You search for a complementary and alternative medicine to ease your discomfort. In your research you find aromatherapy. It suggests you rub oils on your body to improve your physical and mental wellness. You find that if you rub a light vegetal massage oil on your chest before bed it would help you sleep through the night. This same oil also helps you breathe easier. As you feel more comfortable your appetite returns as well. Your overall wellbeing is improved, despite your terminal illness.

Aromatherapy has been used for centuries to soothe the human body and soul. It is the art and science of using essential oils from plant sources to improve a person's health and wellbeing.

As far back as the Greek, Roman, and Egyptian civilizations, aromatic plant materials have been used in religious rituals to promote physical and mental wellness. Though aromatic oils h

Nelson, N.J. (1997). Scents or Nonsense: Aromatherapy's Benefits Still Subject to Debate. Journal of the National Cancer Institute,89, 1334-1336.

In the past aromatherapy has been used with devices to fill an airspace with the scent of the oil. It has also been effectively used in application. When massaged into the body the essential oil molecules are carried through the top layers of the skin. Once the oils are absorbed they are safely excreted through the normal channels of the body, but the effects of the oil lasts much longer. Aromatherapy massage has received extensive literature on the success of this application for cancer patients.

Streicher, C. (2000). Ethics in Aromatherapy. Aromatherapy Journal.

By the 1960's a few people were inspired by Gattefoss' work, including Dr. Jean Valnet. Valnet was an Army surgeon in WWII and he used essential oils such as thyme, lemon, clove, and chamomile to heal wounds and burns. He also found that the oils also helped in treating psychiatric problems (Keville & Green, 1995). According to Nelson (1997) over the centuries, essential oils have been used to treat infections, remove molds and bacteria from the air, heal wounds, stimulate immune systems, treat depression and improve memory (p.1334).

With the large growth of aromatherapy, the commercialization could not be avoided. It is the law of supply and demand. The need must be filled regardless if the supplier has the background or experience to fill it. Consequently the quality of the oils will go down (Streicher, 2000).

ave been used for a long time, the term aromatherapy was not coined until the 1930's (Keville & Green, 1995).

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