Aromatherapy facts for kids

Aromatherapy is a type of alternative medicine that uses the part of plants known as essential oils. Some people think that aromatherapy helps to change a person's mind, mood or health but this has not been proven scientifically.

Some essential oils like tea tree do have an anti-microbial effect, so they may be useful for the treatment of infections. Evidence that aromatherapy works in treating disease and other conditions is poor.

Ways of using aromatherapy

The ways of using aromatherapy oils include:

• Putting on the skin
• In the bath
• In a diffuser

• Burke, L., & Chambers, P. (1995). The very essence: A guide to aromatherapy. Silver Link.
• Lis-Balchin, Maria (2006). Aromatherapy science: A guide for healthcare professionals. London: Pharmaceutical Press. ISBN: 0-85369-578-4
• Schnaubelt, Kurt (1998). Advanced aromatherapy: The science of essential oil therapy. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. ISBN: 0-89281-743-7
• Schnaubelt, Kurt (1999). Medical aromatherapy: Healing with essential oils. Berkeley, CA: Frog. ISBN: 1-883319-69-2
• Valnet, Jean; & Tisserand, Robert (1990). The practice of aromatherapy: A classic compendium of plant medicines & their healing properties. Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press. ISBN: 0-89281-398-9

• Wanjek, Christopher (2003). Bad medicine: Misconceptions and misuses revealed, from distance healing to vitamin O. New York: J. Wiley. ISBN: 0-471-43499-X
• Valnet, Jean; & Tisserand, Robert (1982). The practice of aromatherapy. Saffron Walden: Daniel. ISBN: 0-85207-143-4

Journals

Criticism

See also

In Spanish: Aromaterapia para niños