Knowra Aromatherapy Aromatherapy Aromatherapy uses aromatic plant extracts, especially essential oils, for perceived effects on health and well-being. It commonly involves inhalation or application to the skin.
Essential oil : A concentrated, volatile mixture of compounds extracted from plants, usually by distillation or pressing. These concentrated plant extracts supply most substances used in aromatherapy.
Lavender oil : An essential oil distilled from lavender flowers, used in fragrance, personal care, and complementary practices. It is among the most familiar oils used for relaxation and sleep-related claims.
Evidence-based medicine : The integration of research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values in healthcare decisions. It provides standards for judging therapeutic claims about aromatic oils.
Contact dermatitis : Skin inflammation caused by direct contact with an irritating or allergenic substance. Topical essential oils can irritate skin or trigger allergic reactions.
Olfaction : The sensory process by which odor molecules activate receptors in the nose and produce smell perception. Inhaled aromas act first through the olfactory system.
Tea tree oil : An essential oil from Melaleuca alternifolia, used mainly in topical products and studied for antimicrobial properties. Its topical use illustrates how aromatherapy overlaps with skin-care claims.
Phytotherapy : The use of plant-derived preparations as medicines, often through ingestion or other routes beyond fragrance. Unlike aromatherapy, phytotherapy often depends on nonvolatile plant compounds and systemic dosing.
Essential oil poisoning : Illness caused by swallowing or otherwise absorbing a harmful amount of essential oil. Concentrated oils can be toxic if accidentally ingested, especially by children.
Limbic system : A set of interconnected brain structures involved in emotion, memory, motivation, and related functions. Smell has neural connections to brain systems involved in emotion and memory.
Inhalation therapy : The delivery of substances or treatments through breathing them into the respiratory tract. Diffusers and steam practices expose users to aromatic compounds by inhalation.
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