Aromatherapy in dermatology

Abstract

romatherapy is the therapeutic use of volatile, aromatic essential oils which are extracted from plants. Aromatherapy may be regarded as hav- ing a close relationship to herbal medicine; the major difference between them is in the former essential oils are extracted from parts of the plant, whereas the whole plant is used in herbal medicines. The term aromathera- pie was coined by the French chemist Rene ´-Maurice Gattefosse ´, who published a book of the same name in 1937. He is considered by many to be the father of modern-day aromatherapy. Essential oils are also used in the food, cosmetic, and perfume industry, who are presently the largest users of essential oils in the world, currently more so that in the therapeutic use of aromatherapy. The term aroma- therapy is so loose that many associate essential oils purely with the beauty and cosmetics industry, not understanding their important therapeutic potential. Background Aromatic forms of medicine have been used through- out history for spiritual, medicinal, social, and beauty purposes. Not always in the form of essential oils but also as infusions, teas, incense, smoking, perfumes, and the strewing of herbs. Evidence in writing for the ben- efits of aromatic substances is evident in early Chinese medicines as long as 4500 years ago. A Chinese em- peror, Kiwant Ti, wrote a book describing the medicinal properties of plants, attributing similar properties to their use as those that we give them today. There is also evidence of the use of herbal and plant extracts in the medicine and the spiritual rituals of ancient Egypt. Aromatic substances are well known to have been used in the preservation of the body for the after-life as in the tomb of Tutankhamen discovered in Egypt in 1922. The scent in the tomb was apparently faint but still in evi- dence. In more recent history, herbal and aromatic sub- stances were used in the Middle Ages against airborne infections, such as plagues. The burning of herbs in public places to purify the atmosphere and the wearing of pomanders were common. There was a close rela- tionship between the role of perfumery and aromatic herbal medicines as perfumers were also called upon to provide protection for their clientele against prevalent diseases. Rene ´-Maurice Gattefossecoined the term aroma- therapy in 1927 following his experiments with essen- tial oils. The story of his discovery of the potential healing properties of essential oils is relevant to the subject of aromatherapy in dermatology. While per- forming some experiments in his laboratory, Gattefosse ´ burned his hand badly. He dipped his hand into lav- ender essential oil which happened to be nearby. Amazed at the rapidity and completeness of the healing without scarring which he experienced, Gattefosse ´ went on to study the properties of different essential oils. He carried out experiments with essential oils in military hospitals during World War I. He claimed to have achieved remarkable results using essential oils preventing gangrene, curing burns, and obtaining wound healing far more quickly than usual; however, after the war, his methods came under professional scrutiny and were largely left behind. 1