Is all aromatherapy effective?
Meet the Experts
Dan Benor, M.D. is a holistic psychiatrist, author, and teacher of holistic approaches to medical treatment.
Larry Lachman, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist with Inner Dimensions Group in Monterey, California, who specializes in psycho-oncology, cardiac psychology, pain management, and grief and loss.
Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. is a medical oncologist specializing in the treatment of breast cancer, with a a special interest in cancer survivorship, patient-physician communication, and quality of care for women with breast cancer.
Question from Revcate: Is everything labeled "aromatherapy" as effective as another?
- Answer —Dan Benor, M.D.: Aromatherapy is an enormous field where they are just beginning to do research. In Volume 2 of my book on Healing Research, I summarize very briefly those symptoms which have been found to respond to particular oils. We're really in the early days of exploring those. Aromatherapy is administered in several different ways. The most common is through an inhaler system where they evaporate the oil with a little burner under a cup that's holding water with a few drops of oil. The second is where it's used topically, in massage oil. It serves to smooth the massage at the same time that the aroma is administered through the oil.
On Wednesday, October 20, 2004, our Ask-the-Expert Online Conference was called Complementary and Holistic Techniques. Dan Benor, M.D.,Larry Lachman, Psy.D., and moderator Jennifer Griggs, M.D., M.P.H. answered your questions about the various complementary and holistic treatments that may benefit those with breast cancer.
The materials presented in these conferences do not necessarily reflect the views of Breastcancer.org. A qualified healthcare professional should be consulted before using any therapeutic product or regimen discussed. All readers should verify all information and data before employing any therapies described here.
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