Overview

Aromatherapy involves inhaling essential oils or applying them to the skin to improve physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being. Essential oils are plant oils.

The term "essential" is used because the oil contains the plant's "essence," or the smell that is characteristic of the plant. Smelling essential oils is thought to affect the brain. Depending on the oil used, these effects may include feelings of relaxation, pain relief, and others.

People commonly use aromatherapy for insomnia, anxiety, labor pain, stress, depression, menopausal symptoms, and many other purposes, but there is no good scientific evidence to support many of these uses.

To learn about specific essential oils used in aromatherapy, including bergamot oil, lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and many others, review those specific topics.



Uses & Effectiveness

Possibly Effective for

  • Anxiety. Lavender oil aromatherapy and aromatherapy massage seem to reduce long-term and short-term anxiety. Other essential oils might also help, but it's not clear which might be best.
  • Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea). Aromatherapy seems to help reduce painful menstrual cramps. But it is unclear which essential oils or oil blends work best. It's also unclear whether a massage with aromatherapy or simply inhaling aromatherapy is best.
  • Fatigue. Aromatherapy seems to help reduce fatigue in people with long-term health conditions. But it is unclear which essential oils or oil blends work best.
  • Insomnia. Aromatherapy seems to improve the quality of sleep in people who are healthy and in those with other health conditions, including cancer.
  • Labor pain. Adding lavender oil aromatherapy to standard treatment during labor seems to help reduce labor pain. It's not clear if other essential oils help.
  • Pain after surgery. Adding lavender oil aromatherapy to standard treatment seems to help reduce pain after surgery. It's not clear if other essential oils help.
  • Premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Aromatherapy improves mental and emotional PMS symptoms. But it's not clear which essential oils are most helpful.
  • Anxiety before a procedure. Aromatherapy might help reduce anxiety before surgery, especially before minor surgeries. But it's not clear which essential oil might work best.
  • Stress. Aromatherapy with lavender and other essential oils might help reduce feelings of stress.

Possibly Ineffective for

  • Pain in people with cancer. Aromatherapy with lavender oil does not seem to reduce pain in people with cancer.
  • Childbirth. Using inhaled aromatherapy during labor does not seem to affect labor duration, contractions, or the need for a C-section.

There is interest in using aromatherapy for a number of other purposes, but there isn't enough reliable information to say whether it might be helpful.

Side Effects

When taken by mouth: Essential oils are possibly unsafe. Taking essential oils by mouth isn't standard practice for aromatherapy, but sometimes oils are marketed this way. Swallowing too much of any oil can be unsafe and might cause severe side effects including seizures and life-threatening kidney problems.

When applied to the skin: Safety concerns vary depending on the type and amount of essential oil used. See individual oils to learn about their safety when applied to the skin. It is possibly unsafe to apply excessive amounts of essential oil to the skin or to apply essential oils to broken skin.

When inhaled: Safety concerns vary depending on the type and amount of aromatherapy oil used. See individual oils to learn about their safety when inhaled.

Special Precautions and Warnings

When taken by mouth: Essential oils are possibly unsafe. Taking essential oils by mouth isn't standard practice for aromatherapy, but sometimes oils are marketed this way. Swallowing too much of any oil can be unsafe and might cause severe side effects including seizures and life-threatening kidney problems.

When applied to the skin: Safety concerns vary depending on the type and amount of essential oil used. See individual oils to learn about their safety when applied to the skin. It is possibly unsafe to apply excessive amounts of essential oil to the skin or to apply essential oils to broken skin.

When inhaled: Safety concerns vary depending on the type and amount of aromatherapy oil used. See individual oils to learn about their safety when inhaled.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Safety concerns vary depending on the type and amount of essential oil used. See individual oils to learn about their safety when applied to the skin or inhaled. The International Federation of Professional Aromatherapists warns that the following essential oils should be avoided during pregnancy: oregano, thyme, savory, clove, cinnamon, cumin, aniseed, fennel, anise star, sweet birch, and wintergreen. It is also possibly unsafe to use essential oils by mouth. When taken by mouth, some essential oils can cause severe side effects including seizures and life-threatening kidney problems.

Interactions

We currently have no information for Aromatherapy overview.

Dosing

Aromatherapy uses diluted essential oils, which are usually inhaled or applied to the skin. Essential oils can also be vaporized in the air with diffusers, by heating the oil, or by adding the oil to a hot bath. Aromatherapy uses many different essential oils. See specific topics for more information on how they are commonly used.
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CONDITIONS OF USE AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION: This information is meant to supplement, not replace advice from your doctor or healthcare provider and is not meant to cover all possible uses, precautions, interactions or adverse effects. This information may not fit your specific health circumstances. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your doctor or other qualified health care provider because of something you have read on WebMD. You should always speak with your doctor or health care professional before you start, stop, or change any prescribed part of your health care plan or treatment and to determine what course of therapy is right for you.

This copyrighted material is licensed from Therapeutic Research Center, LLC. Information from this source is evidence-based and objective, and without commercial influence. For professional medical information on natural medicines, see Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Version.
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