Aromatherapy: is it useful or not to improve health?

Aromatherapy is a discipline that claims to benefit from the properties of essential oils from plants, herbs, flowers and natural bark, and whose benefits would enter our body through inhalation. Its origin is ancient: there are discoveries linked to cultures such as Mesopotamia, Indian, Egyptian or Greek, which used essential oils for different therapeutic purposes.

“Essential oils are highly concentrated extracts of certain plants, rich in aromatic molecules and other chemical substances, such as terpenes “explains Marcela Espinosa, academic of medicine at the Andrés Bello University, Campus Viña del Mar, and specialist in integrative medicine. The scientific study of these essential oils dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in countries like France and the United Kingdom.

But it was not until 1937 that the French perfumer and biochemist René-Maurice Gattefossé published the first book on the subject: Aromatherapy: essential oils and plant hormones. Soon after, Marguerite Mary, an Austrian biochemist based in France, developed a unique method of applying essential oils to the skin using massage techniques.

Since then, people applying or receiving aromatherapy have multiplied around the world, always with the promise of improving health through natural, non-invasive processes. This also makes it a great business: various consulting firms estimate that the market value of aromatherapy diffusers is approximately $1.52 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $2.17 billion in 2029, with an annual growth of 7.37%. For Latin America, this growth should be 9.5% .

But the lack of sufficient scientific evidence to support aromatherapy leads many to consider it a pseudoscience. To dispel doubts, the Spanish State proposed generate reports, based on existing studies and research, to inform its population about the true effectiveness and safety of this and other alternative therapies . The results were revealed recently and are not very conclusive.

“The quality of evidence according to the systematic reviews included in this report was considered low or very low. Many results are inconsistent, imprecise, and based on studies with high or unclear risk of bias,” they say of the aromatherapy material.

“The conclusions cannot be definitive due to the low methodological quality of many studies included in the identified systematic reviews. Aromatherapy may be a valuable complementary resource for the treatment of physical and psychological symptoms of cardiovascular disease and dysmenorrhea. “Essential oils are natural, but not harmless, and a number of mild adverse effects have been identified associated with their use. »

“It is regrettable that this campaign to discredit complementary therapies is being carried out in Spain,” says Espinosa. “In attachment to obtuse beliefs, we find only barriers, which deviate from the goals of humanity,” he says. Currently, he adds, there is an increase in research into these therapies, so he hopes that “over time we will learn how to take better advantage of them.” It is advisable to continue to deepen your study out of curiosity,” he emphasizes.

The Spanish health report highlights that the indications for which aromatherapy has proven effective, with a moderate or high degree of confidence, are the control of anxiety, respiratory rate and heart rate in cardiovascular diseases and pain in dysmenorrhea (menstrual uterine pain); However, there are no specific studies on the benefits of essential oils.

“ Although aromatherapy does not have conclusive scientific evidence to support its use to treat specific medical conditions, it can be a complementary tool to promote well-being and mental health,” explains Mauricio Bonilla, public health specialist at Hello to.

“From my medical perspective, aromatherapy could be a beneficial practice for mental and emotional well-being,” he says. Pleasant aromas can stimulate the limbic system, “which is the part of the brain that regulates emotions and thus generates feelings of relaxation, calm and stress reduction.”

Bonilla, however, goes no further and emphasizes that aromatherapy should not be understood as a medical treatment in itself. “This can be a valuable tool to complement other therapies and mental wellness strategies,” he adds.

Samuel Fernández, clinical psychologist at Saluta, also adds that aromatherapy does not have “strong scientific support for curing illnesses, but it can be beneficial as a complement to promote a relaxing environment.” This is why, to those who wish to use it, it suggests contexts whose aim is to improve the quality of the environment, reduce stress or promote a state of relaxation.

Marcela Espinosa again emphasizes that many conclusions from aromatherapy research remain vague. However, he says, these results must be interpreted with humility: “their benefits should not be exalted, but they should not be underestimated either. “No one can play with people’s illusions, but neither can take away the possibility of feeling better,” he says.

According to Espinosa, aromatherapy is based on the emotional modulation that the aromas of these essential oils can produce given the direct connection of smell with the primitive brain centers.

“We have all experienced the comfort that a familiar smell gives us, that sensation that anchors us in a pleasant memory,” he says. “There are aromas that we have associated during evolution with certain emotions, so there are common patterns,” he analyzes.

For example, citrus fruits are frequently associated with joy and freshness, or mint can help us wake up and maintain our concentration.

“In a very stimulating and demanding cultural environment, devoting a few seconds of mindfulness to the chosen aroma can quickly bring us back to our center and help us face challenges with greater clarity,” Espinosa shares. This can be a good exercise to focus your attention and avoid burnout caused by multitasking.

Although certain aromas are associated with certain effects, it ultimately depends more on the personal relationship one has with the scent or the plant itself.

Fernández explains that there are some studies that suggest specific effects for certain aromas, such as regulating emotions or improving mood, but the variable of subjectivity is essential and cannot be lost sight of. “There are people who don’t like the smell of lavender, one of the most powerful aromas; In such cases, the effect can be completely opposite,” he says.

One of the problems noted by the Spanish report is that in recent years, reported cases of accidental poisoning from essential oils have increased, particularly among children. “The implications of continued use of essential oils and the effects of their possible interaction with medications are also unknown,” the report details.

Since there is not much scientific evidence regarding its benefits, there is also little evidence regarding its harms if used incorrectly.

“Essential oils can be toxic if ingested,” says Bonilla. “Some symptoms of poisoning can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, seizures and even death.”

Espinosa explains that there are essential oils that can be consumed directly. “In some cases and circumstances they can be ingested, although they must always be guided by a health professional,” explains the UNAB academic. This means never trying it at home without medical supervision or with a random aromatherapy product. “It depends on the oil, the person and the purpose for which it is going to be used, taking into account the risks and interactions,” he says.

Many essential oils are only intended for application in aroma diffusers and therefore have a high concentration. “Inappropriate use, such as ingesting them or applying them directly to the skin, can cause mild irritation up to digestive bleeding,” warns Espinosa.

There are several reports of allergic reactions or hormonal alterations due to improper use of essential oils for aromatherapy. In one article of New York Times on using essential oils on the skin , dermatologist Annie Gonzalez said many people were convinced that tea tree was the best solution to their problems. However, using too much of its essential oil undiluted, Patients end up worsening their skin condition, or even developing tinea incognita: an infection caused by hidden fungi.

“This makes it even more difficult for me to diagnose the main problem and it is more complicated to solve it, because we now have to repair the skin barrier that has been affected by the use of these oils,” warned González.

Another point concerns hormonal alterations. Bonilla points out that aromatherapy “may not be suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women.” Faced with this, Espinosa says that although some essential oils have properties that influence the hormonal system, scientific evidence on their ability to significantly alter hormonal balance is still limited.

“As a precaution, it is best to avoid frequent use of lavender in childhood, as it has been associated with some cases of precocious puberty,” he suggests.

Using the integrative medicine approach, Espinosa explains that a clairvoyant perspective will allow us to use resources more efficiently and achieve better results. “Inflexible rejection by the medical community risks delegating responsibility for the use and prescription of these tools to well-meaning people without the necessary training to do so,” he believes. This is why he mentions that it is necessary to educate and educate, “to meet the demands posed to us by current health challenges”.