The healing effects of oils on the body are known to Indians since ages. Every household uses oils on the body in one or the other way but "aromatherapy" was coined in 1937 by a French chemist, Renee Maurice GATT fosse, at first for the lavender oil's healing properties. He worked on the large number of "essential" oils regarding their effects on health. These are the natural, high quality, pure oils obtained from flowering plants through distillation. He called this new field "aromatherapy" a constituent of Holistic treatment.
Part of a holistic assessment includes the patient's diet, digestion, sleep, support system, and the condition of the heart, mind and the soul. Aromatherapy is a support system in cancer treatment as just as an adjuvant of a multidimensional approach. Aromatherapy excels in the remediation of infectious states, improving immune response and regulating neuro-hormonal imbalances as well as having a positive effect on the psycho-emotional states. With these, aromatherapy has wide applications in the care of the person challenged with cancer. It also incorporates the use of essential oils with one or more complementary therapies such as massage, hydrotherapy, acupressure, etc. to increase the essential oil's benefit to the recipient.
Aromatherapy by now includes about 40 different highly concentrated oils distilled from various plants. The oils are used in the treatment of physical and mental ailments and also to prevent disease through euphoria, i.e., by increasing a sense of well being in the body and mind. Aromatherapy is promoted as a natural way to relieve stress, energize the body, and produce a feeling of well being.
Oils from the different plants, including rose, geranium, French basil, sweet fennel and others, are grouped by the effect they are believed to have physically and on the emotions, and on their ability to treat disease.
The psyche includes, but is not limited to, mental tension, anxiety, fear, depression, feelings of isolation, etc. The sedating effects of essential oils to the central nervous system will prove beneficial, as will the euphoric essences, along with the power of thought and belief, promotion of emotional release, and reduction of stress. Tension, stress, anxiety, and fear were reported as the most common reasons for aromatherapy referral in a hospital study in England. The study concluded that aromatherapy massage reduced the psychological distress of patients and improved symptoms related to the dreaded cancer treatment.
Different oils have different effects, for example, cedar wood oil is used for a pleasant and relaxing effect and rosemary oil for an invigorating and refreshing effect. Strategic essential oils are used for the alleviation of stress and enhancement of relaxation is Roman chamomile, frankincense, neroli, lavender, sweet marjoram, rose, and sandalwood. Herbal infusions and flower essence therapy are also used as part of the holistic approach to positively elevate the psychological state of the patient.
If a patient is undergoing conventional therapy for cancer i.e., chemotherapy, one should check with the doctor before beginning aromatherapy treatment.