Aroma Aid - Aromatherapy & Psycho-Osmology

What is Aromatherapy?

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Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils for healing, for both physical and psychological benefits. The term can also be applied to the use of essential oils for beauty and body care. Another term, aromachology, is sometimes used by the fragrance industry to distinguish it from aromatherapy. Aromachologists consider that the activity of essential oils (and perfumes) is psychological, whereas aromatherapists consider the effects to be physiological or pharmacological.

For centuries, essential oils have been used in the practice of aromatherapy to treat a variety of conditions and to foster well-being. Essential oils are generally distilled from plant parts, including leaves, flowers, stems, and roots. In contrast, perfume or fragrance oils are synthetically produced. Specific essential oils have been used empirically on the basis of their purported effects. For example, fennel has been traditionally associated with weight loss and diuresis and lavender has been considered to produce relaxation.

More recently, scientific research has documented the broad psychological effects of odors. Among the conditions in which odors have been shown to play a role are eating behavior and weight regulation, mental well-being and mood, anxiety and stress regulation, cognition and mental alertness, memory and recall.

Aromatherapy is considered a type of alternative or complementary medicine. It can be performed by trained practitioners or lay persons. Aromatherapy is generally not intended to replace standard medical care, but is meant to complement it and offer an alternative choice in certain conditions.

The use of essential oils for aromatherapy is particularly popular in such countries as France, England, Germany, and Japan, and is spreading in the United States, Canada, and Australia. The use of aromatherapy has been rising dramatically with the increase in health awareness and active participation in personal healthcare, as well as the accessibility of information on the Internet and the desire for more healthcare options.

The Office of Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health has been funding research projects on alternative therapies. Medical schools now include lectures on alternative medicine and pharmaceutical companies perform research in alternative treatments, giving additional credibility to this widespread form of healthcare.

Aromatherapy has been used in applications such as:

stress management (stress reduction)
weight loss (diet aid)
memory and recall (study aid)
psychology (productivity, subliminal shopping, relaxation)
fragrancing (sensual appeal, odor control)
medical therapies (antimicrobial activity, immune stimulation, vast array of disease treatments, obstetrics and neonatology)
massage (combination with aromatherapy)
cosmetology (skin and hair care)

Essential oils used in aromatherapy can be administered by:

topical application (with or without massage)
diffusion (by a wide variety of devices for home, office, and medical uses)
inhalation (for diet and stress management, studying, etc.)
ingestion (under government regulation as a drug)

What is Psycho-Osmology™?

Psycho-osmology™ is a term coined by Dr. Alicejane Lippner to describe the connection and interaction between the mind and the sense of smell. The term was developed in recognition of the important role that the sense of smell plays in our daily lives. Psycho-osmology™ provides the scientific basis for inhalation products that have been marketed commercially under the names Aroma Aid® (for diet and for stress) and Study Styx™ (for studying).