Advantages Of Aromatherapy

Does Aromathrapy Really Work For The Cancer Patient?

What are the advantages of aromatherapy to cancer patients and does aromatherapy really work? While it is clear that massage can be beneficial to cancer patients, there are other common substances that are used in massage that may be considered as possible help to cancer patients. One of the most common complementary disciplines to massage is aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy has been utilised for a long time. As a scientific principle, it was first studied by French chemist, René-Maurice Gattefossé. When he received a severe burn during an experiment, he applied lavender oil and found that it relieved the pain and swelling. He subsequently employed essential oils in many other applications, including on soldiers' wounds. Convinced that he had made a compelling discovery, his discoveries became public knowledge and he firmly answered the question of does aromatherapy really work.

While massage is fabulous for easing the stress of cancer, there are several things to look for when employing the advantages of aromatherapy in oncology massage (cancer massage). According to a University of Maryland Medical Center report, there are some types of essential oils that are should be avoided (contraindicated) in certain cancer patients. For example, some types of cancer have a strong relationship to the hormone estrogen. If these cancers, including breast or ovarian cancer, are the issue, essential oils with a strong estrogen link should be avoided for cancer massage. These include oils such as clary-sage and fennel, among others. Because of this, it's important to use a trained and qualified massage therapist.

Because the science behind how aromatherapy actually works is fairly new, there are various theories as to how the action takes place. Some scientists favor the theory that the advantages are directly tied to the body's sense of smell, while others propose that the oils are capable of penetrating skin and directly working with both hormones and amino acids to promote health. Either way, it is clear that they may add additional benefit to cancer massage when used correctly.

To help you experience some of the advantages of aromatherapy, we recently took a poll to find the best aromatherapy dvd and book recommendations. Here are the results -