Aromatherapy

What It Is: Its earliest uses probably date back several thousand years, to the Egyptians, the Greeks, and the Romans, who used oils in their baths and for medicinal purposes. Today people use scented botanicals like lavender and mint to increase their physical or psychological well-being.

Claims: Proponents of aromatherapy say that essential oils can boost the immune system, relieve muscle aches, and treat everything from headaches to respiratory ailments to insomnia.

What’s Been Proven: Not much. No large, controlled studies have shown that certain scents truly have therapeutic powers. “There is very little known about the specific ways odor molecules can have direct effects on the body,” says Pamela Dalton, Ph.D., a researcher at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, an institute that conducts research on taste and smell. “It may be that an odor has a subtle, direct physiological effect, but we know from many studies that your awareness and expectations may play a large role, too.” A few small studies have suggested that peppermint and cinnamon may increase alertness when people drive, and that lavender may have a sedating effect.

Typical Treatment: There’s no clinical way to experience aromatherapy. Scents are found in different forms, including oils, lotions, candles, and plants.

Approximate Cost: Prices vary depending on whether you’re buying a candle or an oil.

For More Info: InteliHealth (www.intelihealth.com), a medical website whose content is reviewed by Harvard Medical School faculty, has a useful section on aromatherapy.