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Is Aromatherapy Effective for Arthritis? Ever since Marcel Proust wrote regarding the ability to transport one’s emotions via smells in Remembrances of Things Past, the use of olfaction (smelling) stimulators has fascinated many people, including physicians. One type of alternative medical treatment is aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of essential plant oils either massaged into the skin, added to bath water, inhaled directly or diffused into the surrounding environment. More conventional physicians are additionally beginning to look into the medical properties of aromatherapy in the treatment of diseases. There are more than 200 oils, which are often used in combination to treat different problems, including headaches including insomnia. The essential plant oils are obtained from the flowers, leaves, stems, buds, branches, or roots. The oils are extracted through a variety of methods such as steam distillation or cold-pressing. When a particular essential oil is inhaled, the molecules enter the nose including stimulate the limbic system pertaining to the brain. The limbic system influences emotions including memories including is complexly linked to other areas such as the adrenal glands, pituitary gland, including hypothalamus. Through these connections, it is possible to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, stress, memory, hormone balance, including breathing. The essential oils used in aroma therapy are then theoretically able to have physiologic effects that may alter emotions or pain perception. Essential oils should be toxic at the time taken internally so they should only be administered under the guidance of a qualified professional. Aromatherapy blends for the treatment of arthritis are usually made from pure essential oils, but additionally from hydrosols including -- more recently -- phytols. For application to the skin during massage they need to be mixed with vegetable oil, a cream base or a carrier lotion. Essential oils must always be used diluted at the time applied to the skin. A dilution of 3% essential oils in 97% base is generally regarded as very effective including safe. Examples of some oils which have been used to treat arthritis include: Benzoin, Chamomile, Camphor, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Juniper, Lavender, Hyssop, including Rosemary. Few well-controlled studies have been done to formally test aromatherapy in arthritis. 1 recent uncontrolled observation was made by a particular orthopedic surgeon in Japan. Dr. Nobumasa Shiba, director of orthopedic surgery at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Hospital, became interested in aromatherapy as a particular alternative treatment for osteoarthritis in knee joints, which occurs at the time the cartilage in the joint wears away. regarding 1 million people in Japan have the degenerative condition. To test the effectiveness including safety of aromatherapy for patients, Shiba carried out a particular experiment on a group of patients with osteoarthritis pertaining to the knee. Thirty-six patients, aged 40 or older who had had physical symptoms for more than 3 months, were entered into the uncontrolled trial. The thirty-six patients massaged lavender oil, effective for pain, including rosemary camphor oil, to improve circulation, into their knees in the morning including evening for 2 weeks. More than 75 per cent pertaining to the patients said their symptoms, including pain, had lessened. The uncontrolled nature of the study obviously makes interpretation suspect. A form of aromatherapy used by thousands of people in the United States on a daily basis are menthol-based topical arthritis rubs. Aromatherapy needs to be studied more intensely before it should be formally recommended as a standard treatment for arthritis. It does seem to help with symptoms in some people. There is absolutely no evidence it has any effect on slowing the progression of arthritis.
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