Aromatherapy – A Non-Pharmacological Approach in Pain Control

Abstract

Pain represents an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience and is one of the most frequent symptoms in clinical practice. Pain control is crucial not only for the physical but also for the emotional and psychological support of the patient. Pain treatment includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. Integrating the non-pharmacological methods in pain management provides o holistic approach to the patient, addressing both the physical symptoms, and the psycho-emotional aspects of the patient’s suffering. Aromatherapy is an important non-pharmacological method that involves the use of essential oils extracted from plants to promote relaxation and reduce stress, contributing to pain relief. Certain scents were demonstrated to have analgesic and calming effects. This article presents the most important components of essential oils and the mechanisms explaining their effects on pain, mood, and behavior modulation, in promoting relaxation and stress management, improving well-being and life quality in individuals dealing with pain, as demonstrated by evidence-based studies meeting the criteria of aromachology, the science analyzing the olfactory effects on mood, physiology, and behavior. A lot of published data show positive outcomes about the therapeutical effects of essential oils in pain control, but there is still a large individual variability in responsivity to aromatherapy so the effectiveness of aromatherapy in pain management cannot be yet conclusive to establish standard protocols for the use of aromatherapy in pain modulation.