unit 13

Question 1

What has Aromatic plants, incense, oils, and perfumes been used throughout history for?

Answer 1

masking unpleasant odours, embalming, or for religious ceremonies.

Question 2

What is the licensing of aromatherapy in canada?

Answer 2

there is no legal requirement for a practitioner of aromatherapy to be licensed by an agency of the government but there is a professional organization for aromatherapists: the Canadian Federation of Aromatherapists

Question 3

How is aromatherapy in canada different from european aromatherapy?

Answer 3

In Canada aromatherapy is firmly in the camp of CAM therapies. However, in parts of Europe aromatherapists often work in a conventional medical setting

Question 4

Describe essential oils

Answer 4

The volatile, fragrant components found in some plants are their essential oils.

Oils from unrelated plant species may have some ingredients in common.

Question 5

How are essential oils extracted?

Answer 5

extracted by distillation, by cold-pressing (expression), or by organic solvents.

Question 6

How much of the plant do essential oils make?

What causes it to vary?

Answer 6

Essential oils amount to approximately one to two per cent of the weight of plant material.

However, the amount varies depending on geographic location, weather conditions, soil type and production, and manufacturing techniques.

Question 7

describe the chemical structure of essential oils

Answer 7

Oils from unrelated plant species may have some ingredients in common.

These oils can be contaminated with synthetic oils, pesticides, or herbicides, and may degrade over time by exposure to oxygen, heat, moisture, or light.

Thus, essential oils should be stored in a cool place in coloured glass bottles and should be used within one year of opening the bottle.

Question 8

What are aromatherapy oils?

Answer 8

Aromatherapy oils are mixtures of an essential oil and a carrier oil. The proportion of an essential oil in such products could be as little as four per cent.

Question 9

How does the effect of essential oil depend on the route of administration?

Answer 9

The effect of essential oils also depends on the route of administration; this influences the proportion of the substance which reaches the systemic circulation.

Question 10

What are some methods of aromatherapy?

Answer 10

Methods of aromatherapy involve scent inhalation alone or in combination with massage. With massage, essential oils are applied directly to the body and massaged into the skin. Otherwise, essential oils are inhaled briefly as one might use smelling salts or in a more diffuse manner as with incense or perfume. Oils may be dabbed on pulse points, dispersed by fragrance diffusers, simmered in potpourri vessels, added to boiling water to be diffused by steam, or added to baths.

Question 11

Describe skin absorption of aromatherapy

Answer 11

The rate of absorption through the skin differs with individuals, although it is influenced by evaporation and may increase with skin damage or disease. The amount of essential oil absorbed depends on the dilution of the oil, the amount of oil applied, and the total surface area of the skin to which the oil is applied. Higher skin temperature increases both absorption and evaporation, and hydration of the skin during a bath or shower increases the absorption of oils. There is evidence that massage enhances the absorption of some essential oil constituents through pressure and warming of the skin.

Question 12

Describe inhalation absorption of aromatherapy

Answer 12

Odorous molecules in the air diffuse into the mucus layer of the nasal cavity and bind with receptors on the dendrites (nerve endings). There are over 1000 types of receptor proteins embedded in the dendrites that can stimulate the olfactory neurons to send a message to the brain. Since some chemicals may bind to more than one receptor type, the brain may perceive more than 1000 different odours from combinations of various olfactory neutrons.

Inhaled substances also enter the lungs where the small molecules of essential oils can pass into the blood. The amount of odoriferous molecules being inhaled and reaching the blood depends on the rate of breathing.

Question 13

Describe oral administration of essential oils

Answer 13

Taken orally, the dosage ranges between 0.5 and 2.5 ml per day; however, dosage and dilution are not standardized nor measured with any precision.

The amount of essential oil that is absorbed orally is significantly greater than inhalation or topical application.

All essential oils are fat soluble and tend to act like fat-soluble drugs in terms of distribution and metabolism. As essential oil molecules pass through the liver, they are metabolized by enzymes into molecules that are more water soluble.

Question 14

What is the route of administration for all cases where severe poisoning with essential oils have taken place?

Answer 14

oral administration

Question 15

How is the recommended amount of essential oil prescribed?

Answer 15

based on the philosophy of the practitioner prescribing the oil

Question 16

What are the most likely mechanisms of action for essential oils?

Answer 16

The mechanism of action of essential oils is not known with any certainty. The most likely mechanisms are pharmacological action through direct effects when oils enter the bloodstream, or psychologically when the aroma of the oil is inhaled.

Question 17

What is the toxicity of essential oils compared to dose

Answer 17

the greater amount of essential oil applied, the greater the risk of harm, with oral administration being the highest risk. In comparison, the amounts absorbed from inhalation are small.

Question 18

What are some of the risks of essential oils?

Answer 18

With a few exceptions undiluted essential oils should never be applied to the skin. Poorly labelled essential oils should be avoided and all oils should be kept out of reach of children.

Question 19

What is the potential for interaction between essential oils and medications?

Answer 19

Significant interactions between essential oils and drugs are unlikely unless the oils have been given orally

Question 20

What are the most serious risks of aromatherapy?

Answer 20

Allergic reactions to the aromatic oils are the most serious risk of aromatherapy. The long-term effect of such inhalants on lung functioning is not well documented and caution must be advised.

Question 21

What are the contraindications of aromatherapy?

Answer 21

The use of aromatherapy is contraindicated with any skin disorder, such as severe eczema or psoriasis.

Users of essential oils should determine the contraindications for each oil and, if unsure of how to proceed, should take advice from a trained aromatherapist. Something that smells pleasant may not be harmless.

Question 22

What makes it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy?

Answer 22

Aromatherapy has several similarities with homeopathy. With both there are an enormous number of combinations of treatments and conditions. This makes it hugely challenging to identify specific treatments that are effective.

Question 23

Is aromatherapy effective?

Answer 23

Looking at this evidence as a whole it is clear that more research is required, especially from well-designed randomized controlled studies. At the present time we cannot state with great confidence that aromatherapy is effective for any particular condition

Question 24

What is the reason for poor studies in aromatherapies?

Answer 24

Most of the systematic reviews were of poor methodological quality.

Question 25

How is the placebo effect in aromatherapy and homeopathy similar?

Answer 25

Another obvious similarity between aromatherapy and homeopathy is that any benefit may well be due simply to the placebo effect. This is not necessarily a bad thing: if persons using aromatherapy feel better and the treatment is reasonably safe and cheap, then why not use it? In this respect aromatherapy is comparable to music therapy.

Question 26

Essential oils are obtained from

Answer 26

plants

Question 27

The route of administration of essential oils that carries most risk is

Answer 27

oral ingestion

Question 28

By law a person who wishes to practice as an aromatherapist in Canada must:

Answer 28

neither (anyone in Canada is free to practice as an aromatherapist)

Question 29

Aromatherapy is used most commonly with the following types of patients, except

Answer 29

persons with eczema

Question 30

Describe holistic aromatherapy

Answer 30

Low doses (0.5 to 2%) of oils blended into lipophilic bases to be applied to the body

uses concept of individual prescription with client preparation

essential oils usually blended together and overall fragrance is main concern

more than one session is necessary

a holistic approach taken throughout session

home use and self care between sessions is promoted

Main risk relate to methods of administration used

Question 31

Describe medicinal aromatherapy

Answer 31

essential oils prescribed to treat mostly physical disorders

administration includes topical, oral, sublingual, rectal, vaginal and inhalation

dosages vary widely according to requirements

may be used in combination with other remedies such as herbs

selection of oil is determined by it’s pharmacological activity

overall formulation takes into account the chemistry of each active ingredient

selection of oil made by practitioner with little patient involvement

risks are due to the method of administration

Question 32

Describe clinical aromatherapy

Answer 32

a holistic approach with regard to well-being and anxiety reduction

interventions often brief and focused

most involve topical application or inhalation. Less frequently rectal or ingestion

delivered by a trained practitioner as part of health care

involvement of caregiver or immediate family in their care

active liaison with other health professionals

Question 33

What are some examples of health areas where aromatherapy is being integrated?

Answer 33

midwifery
cancer and palliative care
elder care
special needs
psychiatry

Question 34

what are some of the commonly used essential oils?

Answer 34

roman chamomile
frankincense
grapefruit
lavender
tea tree
rose
black pepper

Question 35

what is the issue with adverse effects in in aromatherapy?

Answer 35

reporting of adverse effects is not well coordinated

need a dedicated system where both practitioners and patients can report the effects

Question 36

What is more widely reported as occurring in misuse of aromatherapy?

Answer 36

accidental or deliberate misuse of essential oils in the home environment more prevalent.

often involves children who are more vulnerable to adverse effects