For example, because the configuration of the violet suggests shyness, proponents hold that the scent of violets engenders calmness and modesty. Aromatherapy en-compasses topical application of essential oils, bathing in water to which essential oils have been added, sniffing essential oils, and even ingesting them. At the opposite end of the spectrum, says Buckle, is medical aromatherapy, also known as aromatic medicine. Practitioners of medical aromatherapy include massage therapists, naturopaths, nurses, and a smattering of medical doctors. The alleged beneficial effects of aromatherapy are numerous.
Essential oils can have side effects, however, and even proponents warn about risks.
Raphael d'Angelo, M.D., is a Colorado family practitioner who began incorporating aromatherapy into his practice over two years ago. D'Angelo uses eucalyptus oil and peppermint oil adjunctively in treating respiratory disease. But these studies, he adds, were conducted in Europe, and the degree of scrutiny and peer review they underwent was not necessarily as high as the usual degree of such in the United States. Outside the U.S. aromatherapy is widely accepted. Other students are planning on jobs in beauty salons, in health food stores, and in the fragrance industry.