Recently I came across a Chinese drama where a Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor treating was a patient suffering from insomnia used a pouch filled with aromatic medicine as a adjuvant along with other medication. It was quiet fascinating and I did some digging in to the same and let me share what I found.
The use of aromatic herbs to ward of disease dates back to thousands of years. According to the History of Chinese epidemic disease, from the Western Han Dynasty to the late Qing Dynasty, there were at least 300 large-scale plagues in China successively in more than 2000 years. During this time aromatherapy was developed by traditional physicians and they were of great help in managing the one going plague situation. This therapy was found to boost immunity.
According to traditional medicine systems aromatherapy helps to open orifice and helps calms heart and relieves stress. Aroma molecules travel through the olfactory pathway and directly activates the limbic system of the brain which leads to release of neurotransmitters that helps in relaxation.
Aromatherapy sachets are a unique and non-invasive supportive treatment modality. Herbs in the sachets are selected carefully according to each patient’s specific condition.
Commonly included herbs in Traditional Chinese medicine are:
- Ai Ye – Mugwort
- Bo He – Peppermint (Mentha)
- Rou Gui – Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cortex)
- Guang Huo Xiang – Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin)
- Ding Xiang – Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum)
Other than above mentioned herbs different essential oils like lavender, chamomile and sweet orange are also incorporated in this aromatherapy sachets
Numerous studies have shown that aromatherapy has promising clinical efficacy in treating insomnia, improving the quality of life. Especially evidence has shown that inhalation of linalool and limonene containing essential oils can relieve insomnia and anxiety.
Clinical application of aromatherapy sachet is relatively safe and few adverse reactions have been reported till date. Further studies and researches are required to understand the proper effect of these aroma molecules. However, aromatherapy can only be used as an adjuvant therapy, but the real underlying cause has to be addressed.
P.S. Will you consider aromatherapy to improve sleep quality?
MBH/DB