Generally, aromatherapy can be applied in three ways: Direct application to the skin, inhalation and internal consumption. In all three scenarios the properties of the essential oils, which constitute “aromatherapy”, travel through the body and eventually go to the brain where they have both physiological and psychological effects.

We can also look at aromatherapy from a TCM point of view. Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Grapefruit (Citrus Paradisi), two very common essential oils used in aromatherapy, can serve as good examples. Lavender is spicy and sweet, has a cooling nature and affects the Lung, Liver and Pericardium. Two of the major functions of lavender are to promote the smooth flow of Liver qi and calm the shen. Grapefruit is spicy and bitter, has a slightly warming nature and affects the Lung, Stomach and Gallbladder. Major functions of grapefruit include regulating the flow of Liver qi and breaking up qi, food and phlegm stagnation.   With their positive influence on qi, just using these two essential oils would be a good start to incorporating aromatherapy into your practice.

Here’s how to use aromatherapy:

1. DIFFUSERS: Diffuse essential oils in your waiting/reception areas and/or treatment rooms. You can buy special plug-in diffusers designed to slowly release essential oils based on your desired strength (i.e. from light to heavy scent).   You can also use a small tea-light oil/scented wax burner that does virtually the same thing without the need of electricity or batteries.
2. ACUPUNCTURE POINTS: You can place drops of essential oils onto acupuncture points prior to needling or in lieu of needling. If you chose this technique, it is extremely important that you dilute certain essential oils before doing so as some oils can burn the skin. Lavender is an example of an essential oil that is safe to place on the skin directly.
3. SPACE SPRAY: You can make an aromatherapy spray by placing drops of essential oils into a bottle (preferably dark colored glass) filled with spring water.   Similar to making an herbal formula, you can chose one essential oil or create a blend based the individual make up of each essential oil and the desired therapeutic outcome. For a one ounce bottle, eight to ten drops of essential oils is sufficient. You can spray over the patient during treatment or between patients in the treatment room.
4. EYE PILLOW: Many eye pillows come infused with aromatherapy. However, if you do not possess one of these, you can easily make one by lightly spraying essential oils onto a folded Kleenex tissue and placing the Kleenex tissue onto the eyes of your patient. Instructions on making an aromatherapy spray are given above.
5. COTTON BALL: Place a few drops of an essential oil or essential oil blend onto a cotton ball and place it on the patient’s chest, near the face, during a face-up treatment. This way the patient is able to receive the aromatherapy while they are having an acupuncture treatment. If they are face down, place the cotton ball on a chair under their nose so they can receive the aroma. When the treatment is over, you can give them the patient the cotton ball to take with them, directing them to continue smelling it throughout the day. You can also give a cotton ball to patients that become extremely relaxed from a treatment and feel “out of it”. Saturate a cotton ball with a few drops of an uplifting essential oil like grapefruit and have them inhale a few times before leaving your office and have them take the cotton ball home with them so they are alert as they drive away and go about their day.
6. MASSAGE: Add drops of essential oils into your massage oil and apply to specific channels of the body or even to the UB channel where we find the back shu points. For eight ounces of massage oil, ten to fifteen drops of essential oils is sufficient. This method is preferred over inhalation for patients that have sinus problems or impaired olfactory systems which may inhibit the processing of inhaled aromas.

These six methods are just a few ways in which you can incorporate aromatherapy into your practice.   With hundreds of essential oils, each having their own properties and specific actions on the body, the application of aromatherapy is almost endless!