Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy uses plant materials and aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, and other aroma compounds, with claims for improving psychological or physical well-being. It is offered as a complementary therapy or as a form of alternative medicine, the first meaning alongside standard treatments, the second instead of conventional, evidence-based treatments.

Aromatherapists, people who specialize in the practice of aromatherapy, utilize blends of therapeutic essential oils that can be used as topical application, massage, inhalation or water immersion. There is no good medical evidence that aromatherapy can either prevent or cure any disease. Placebo-controlled trials are difficult to design, as the point of aromatherapy is the smell of the products. There is some evidence that it is effective in combating postoperative nausea and vomiting.

* Description and images provided by Wikipedia under CC-BY-SA 3.0 license .