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.

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

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

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

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

Researchers in Australia reviewed the evidence. (more…)

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…)

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

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…)

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

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…)

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

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

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…)

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

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

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…)

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

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

Here are the highpoints. (more…)

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

Highlights follow. (more…)

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

 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…)