Aromatherapy is often seen as quackery by skeptics who refuse to believe that smelling something could provide relief from any illness or symptom. However, if you’re willing to research the topic further, you’ll find that there have actually been several studies that have given credibility to this age old practice. The basic scientific concept behind aromatherapy lies in the ability of essential oils to emit volatile organic compounds (chemicals that you can smell), which activate the brain’s emotional centers and limbic system. Many essential oils also provide health benefits when ingested orally or applied topically. We met with Per Wickstrom, founder and CEO of numerous drug rehab centers, to discuss five of the most common ailments that aromatherapy can assist in treating:

1. Acne

There a number of essential oils that are effective against acne due to their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A popular aromatherapy mixture for treating acne involves 10 drops of lavender, 7 drops of tea tree, 3 drops of geranium, and 30 ml of jojoba oil. You can replace the tea tree oil with lemongrass oil if you don’t like the smell of it. You can also try aloe vera gel in place of the jojoba if you’d prefer a gel-like mixture instead. This mixture can (and should) also be applied topically in small amounts as well.

2. Addiction

Although aromatherapy alone cannot cure addiction, at Serenity Point Recovery we recommend using this is as an additional method of treatment. Essential oils that can be helpful for recovering from addiction include lavender, peppermint, lemon, bergamot, chamomile, clary sage, ginger, jasmine, pine, sandalwood, and rosemary. These oils are known for promoting relaxation, mental clarity, and proper sleep habits, reducing depression and anxiety, and relieving congestion.

3. Asthma

One of the most common conditions treated with aromatherapy is asthma. Many essential oils work to promote respiratory function and cleansing, including peppermint, lavender, roman chamomile, bergamot, tea tree oil, eucalyptus, frankincense, oregano, clove, and thyme. These herbs have decongestant, antihistamine, sedative, anti-inflammatory, expectorant, antibacterial, and anti-fungal properties, all of which help lower the chances of having an asthma attack and/or help to alleviate symptoms after an event.

4. Headache

Although essential oils that are used to treat headaches are most often applied topically to the forehead and neck, many are also useful in smell form as well. Essential oils that are commonly used to treat headaches include peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, and rosemary. Each of these oils have different uses and are therefore suitable for headaches of different causes. For example, eucalyptus opens the nasal passages and is therefore good for relieving a sinus headache.

5. Nausea

There are many essential oils that are useful for fighting nausea, including ginger, peppermint, spearmint, and cardamom. They’ve done studies to show that this mixture does effectively stop patients from feeling nauseous.

Discovering the Realm of Aromatherapy

Once you really start researching aromatherapy and all of the herbs and essential oils that are used in this ancient treatment method, it becomes an interesting adventure to learn about all of these natural substances that are beneficial to us in so many ways. Even if you’re a skeptical person who doesn’t usually try “alternative” treatments, it can’t be disputed that aromatherapy can be a very enjoyable and relaxing experience at the least.