The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point

Archive for the 'Aromatherapy' Category

What you should know about aromatherapy

Wednesday, June 10th, 2015

If you expect aromatherapy to cure a major illness, you will probably be disappointed, according to AromaWeb — a source of practical information on this complementary treatment.

The available scientific evidence (such as it is) supports this statement. The Natural Standard website (which charges a membership fee) conducted literature reviews on the various applications of aromatherapy and concluded that even for the best documented conditions (eg, anxiety and agitation), the data are conflicting and based on small, poorly designed trials.

However, to conclude from this that aromatherapy is to be avoided would be excessive. Its current use is not intended to replace standard medical care but complement it. If using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, improves your sense of psychological and physical well being, by all means, indulge yourself.

(more…)

Results of nonpharmacological approaches to treating pain

Tuesday, January 1st, 2013

Researchers at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, in Chicago evaluated the effectiveness of an inpatient integrative medicine consult service for pain management. (more…)

The role of expectation on the response to lavender aromatherapy

Saturday, May 26th, 2012

Different theories attempt to explain the relaxation response to lavender aromatherapy.

This study suggests there’s another reason. (more…)

CAM for insomnia?

Sunday, October 2nd, 2011

It’s probably one of the most popular uses of CAM.

Researchers in Australia reviewed the evidence. (more…)

Aromatherapy for pain during labor?

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Many women want to avoid pharmacological or invasive methods of pain management during labor, and this may contribute towards the popularity of complementary methods of pain management.

In this Cochrane review, researchers at the University of Western Sydney, in Australia, evaluated the evidence supporting the aromatherapy for pain management in labor. (more…)

Melissa to treat agitation in Alzheimer’s disease

Sunday, July 17th, 2011

Researchers at the University of Manchester, in the UK, compared Melissa officinalis aromatherapyalso referred to as lemon balm — to donepezil (Aricept). (more…)

Using CAM to improve the lives of cancer patients

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

During the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, researchers at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, in Perth, Western Australia reported less distress, and improvements in pain, fatigue, nausea, appetite, sleep, breathing and bowel function. (more…)

Benefits of aromatherapy in dental patients

Thursday, April 14th, 2011

Researchers at King’s College London, in the UK have published their findings with lavender. (more…)

The risk of contact allergy to essential oils

Tuesday, March 15th, 2011

They’re used in perfumes and in products for aromatherapy or balneotherapy. Previous studies have shown some to be important contact sensitizers.

Researchers at the University of Erlangen/Nürnberg, in Germany, reviewed the records of more than 15,000 patients in order to estimate the risk. (more…)

Aromatherapy massage for breast cancer patients

Thursday, March 10th, 2011

Researchers at the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, in Japan measured immunological and psychological effects. (more…)

Survey of American medical students about CAM

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Researchers from several US medical schools surveyed the students. (more…)

Prevalence of CAM use in England

Friday, August 13th, 2010

The English commonly combine CAM with prescription drugs.

Let’s compare these findings by Prof. Ernst and colleagues to CAM use in other countries. (more…)

Review of aromatherapy to treat high blood pressure

Thursday, August 12th, 2010

Prof. Ernst reviewed the evidence and finds that more is needed. (more…)

Support for aromatherapy in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Saturday, April 10th, 2010

It’s a controversial subject, but researchers at Tottori University, in Yonago, Japan, report positive results in a small study. (more…)

Relaxing with rose oil

Monday, March 8th, 2010

Dr. Tanapee Hongratanaworakit at Srinakharinwirot University, in Bangkok, Thailand studied the physiologic effects of rose oil (Rosa damascena Mill, Rosaceae) in the absence of olfactory stimulation. (more…)

Lack of evidence for aromatherapy in dementia

Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

 That’s the conclusion by reviewers from Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Kent, UK. (more…)

The aromatherapy primer

Saturday, July 11th, 2009

Christian Nordqvist has published an introduction to aromatherapy on the Medical News Today website.

Here are the highpoints. (more…)

Frankincense and myrrh

Wednesday, December 24th, 2008

 Laura Christman and Deb Peterson have written interesting articles on these resins, which became forever famous more than 2 centuries ago.

Highlights follow. (more…)

The role of CAM to treat anxiety and depression

Saturday, October 18th, 2008

Here’s a review of the evidence by researchers at the University of Western Australia in Perth. (more…)

WITHDRAWN: Aromatherapy and massage for cancer.

Saturday, October 11th, 2008

 Cochrane doesn’t explain why this review, which was prepared by researchers at the Marie Curie Palliative Care Research and Development Unit in London, was published and then withdrawn.

But just labeling it peaks my interest. (more…)