• Normal results from aromatherapy

include a sense of relaxation, relief
from tension, and improved well-
being.
Abnormal results

• Abnormal results include skin irritations

or other allergic reactions to essential
oils, and the development of traumatic
memories associated with specific
smells.
THANK YOU