If you are wondering where to purchase essential oils, I highly recommend checking OilandHerbs.Com. This site lists the Botanicals that are the basis of all essential oils and allows you to check where to buy them, and the uses Aromatherapists put them to.
Candle Therapy
Using candles as therapy has been around for thousands of years, and has been practiced by nearly every religion. Candle therapy can be used to unite the powers of mind, body, and spirit. From ancient times to the present, Candles have lit our way through every transition! From celebrations and ceremonies to proclamations and processions! The candle’s flame has always been a metaphor for the soul! It possesses a tranquil and almost hypnotic atmosphere to those who allow its power to take them to a very special place.
A candle acts as a “self object”. A self object is an object that is a reflection of our self, a reflection upon which we can act. The candle reflects the spiritual and ethical changes we would like to bring about in ourselves. It burns as a reminder and symbol of our desires. Sometimes we have to hand our dreams over to a force more powerful than we are.
There are many ways to utilize the power of Candle Therapy. Their are Complementary systems of Color Therapy, Aromatherapy, Music Therapy, Energy Medicine and Meditation can and do overlap within the healing process to create a positive and powerful approach to finding the balanced system. These complementary systems with Candle Therapy, are all configured and intertwined within the practice of it’s theory and application.
Aromatherapy Massage
Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils. An essential oil is an aromatic essence, distilled from a single botanical source. True essential oils have nothing added to them, and nothing taken away. Essential oils can have many different effects on the body, mind and spirit. They can be sedative or stimulating, some have an analgesic and antispasmodic effect, most are antibacterial. Essential oils can aid in skin care and wound healing.
There are many different ways of using essential oils therapeutically – in baths, inhalations, compresses, creams or lotions, but perhaps one of the most pleasant, relaxing and therapeutic ways, is through aromatherapy massage. Shirley Price says: “Nevertheless, where stress and depression are a major cause of a health imbalance, then, in my opinion, a full aromatherapy body massage is the best complementary therapy treatment available. It is also an excellent prophylactic treatment to ensure continuation of good health.”
Effects of Massage Therapy
Massage therapy has been shown to be highly beneficial. It can affect the autonomic nervous system, and calm the “fight or flight” response, reducing the level of harmful stress hormones in the body. Massage stimulates the blood circulation, increasing the supply of nutrients and oxygen to cells. Massage stimulates lymphatic flow, improving tissue drainage and improving the immune system. Long, flowing connective strokes, called effleurage, generally have these effects.
Many studies have shown that continued stress can increase the incidence of various diseases, and can reduce recovery time. Stress can cause and exacerbate many chronic problems such as hypertension, migraines, digestive problems, PMS. If stress can be reduced, and relaxation induced more frequently, the progression of many chronic conditions can also be reduced. Massage therapy is an excellent way of reducing stress.
Specific somatic techniques, working on specific areas, can reduce chronic and acute muscular tension and pain, by helping to lengthen and release shortened and contracted muscles. These techniques may include stretching, deep tissue, sports massage, neuromuscular, Rolfing, myofascial release. [links to descriptions of these techniques to come]
Massage therapy has long been recognized as an important part of athletic training. Most serious athletes receive regular somatic work. Massage therapists have been an integral part of the Olympic Games for many years now, helping to improve athletic achievement and increase recovery time after performance.
The Touch Research Institute, at the University of Miami, has carried out many studies on the effects of touch and massage therapy.
History of Aromatherapy Massage
Touch has been used since time immemorial to assist in healing, and general well-being. Hippocrates said: “The Physician must be experienced in many things, but assuredly in rubbing . . . for rubbing can bind a joint that is too loose, and loosen a joint that is too rigid.”
Per Henrick Ling, born in Sweden in 1776, is widely credited as the originator of modern “Swedish massage”. Ling was a fencing master and was fascinated by the human body in movement. He developed a series of exercises, and eventually his system of massage that he called “movement cure”. Massage therapy and somatic practices have developed in many different directions since then, including the Esalen style and many intuitive methods, largely originating in California in the 1960’s, which are often used in Aromatherapy massage.
The person to whom we really owe the development of Aromatherapy Massage, is Marguerite Maury, née König(1895-1968) who was born in Austria. Following the death of her young child, her first husband and her father, Marguerite trained as a nurse and surgical assistant, and moved to France. Her interest in aromatherapy began with a book by Dr Chabenes, published in 1838, called Les Grandes Possibilités par les Matières Odoriferantes. Dr Chabenes later taught René-Maurice Gattefossé. Marguerite met and married a French doctor in the early thirties, and continued her research into essential oils. She developed her particular method of using the “Individual Prescription” blending several essential oils, for each patient, after an in-depth consultation and examination. She also pioneered the use of massage to administer the essential oils, partly perhaps because she was not a medical doctor, and therefore not qualified to prescribe internal use of the oils. In 1961 Mme Maury wrote Le Capital Jeunesse (in English, The Secret of Life and Youth). She opened clinics in France, Switzerland and England, and continued to teach and practice until her death.
What to Expect During Aromatherapy Massage
Massage therapy is beneficial, use of essential oils is beneficial, to combine the two can be synergistically even more beneficial than either therapy separately.
Most massage therapists will request a new client to provide some intake information, relating to their current physical state, and any illnesses or injuries that may affect the massage. Practitioners of aromatherapy massage will generally have a longer list of questions and areas of discussion. A holistic practitioner will consider the client as a “whole”, body, mind and spirit. They will generally help the client to consider what factors in their lives may be affecting them. For example, someone who suffers from insomnia may have family worries, stresses at work, indigestion, or simply a noisy environment, any or all of which could affect their sleep patterns. Rather than only using a relaxing and sedative blend of essential oils, together with a calming massage, a good practitioner will suggest other ways that the client can improve their sleep. They may be able to refer to a family counselor, suggest a change at work, refer to a nutritionist, or suggest earplugs, to address various root causes. This initial consultation may take between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the situation.
After the client intake and consultation, and when other suggestions and referrals have been made, the aromatherapist will select several essential oils, most suited to the client’s needs at this time, and will blend them into a massage oil or lotion. Sometimes a particular carrier oil will be used. This blend with essential oils will then be used to give the massage.
The massage therapist will leave the room, allowing the client to undress as far as they are comfortable, and lay down on a padded massage table. Often, to aid in relaxation, relaxing music will be playing too. For warmth and modesty, the client will be covered with a sheet or blanket, which the massage therapist will pull back to work on each specific part of the body. If the client feels uncomfortable at any time, or if a specific technique hurts, they should let the practitioner know – clear communication, understanding and consent is most important. Depending on the client’s needs and the practitioner’s individual skills and training, different styles of somatic work may be used. Jeanne Rose says that “The deep thumb pressures of shiatsu; the pressure of deep tissue massage that is intended to reach nerves, ligaments, tendons; the soft tissue work called Swedish massage; and the slow, gentle, rhythmic movements of effleurage massage that are so appropriate for pets, infants and the infirm – all are used in aromatherapy massage. The total effect should be harmonious, and not jar in any way.” The massage usually lasts for an hour, but may be longer or shorter, depending on client needs. At the end of the session, the practitioner will leave the room, allowing the client a few minutes to gently “come back to themselves”, and get dressed.
After the session, many aromatherapists will also suggest the use of a blend that the client can use at home, between sessions, to continue their use of essential oils. The aromatherapist will select the essential oils, and make an appropriate blend, giving instructions for use to the client. A plan for future sessions should also be agreed on. Frequency of sessions will depend on client needs, and financial situation, but many clients find that a weekly or biweekly session is most beneficial, particularly in the beginning. Some clients receive monthly sessions. I believe that aromatherapy massage is an excellent “maintenance tool”, and should not just be used to “fix a problem”, but should be part of every day life if possible. Hippocrates said that “a daily aromatic bath and scented massage are the way to health”. It would be wonderful if we could all follow that suggestion!
How Does it Work?
Many aromatherapists and aromatherapy tutors believe that essential oils are absorbed by the skin. There are however differing opinions as to how much of the components of essential oils can penetrate the skin, and indeed what their effect on the body might be, if they do penetrate. It seems that some components do penetrate, but more studies need to be carried out on this. Nevertheless, many beneficial effects can take place at the level of the skin. Many skin conditions can be improved by the anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties of the essential oils.
During the massage, much of the volatile essential oils will be inhaled and some absorption is likely through the mucosa of the nose and mouth. Additionally the volatile molecules of the essential oils lock onto receptor cells at the back of the nose. An electrochemical message is sent to the limbic system in the brain. The limbic system appears to trigger memory and emotional responses, which cause messages to be sent to other parts of the brain and body. In this way, the production of euphoric, relaxing, sedative or stimulating neurochemicals is stimulated. Many beneficial mental and emotional effects can be seen this way.
Training and Referrals to Aromatherapists
Prospective clients should take the time to find an aromatherapist/massage therapist with appropriate training. A number of massage schools will often briefly talk about the use of essential oils, but frequently this is not adequate or safe training. A personal referral from a friend is always useful. In the United States, The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy or the American Alliance of Aromatherapy may be able to suggest some aromatherapists who practice massage therapy in your area. There is at present no standard in the US for training in aromatherapy, although this is being discussed and developed by the industry. It is therefore important to ask questions: with whom and where did the aromatherapist train, how long was the training, what subjects did it cover, how long have they been in practice. Additionally, the American Massage Therapy Association can provide a referral to a massage therapist in your area. Also, you may wish to receive information on a massage therapist who is certified by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. (US only). Since massage therapy is regulated differently in each state of the US, it is impossible to list all local regulations here. Some states require licensing and statutory training, some do not.
In the United Kingdom, there are two main professional associations who can provide referrals to trained aromatherapists. The International Federation of Aromatherapists, phone: +44-181-742-2605, and the International Society of Professional Aromatherapists, phone: +44-1455-637987. Both of these associations require a certain level of training before membership is granted.
Copyright © 1998 Danila Mansfield, MIFA, MISPA, NCTMB
References
Davis, P., Aromatherapy, an A-Z, C.W. Daniel, 1988
Price, S., Aromatherapy Workbook, Thorsons, 1993
Price, S. & Price, L., Aromatherapy for Health Professionals, Churchill Livingstone, 1995
Rose, J., The Aromatherapy Book, Herbal Studies Course & North Atlantic Books, 1992
Ryman, R., Introduction to The Secret of Life and Youth by Marguerite Maury, C.W. Daniel, 1989
Sheppard-Hanger, S., The Aromatherapy Practitioner Reference Manual, Atlantic Institute of Aromatherapy, 1994
Aromatherapy uses essential oils from plants to heal, alleviate pain and regulate mood. Essential oils are a volatile, highly concentrated plant extracts, derived from leaves, bark, roots, seeds resins and flowers. Aromatherapy massage uses these essential oils, but they can also be used in hydrotherapy baths, facials and body treatments.
In aromatherapy massage, essential oils are usually mixed with a carrier oil like sweet almond, apricot kernel, or grapeseed oil. The therapist use up to five oils in a mixture, and chooses the oils based on what you need. A relaxing aromatherapy massage, for instance, might have lavender or bergamot, while a massage for sore muscles might include peppermint and eucalyptus.
Aromatherapy should not be confused with fragrances or perfume oils.
Fragrances are often made from chemicals, and lack the therapuetic properties of essential oils. So remember, just because someone lights a scented candle doesn’t make it aromatherapy!
Ethics of Practicing Aromatherapy or
Selling Aromatherapy Products in your massage practice.
Using aromatherapy can enhance our practice and provide another aspect of healing for clients. Before you start each session with a client, it is important to ask them directly if they would like you to use aromatherapy in the session. This is part of the process of Engaging a Client to participate in their healing session and is essential in creating strong boundaries within your practice. It is also necessary to be aware that not everyone likes smells and that if you are storing many different oils in your room, the mixture of scents can be overwhelming and even toxic. You are essentially violating a clients’ boundary with the use of essential oils without having their informed consent. Being aware of the affects we have on clients is important in starting and building a massage practice.
I had a client tell me a story about a bad experience with this situation. The client was referred by her MD for treatment of back pain to a massage therapist. The massage therapist had her room full of essential oils and proceeded to use them in the treatment. The client was led to believe that she was going to this person for a medical treatment and while aromatherapy can be used medically, she had no understanding of it as a client. She was overwhelmed by all the smells in the office and left feeling slightly ill and never went back to say the least.
We also need to be aware of how most people will not tell you the truth about what they need. They often come to us expecting us to know what is best for them and trust us to take care of them. They won’t speak up easily.
Selling Essential Oils to Clients
If you are considering selling aromatherapy products to your clients, please be aware of the ethical issues involved when selling products to clients. Clients will often be easily persuaded by us because they perceive us to have more knowledge than them or may also feel an obligation to us because we have provided a nurturing experience for them. This is called transference. When we try to combine this with selling oils (or any other products) we need to keep in mind whether we are selling this for our benefit or theirs. When we ask clients to purchase something, we are asking them to further trust us.
We can become more aware of how we influence clients and the issues involved with our practices through the process of supervision. You can find out more about supervision and start changing the profession by participating in a peer supervision group. The more conscious you become of yourselves, the more successful you will be in business!
Julie Onofrio, LMP
The Power of Aromatherapy
by Rob Gilbert
As the cost of health care skyrockets, Americans are increasingly turning to alternative medicine, including herbal remedies like Aromatherapy. Most people are aware of Aromatherapy, but there are many misconceptions about the science behind it and the role that Aromatherapists play in selecting the most effective herbal extracts. The idea of inhaling fragrant oils extracted from plants and trees to treat a medical condition may seem unscientific to many, but the power of Aromatherapy comes from its connection to herbal medicine, which is increasingly finding its way into mainstream culture.
In the U.S., large pharmaceutical companies dominate the over-the-counter and prescription drug markets, but public acceptance of alternative medicine, including Aromatherapy, is growing. According to a recent survey by the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, of the 31,000 adults involved in the study, 36 percent said they had used some form of alternative or complementary medicine.
While the popularity of herbal medicine is a relatively new phenomenon in the U.S., Aromatherapy dates back centuries and its use is widespread in Europe and Asia. The term “Aromatherapy” traces its roots back to 1937, when a French chemist named Rene’ Maurice Gattefosse, burned his hand during one of his experiments and applied the nearest available liquid, lavender oil, to the burn. The oil eased the pain and Gattefosse began to experiment with other plant oils to discover their properties and medicinal potential.
The essential oils used in aromatherapy are believed to contain therapeutic properties that may offer an alternative to synthetically manufactured pharmaceuticals. According to the spokesperson for the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy (NAHA), Kelly Holland Azzaro, RA, CCAP, LMBT, “Essential oils have specific chemical compositions, giving them their unique scent as well as therapeutic properties. Once an Aromatherapist studies the chemistry aspect, this added dimension is another tool for the Aromatherapist when choosing specific oils.”
Aromatherapy typically involves the controlled application to the skin or inhalation of aromatic essential oils derived from plants, flowers, and wood resins. The fragrant oils are absorbed by the body and interact with the olfactory system to achieve the desired effect. Aromatic essential oils are commonly applied directly to the skin during a massage, with the oil being absorbed into the body through the skin. “With essential oils, it is the chemical composition of the oil that gives it its therapeutic effect,” says Holland Azzaro.
The plant oils used in Aromatherapy differ from pharmaceutical medicines in that they use the whole plant and not just a single active ingredient. Practitioners of Aromatherapy believe that aromatic plants work holistically and are safest and most effective in their natural state, contrasting with the pharmaceutical approach of isolating an active ingredient and concentrating the dosage.
The U.S. government classifies plant oils used in Aromatherapy as Dietary Supplements, which are regulated by the Dietary Supplement and Health and Education Act of 1994. The Act exempted Dietary Supplements from the pre-market safety evaluations required of other food ingredients.
In 1962, Congress passed a law requiring that drugs be proven effective before they could be sold to the public. Economic and regulatory factors account for the major drug companies’ disregard for research into Aromatherapy. According to drug industry estimates, FDA approval of a new drug can take from 5 to 12 years with costs into the hundreds of millions. The cost of research into the safety and effectiveness of drugs compels the major pharmaceutical companies to focus their attention on medicine that they can patent, which allows them to recoup their investment in research. Because plant extracts in their natural state cannot be patented, companies are reluctant to spend research money on herbal remedies, including Aromatherapy.
While the looser regulatory environment made it easier to bring new purported herbal remedies and supplements to market, some question the safety and quality of the products now available. The lack of standard dosages and weaker quality control measures, some fear, threaten the safety of consumers of herbal products. The most serious risk can be an herb’s reaction with other medications. Those taking prescription or over-the-counter medicine should consult their doctor before experimenting with herbal medicine.
The essential oils used in Aromatherapy can be applied in many forms, including ointment, tea, tincture, compress, or poultice. Aromatherapists often blend essential oils into a compound that can be used as an oil or spray. Some scents can conjure up pleasant memories, which might explain some of the perceived effects of Aromatherapy. Consistent with their holistic approach, practitioners believe Aromatherapy promotes physical, mental, and spiritual health.
The science behind Aromatherapy, as with other forms of alternative medicine, involves some subjectivity. Inconsistent distillation of the plant oils explains part of the difficulty of obtaining consistent and reliable research in this area. For Aromatherapy to be safe and effective, you must use quality essential oils, which can be quite expensive. Fortunately, due to their concentrated nature, effects can be achieved using only a small amount of an essential oil.
The subjective element makes it difficult for researchers to explain Aromatherapy’s perceived therapeutic characteristics. A given olfactory sensation might trigger a positive response in one person, while another person may have no reaction to the same scent.
Essential oils can be obtained directly from an Aromatherapist, health food stores, through various distributors, holistic medicine practitioners, massage therapists, and, of course, on the internet. Maryanne Gilbert, a massage therapist in Golden, uses Aromatherapy blends in her massage oils to personalize the massage experience. Gilbert explains, “If a client arrives for a massage after a stressful day, I’ll add a little lavender to the massage oil and the client will begin to relax and calm down almost immediately.” More information can be obtained through her website www.hhmproducts.com or her massage studio at (720) 988-6980.
Licensing requirements for Aromatherapists vary by state. Aromatherapists can become Registered Aromatherapists (R.A.) by passing a test administered by The Aromatherapy Registration Council (ARC). More information about the R.A. credential can be found at www.naha.org. Explains Holland Azarro, “Some Aromatherapists only work with Aromatherapy, in which they offer consultation and teach the uses of essential oils, and some will also consult with larger companies about formulations for a line of products. It is a wonderful and diverse group of people that can be found throughout the Aromatherapy industry.”
Laraine Kyle, RN, MSN, CMT, with the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy in Boulder, Colorado, can provide the names of local Aromatherapists and additional information on Aromatherapy at www.Aroma_RN.com or www.ResourcesForLivingWell.com. Kyle, a noted authority on Aromatherapy, has developed an herbal mosquito repellent she describes as ten times more effective than DEET. More information about Aromatherapy, as well as Kyle’s mosquito repellent, can be obtained by contacting the Institute of Integrative Aromatherapy at (303) 545-2002.
Rob Gilbert co-owns with his wife Health & Harmony Massage, LLC located in historic downtown Golden. Rob creates and sells aromatherapy blends for Health & Harmony Massage. He most recently blended an energizing aromatherapy spray he calls Gettyup! which he uses during his “day job” as a paralegal. Rob can be contacted via email at gilbyrobb@aol.com or phone 720-988-6980.
Aromatherapy: Making Dollars out of Scents
Stephen Barrett, M.D.
Aromatherapy — sometimes called aroma therapy — is described by its proponents as “the therapeutic use of the essential oils of plants.” The word “essential” does not refer to nutritional value but to the volatile, aromatic components that are the “essence” of the plant. Essential oils are said to be highly concentrated substances extracted from flowers, leaves, stalks, fruits, and roots, and also distilled from resins. They are alleged to contain hormones, vitamins, antibiotics, and antiseptics and to represent the “life force,” “spirit,” or “soul” of the plant [1]. The oils are administered in small quantities through inhalation, massage, or other applications to the skin. Occasionally, a product is taken internally. The products include diffusers, lamps, pottery, candles, pendants, earrings, shampoos, skin creams, lotions, and bath salts, and shower gels. Health Foods Business estimated that the total of aromatherapy products sold through health-food stores was about $59 million in 1995 and $105 million in 1996.
Pleasant odors can be enjoyable and may enhance people’s efforts to relax. However, there is no evidence that aromatherapy products provide the health benefits claims by their proponents.
Dubious Claims
Aroma Vera, Inc., of Los Angeles, has falsely claimed that “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 ‘scentsory’ imbalance of modern life.” It also claims that inhaling the scents “balances the biological background,” “revitalizes the cells,” and produces a “strong energizing effect on the sympathetic nervous system.” Other claims in the company’s brochures include:
Product Name Features/Claimed Benefits
Calming Lends a slight sense of euphoria – perfect for unwinding after a stressful day
Clear Mind Freshens and sharpens the mind, making it more alert
Drainer/Detoxification Promotes elimination of toxins, helps tone and firm the body
Meditation Facilitates deep relaxation
Mental Power Designed for sustained intellectual power and focus
Purifier Ideal to rid the atmosphere of smoke and heavy odors
Respiration Helps open the lungs and clear respiration
Sacred Helps open higher energy centers
Slimming/Circulation Promotes circulation and encourages elimination of excess fluids
Joint Adventure, of Rogers, Arkansas, states that essential oils can be used for “many different purposes from athlete’s foot to enlightenment and almost every point between!” The products in its 1997 catalog include Love Potion, Germ Immune, and Smoker’s Remedy. Its Tropical Sun is claimed to “Increase circulation and warm your body . . . helps fight infection while strengthening the immune system.”
Another company touts aromatherapy’s promise as “a mood alternative, as biofeedback tied in to relaxation, stress release, concentration and meditation.” Yet another describes the oils as “an alternative to synthetic drugs to feel good.” A practitioner has claimed 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 Worwood, states that there are about 300 essential oils and that they constitute an extremely effective medical system. The web site of Beyond Aromatherapy has stated (allegedly quoting Hippocrates) “There is a remedy for every illness to be found in nature.” Its online catalog includes descriptions of “ancient healing uses,” astrological correspondence, and Chinese medicine characteristics of more than 80 essential oils.
Lampberger Singapore Network says its products can provide “sweet childhood,” “summer romance,” “aphrodisiac, and improved memory and can alleviate asthma, bronchitis, flu, insomnia, headache, agitation, elevated blood pressure,
Aromatherapy for Common Ailments, by Shirley Price, tabulates which oils are to be used for more than 40 problems, including depression, sex-drive problems, bronchitis, athlete’s foot, high blood pressure, cystitis, head lice. Her table identifies from three to nine oils “likely to help” each problem. She reassures:
With self-help aromatherapy, you will be using oils recommended for a particular ailment or preventative treatment, but it should not take you long to discover which of them work best for you as an individual, particularly since simply liking the aroma of an oil may indicate that it will help you.
The Aromatherapy Workbook charts more than one hundred therapeutic applications. Author Marcel Lavabre maintains:
Even though it can relieve symptoms, aromatherapy primarily aims at curing the causes of disease. The main therapeutic action of essential oils consists in strengthening the organs and their functions, and acting on the defense mechanisms of the body. They do not do the job for the body; they help the body do its own job and thus do not weaken the organism. Their action is enhanced by all natural therapies that aim to restore the vitality of the individual.
Dubious “Certification”
The American Alliance of Aromatherapy, a trade association, publishes a quarterly Journal of Aromatherapy to keep readers informed of pertinent research, books, and news. The American Aromatherapy Association offers “certification” based on attendance at two 3-day weekends plus submission of a thesis that includes case studies. The course includes such topics as internal methods of treatment, essential oils in healing, addressing common health problems, and how to market yourself. The International Association of Aromatherapists has “accredited” an eleven-month correspondence course with six seminars and two final exams. Completion of the program leads to “certification” as an “Aromatherapist Practitioner.” Aromatherapy Seminars, the educational division of Aroma Vera, offers “5-day certification” and other courses and claims to have over 3,500 graduates. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy sponsors conferences and publishes Scentsitivity Quarterly.
Insufficient Regulation
The FDA regulates perfumes as cosmetics, which it defines as “articles to be introduced into or otherwise applied to the body to cleanse, beautify, promote attractiveness or alter appearance.” A general claim that a perfume’s aroma is good or beneficial is a cosmetic claim that does not require FDA approval. In 1986, the agency warned that marketing a scent with a preventive or therapeutic claim would make the product a drug subject to regulatory action. Although several manufacturers have done so, the FDA has not made them stop.
A private action may have some impact. Under California law, any person or organization can sue to stop the fraudulent activities of any person or company either located in California or affecting the state’s consumers. These suits are interesting because if the defendant cannot persuade a judge that its claims are true, the judge can prohibit them and assess high penalties. In 1997, Los Angeles attorney Morsé Mehrban charged that Lafabre and Aroma Vera had violated the California Business and Professions Code by advertising that its products could promote health and well-being, relax the body, relax the mind, enhance mood, purify the air, are antidotes to air pollution, relieve fatigue, tone the body, nourish the skin, promote circulation, alleviate feminine cramps, and do about 50 other things [2]. The National Council Against Health Fraud served as plaintiff, and I served as an expert witness in the case. In September 2000, the case was settled out of court with a $5,700 payment to Mehrban and a court-approved stipulation [3] and order prohibiting the defendants from making 57 of the disputed claims in advertising within California [4].
References
Berwick A. Holistic Aromatherapy: Balance the Body and Soul with Essential Oils. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 1994.
Barrett S. Aromatherapy company sued for false advertising. Quackwatch, Sept 25, 2000.
Stipulation for Judgment. National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc., v. Aroma Vera, Inc., et al. Superior Court No. BC183903. September 24, 2000.
Horowitz DA. Judgment (pursuant to stipulation). National Council Against Health Fraud, Inc., v. Aroma Vera, Inc., et al. Superior Court No. BC183903. October 11, 2000.
Since the publication of Duke’s first phytochemical works (Duke 1992a, 1992b), we have almost doubled the phytochemicals, biological activities and species in our database. With this new contribution, we include much new data in the aromatic mint family, Lamiaceae. Data on the mint family are presented here in much the same format and with many of the same caveats and interpretations as before.
Aggregated vs. Non-Aggregated Entries
The latest volume differs from earlier volumes in that we maintain the integrity of many entries, publishing the phytochemical quantitative data for a given analysis, rather than strictly aggregating the data. Over the years it has become clear to us that the aggregated data, which report the highs and lows for a given phytochemical in parts per million (ppm), are most useful for showing the range of variation of these individual phytochemicals, which can be quite striking. For some species of thyme, this variation can be as much as 13,900-fold.
One common mistaken interpretation of the aggregated data is that a species might appear to be high in two closely related compounds, for example thymol and carvacrol. However, the non-aggregated analyses show that, rather than positive correlations between levels of closely related compounds, there is often compensation – when one compound is raised in quantity, another is lowered.
Synergy
We have learned in the last five years, that most species have many phytochemicals with many biological activities and that many of the phytochemicals we use for medicines, especially the antibiotics (anthelminthics, bactericides, fungicides, viricides, vermifuges, etc.), serve as natural pesticides for the species containing them. As we would expect, evolution seems to favor a synergy among such pesticides, which often carries over into their medical potential.
By examining the non-aggregated entries, one can, through various computational techniques, ask which of the mint analyses cited in this volume have the greatest reported variety or total concentration of phytochemicals with a specific activity (for instance which mints have the greatest number of antispasmodic compounds and which have the greatest total reported concentration of one or all of these spasmolytic compounds). A number of tools have been developed by the authors to allow these types of queries to be made for the entire phytochemical database (including the mints) on the Internet (Beckstrom-Sternberg and Duke) at the following URL: http://www.ars-grin.gov/duke/.
Properties of Aromatic Compounds
Because of the unique properties of aromatic compounds, which are important for both herbal medicine and aromatherapy, there’s more to aromatherapy than meets the nose. It has been clearly demonstrated that many of the aromatic compounds are biologically active whether inhaled, ingested, or applied topically. Cineole for example, via its CNS activities, can improve a rodent’s ability to work its way through a maze, whether ingested or inhaled. Likewise, cineole, as well as other aromatic compounds, can speed up and increase the transdermal absorption of other compounds, sometimes by as much as 100-fold. The implications of this are inspiring as well as sobering. The increased absorbtion allows smaller amounts of an active compound to be used, and puts it directly into the bloodstream rather than passing through the gut, where it could be altered or inactivated. On the down side, too much of a good thing could be fatal, pointing to the need for standardization of topically applied compounds and their carriers, especially in light of the huge variation in the concentrations of plant chemical constituents.
Ecotypes
One interesting speculation to us is that rosemary, the herb of remembrance, may in fact be preventively active, perhaps even transdermally, against Alzheimer’s disease. Rosmarinic acid, namesake of rosemary, has three different activities that might be useful in Alzheimer’s disease: anticomplement activity, antioxidant activity, and choline sparing activity. There are over a dozen antioxidants in rosemary and more than five anticholinesterase compounds. By analyzing the non-aggregated, individual assay data we can see which ecotype or variety is best endowed with these biologically active compounds. This ecotypic variation could form the basis of an industry dedicated to cultivating specialized ecotypes of the same species for different medicinal applications.
Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
With the new labeling laws signed by President Clinton on October 15, 1994, it seems legal and possible for herbalists to say that rosemary contains these compounds, but not to say that rosemary will prevent or decelerate Alzheimer’s. We believe that rosemary, the herb of remembrance, can be proved useful in Alzheimer’s, and that it may be more useful than some FDA-approved drugs for Alzheimer’s. However, we doubt that anyone will invest the required 500 million to prove that rosemary is safe and efficacious for Alzheimer’s. So for economic reasons, we may not be getting the best medicine for Alzheimer’s. It would be difficult to secure a patent for rosemary for Alzheimer’s. Strangely though, one could analyze different varieties of rosemary to find which one was richest in the anticholinesterase compounds and patent that variety as unique phytochemically, to be clonally reproduced, under ecological conditions that increase the quantities of the anticholinesterase compounds.
Aromathematics
Of course, as new data accumulates, other edible and non-edible mints may prove even richer in antialzheimeran phytochemicals. Mints other than lavender and melissa may prove richer in sedative compounds. Mints other than peppermint and spearmint may prove richer in carminative compounds and antipruritic phytochemicals. Mints other than perilla may prove richer in breast-cancer preventive phytochemicals like carvone, limonene, and perillyl-alcohol. That’s what’s so exciting about this new field we call aromathematics (so as not to offend long-term advocates of aromatherapy), which is here defined as the study of aromatic compounds and their biological activities; with each new detailed analysis published, a new candidate may emerge for several diseases.
Standardized Extracts vs. the Silver Bullet
We feel that in many cases, standardized extracts of these potent mints, may be safer and just as efficacious as many of the more expensive synthetic options. Consider the following example. If your physician has diagnosed you correctly (with Lyme disease, the physician is wrong nearly half the time), and if you do not have any co-morbid factors (most of us do), and if you are not deficient in some mineral, vitamin, or vital phytochemical that has not yet proven vital (and most of us are deficient in at least one), then the physician’s silver bullet may help. But if all three conditions are not satisfied, then the safe herbs may have more to offer. The homeostatic human body is good at sequestering from an herb tea those phytochemicals that it needs and rejecting things it doesn’t need. Thus the menu of thousands of phytochemicals in an herb tea may give the human body opportunity to select those that it needs, rejecting those that might be harmful.
See also:
Growing Herbs: Selected Information Sources, 1996-2003. Compiled and annotated by Rebecca Mazur, Research and Reader Services, National Agricultural Library. April 2004. http://www.nal.usda.gov/ref/herbs.html
Growing for the Medicinal Herb Market Selected Sources and Resources. Compiled and annotated by Suzanne DeMuth and Mary Gold, Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Agricultural Library. February 1998. http://www.nal.usda.gov/afsic/AFSIC_pubs/mherb.htm
Title: Aromatherapy in the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae): Sterile Males Exposed to Ginger Root Oil in Pre-Release, Storage Boxes Display Increased Mating Competitiveness in Field Cage Trials.
Submitted to: Journal of Economic Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: January 1, 2004
Publication Date: June 10, 2004
Citation: Shelly, T.E., McInnis, D.O., Pahio, E., Edu, J. 2004. Aromatherapy in the mediterranean fruit fly (diptera: tephritidae): sterile males exposed to ginger root oil in pre-release, storage boxes display increased mating competitiveness in field cage trials. Journal of Economic Entomology. 97: 846-853.
Interpretive Summary: The use of an aromatic chemical to increase the mating ability of Mediterranean fruit flies (medflies) has been investigated in Hawaii and found to be significant. The aromatic compound, ginger root oil, has been demonstrated to be effective in raising the mating ability of medfly males ca. 2-3 fold in outdoor field cage mating tests. This rise in ability even has come from the mere exposure of the aroma to the males for a few hours as young adults. The current experiment investigated the effectiveness of using the standard adult fly containers ( ca. 35,000 pupae/box) for conducting the fly exposures prior to fly release in the field. We found that exposing the flies as adults significantly improved mating ability at doses of ginger oil/box up to 2mls, but not at 2 mls. Exposing the insects as pupae then as adults by placing the aroma prior to fly emergence resulted in increased mating ability after using 1.0 mls but not at o.25 mls/box. These results confirm the previous work about the effectiveness of using ginger root oil as a mating stimulant for medfly males in SIT programs, and have demonstrated the usefulness of standard large¿scale holding containers in adequately treating male flies prior to release.
Technical Abstract: Previous research showed that exposure to ginger root, Zingiber officinale Roscoe, oil increased the mating success of mass-reared, sterile males of the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann). This work, however, involved the exposure of small groups of males (n = 25) in small containers (volume 400 ml). Several sterile male release programs use plastic adult rearing containers (so-called PARC boxes; hereafter termed storage boxes; 0.48 by 0.60 by 0.33 m) to hold mature pupae and newly emerged adults before release (36,000 flies per box). The objective of the current study was to determine whether the application of ginger root oil to individual storage boxes increases the mating competitiveness of sterile C. capitata males. Irradiated pupae were placed in storage boxes 2 d before adult emergence, and in the initial experiment (adult exposure) ginger root oil was applied 5 d later (i.e., 3 d after peak adult emergence) for 24 h at doses of 0.0625, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ml. In a second experiment (pupal-adult exposure), ginger root oil was applied to storage boxes immediately after pupal placement and left for 6 d (i.e., 4 d after peak adult emergence) at doses of 0.25 and 1.0 ml. Using field cages, we conducted mating trials in which ginger root oil-exposed (treated) or nonexposed (control) sterile males competed against wild-like males for copulations with wild-like females. After adult exposure, treated males had significantly higher mating success than control males for all doses of ginger root oil, except 2.0 ml. After pupal-adult exposure, treated males had a significantly higher mating success than control males for the 1.0-ml but not the 0.25-ml dose of ginger root oil. The results suggest that ginger root oil can be used in conjunction with prerelease, storage boxes to increase the effectiveness of sterile insect release programs.