[Aromatherapy - From Traditional and Scientific Evidence into Clinical Practice]. / Aromatherapie: wann können ätherische Öle medizinisch eingesetzt werden?

Essential oils (EOs), also known as volatile oils, are concentrated natural plant products which contain volatile aroma compounds. Most EOs are derived by steam distillation, a tradition which can be traced back as many as 5000 years. They possess unique properties which result in various possibilities for application, also in modern medical contexts. Areas for medical aromatherapy include respiratory diseases, pain management or stress alleviation, amongst many others. Different modes of application exist: The rich ingredients can be absorbed by the body by anointment, gentle massage, inhalation, or oral intake of capsules. Also the risks of EO application in medical contexts should be considered, such as rare allergic reactions, overdosing, poor substance quality or overestimation of the effectiveness.

[Aromatherapy and nursing: historical and theoretical conception]. / Aromaterapia e enfermagem: concepção histórico-teórica.

Aromatherapy is a Practical or Complementary Health Therapy that uses volatile concentrates extracted from plants called essential oils, in order to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being. Aromatherapy has been practiced historically and worldwide by nurses and, as in Brazil is supported by the Federal Nursing Council, it is relevant to discuss this practice in the context of Nursing through Theories of Nursing. This study of theoretical reflection, exploratory and descriptive, aims to discuss the pharmacognosy of essential oils, the historical trajectory of Aromatherapy in Nursing and the conceptions to support Aromatherapy in light of eight Nursing Theorists (Florence Nightingale, Myra Levine, Hildegard Peplau, Martha Rogers, Callista Roy, Wanda Horta, Jean Watson and Katharine Kolcaba), contributing to its inclusion as a nursing care practice.

Aromatherapy and nursing: historical and theoretical conception / Aromaterapia y enfermería: concepción histórico-teórica / Aromaterapia e enfermagem: concepção histórico-teórica

Abstract Aromatherapy is a Practical or Complementary Health Therapy that uses volatile concentrates extracted from plants called essential oils, in order to improve physical, mental and emotional well-being. Aromatherapy has been practiced historically and worldwide by nurses and, as in Brazil is supported by the Federal Nursing Council, it is relevant to discuss this practice in the context of Nursing through Theories of Nursing. This study of theoretical reflection, exploratory and descriptive, aims to discuss the pharmacognosy of essential oils, the historical trajectory of Aromatherapy in Nursing and the conceptions to support Aromatherapy in light of eight Nursing Theorists (Florence Nightingale, Myra Levine, Hildegard Peplau, Martha Rogers, Callista Roy, Wanda Horta, Jean Watson and Katharine Kolcaba), contributing to its inclusion as a nursing care practice.

Resumen La Aromaterapia es una Práctica o Terapia Complementaria de salud que utiliza concentrados volátiles extraídos de plantas, los llamados aceites esenciales, con el fin de mejorar el bienestar físico, mental y emocional. La Aromaterapia ha sido practicada histórica y mundialmente por Enfermeros y, a la vista de que su empleo en Brasil tiene respaldo del Consejo Federal de Enfermería, se hace relevante discutir dicha práctica en el marco de la Enfermería mediante las Teorías de la Enfermería. El presente estudio de reflexión teórica, exploratorio y descriptivo tiene como objetivo discurrir acerca de la farmacognosia de los aceites esenciales, la trayectoria de la Aromaterapia en la Enfermería y fundamentar la Aromaterapia a la luz de ocho Teóricos de la Enfermería (Florence Nightingale, Myra Levine, Hildegard Peplau, Martha Rogers, Callista Roy, Wanda Horta, Jean Watson y Katharine Kolcaba), contribuyendo a su inserción como práctica asistencial de la profesión.

Resumo A Aromaterapia é uma Prática ou Terapia Complementar de saúde que utiliza concentrados voláteis extraídos de plantas, os chamados óleos essenciais, com a finalidade de melhorar o bem-estar físico, mental e emocional. A Aromaterapia tem sido praticada histórica e mundialmente por Enfermeiros e, visto que no Brasil sua utilização possui respaldo pelo Conselho Federal de Enfermagem, torna-se relevante discutir essa prática no contexto da Enfermagem por meio das Teorias da Enfermagem. O presente estudo de reflexão teórica, exploratório e descritivo, tem como objetivo discorrer sobre a farmacognosia dos óleos essenciais, a trajetória histórica da Aromaterapia na Enfermagem e fundamentar a Aromaterapia à luz de oito Teoristas de Enfermagem (Florence Nightingale, Myra Levine, Hildegard Peplau, Martha Rogers, Callista Roy, Wanda Horta, Jean Watson e Katharine Kolcaba), contribuindo para a sua inserção como prática assistencial da profissão.

[The origin and development of fragrance activity in Chinese ancient times].

It has a long history of the fragrance activities in the ancient China. During the period of pre-Qin, it was mainly used in the therapy and worship. Until the Three Kingdoms, the crowd using the fragrance expanded from the royal to the literati and the general officials. People applied the spices to incense clothes, purify rooms, prevent and treat epidemic diseases in daily. In the worship, the spices were dedicated to Gods and other fairies. The fragrance was developed quickly during the period from Wei Dynasty to South and North Dynasties. People had more experiences of spices used as medicines, the formula of spices were used more widely. Then, during the period from Sui Dynasty to Song Dynasty, the fragrance activities climbed to the peak. The fragrance activities were institutionalized, when nobility matched their spices each other. The Literati made spice products and enjoyed the fragrance activities. Doctors knew more than before in the application experiences and species of spices. In the times of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty, the fragrance activities spread among the public. The spices appeared in each side of the daily life of nobility, when natural fruits appeared in the fragrance activities. External therapy with spices appeared in the clinical. In addition to prevention and therapy, spices should be used in the embalming. After a long period, the fragrance activities had gradually developed into a kind of culture.

[Aromatic trees and herbs that connect Heaven and earth].

It has been known for a long time that aromatic substances (essential oils) contained in plants often exert psychological effects ranging from sedative to excitatory actions. Medicinal effects have also been confirmed through numerous experiences. In ancient times, aromatic trees and herbs were offered to deities, mostly as incenses that were believed to carry people's wishes, such as requests to cure sick people, to Heaven. In the medieval periods, their deep and subtle aromas elevated aromatics to so-called "treasures of the world," while their various medicinal activities including the psychological effects made them useful as treatment measures. Demands for aromatics in our time as raw materials for cosmetics far outweigh those as medicines. The market for aromatics, however, has become virtually non-existent, as the popularity of synthetic aromatics for cosmetics grew. In West Asia, olibanum and myrrh were highly regarded both as incense and analgesics for tooth pain. In India, sandalwood was prized as incense, and sometimes as an antidote for poisonous snakebites. In China and Japan, agalloch (Kyara is agalloch of the highest quality) was considered the most significant of the aromatics. Agalloch and many other aromatics were in possession of the Emperor's family in 8th century Japan; some of which are kept in Nara to this day. Olfactory sense is ultimately identified in the olfactory area of the frontal lobe of the human brain. When stimuli reach the olfactory area, they also affect other cells such as those around the hypothalamus when they go through it. The hypothalamus is the center of instinctive behaviors with the centers for appetite, sexuality, blood pressure and thirst, and greatly affects the psychological side of the human behavior with its delicate connection to the autonomic nerve system. It therefore may not be surprising that aromatics were often used in medicine, which once had close ties with shamanism, animism and other religious activities. Aromatics smokes that connected people on the earth with deities in Heaven healed people's mind, sometimes curing illness through what is now called aromatherapy. In fact, such use of aromatics is still practiced in China, where aromatics are highly regarded as treatment agents. There have also been reports of aromatics being used for psychological and mental disorders.

[Chin Junso--founder of the medical lineage Uirou].

Chin Junso was an excellent doctor with expertise in the medical sciences gained from teachings that originated in the Kin and Gen dynasties. He devised and used unique prescriptions with various aromatics, which he collectively called Hoyaku (fragrant medication). Although he did not desire to enter government service because of his old age, his knowledge and wishes were handed down to his descendants. He led a quiet life in his later years by practicing meditation at a Zen temple of the Rinzai-shu order. Uirou in Odawara incidentally belongs to the Nichiren-shu order and not to the lineage of Junso. Nichiren-shu was a Buddhism order popular among townspeople in Kyoto at that time. It may be of interest to note the second master Souju and the third master Jouyu contributed to the trade between Japan and Korea.

[Therapeutic use of aromatic substances in al-Andalus ]. / Uso terapéutico de sustancias aromáticas en al-Andalus.

Aromatic substances were used for therapeutic purposes in the ancient Arabic world, as they were in other contemporary and earlier cultures. By the Tenth Century, the Oriental Islamic culture had developed a solid corpus on aromatic substances that were selected for that purpose. This paper is an introduction to the knowledge of these substances that had been attained in al-Andalus in the Eleventh Century (considered the "Golden Age" of Andalusian pharmacology), based on the comparative study of the Kitab yawahir al-tib al-mufrada, by Ibn Masawayh, and the Kitah al-adwiya al-mufrada, by Ibn Wafid.

Aromatic drugs in Unani medicine with special reference to Kitabul-Mia-Lil-Masihi.

This is an established fact since time immemorial that, the aroma plays a vital role in the human beings and even in animals. The aromatic plants and aromatic chemicals contained in them has also significance in our day to day living. Process of distillation as adopted and described by Unani physicians confirms the claim that, they were aware of the importance of aromatic drugs and perfumes. There is a vast literature scattered in existing Unani medical books, which shows their intelligential towards the knowledge of herbal drugs including aromatic plants. 'Kitabul-Mia-Lil-Masihi is a book on Unani medicine. Its 17th Chapter consists of aromatic drugs exclusively. The drugs have been classified and presented here under different headings.