Aromatherapy is popular and pleasant – but does it have real health effects? The last time I tried to find an answer to this question was in 2012. At that time, our systematic review concluded that “the evidence is not sufficiently convincing that aromatherapy is an effective therapy for any condition.” But 5 years can be a long time in research, and more up-to-date information would perhaps be helpful.
This systematic review of 2017 aimed to provide an analysis of the clinical evidence on the efficacy of aromatherapy specifically for depressive symptoms on any type of patients. The authors searched 5 databases for relevant studies Outcome measures included scales measuring depressive symptoms levels. Twelve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included. Aromatherapy was administered by inhalation (5 studies) or massage (7 studies). Seven RCTs showed improvement in depressive symptoms. The quality of half of the studies was low, and the administration protocols varied considerably among the studies. Different assessment tools were employed in the studies. In 6 of the RCTs, aromatherapy was compared to no intervention.
Despite these caveats, the authors concluded that aromatherapy showed potential to be used as an effective therapeutic option for the relief of depressive symptoms in a wide variety of subjects. Particularly, aromatherapy massage showed to have more beneficial effects than inhalation aromatherapy.
Apart from the poor English, this paper is irritating because of the almost total lack of critical input. Given that half of the trials were of poor quality (only one was given the full points on the quality scale) and many totally failed to control for placebo-effects, I think that calling aromatherapy an effective therapeutic option for the relief of depressive symptoms is simply not warranted. In fact, it is highly misleading and, given the fact that depression is a life-threatening condition, it seems unethical and dangerous.
Considering these facts, my conclusion remains that “the evidence is not sufficiently convincing that aromatherapy is an effective therapy for any condition, including depression.”
7 Responses to Aromatherapy for depression? Smells fishy, if you ask me!
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Aromatherapy is marvellous for relaxation. If you knew anything about medicine then you would know that a person’s state of mind can ameliorate and aggravate their medical condition.
Aromatherapy massage is also excellent for muscle relaxation (that is, if you believe that mental stress can contribute to muscular stress).
” If you knew anything about medicine…”
THANKS FOR THIS!
http://edzardernst.com/2013/12/ad-hominem-attacks-my-life-would-be-so-dull-without-them/
http://edzardernst.com/2012/12/ad-hominem-attacks-are-signs-of-victories-of-reason-over-unreason/
My vote for cockamamie comment of the year goes to:
~~~~~ :drumroll:~~~~
“Greg”, a die-hard homeopath saying on Friday 17 March 2017 at 11:16:
“If you knew anything about medicine” to a physician and one of the more productive professors of medicine and researchers this world has seen.
Greg, your fallacy is final. 😀
GOOD CHOICE!!!
Good choice! You guys are pathetic, and an embarrassment to your profession. No serious medical academics would appear with their names on this blog insulting other bloggers! CAM has been around for thousands of years and still will be when you are both long gone. How’s that for funny?
What you believe flies in the face of science, common sense and reason. And you believe in the leap of logic that if it’s been around for awhile, it must be true. How’s that for funny? Don’t answer. It’s hilarious!
“… a person’s state of mind can ameliorate and aggravate their medical condition.”
What makes the insult against Dr. Ernst even more ridiculous is that the statement that follows the insult (above) is not even true. You can’t wish yourself sick or wish yourself well. If you knew anything about medicine then you would know that.