Zhilin Zhou Bing Yang
Abstract: The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine is one of the classics of Chinese medicine, in which the chapters of <Suwen> and <Lingshu> contain a wealth of medical wisdom. Aromatherapy mentioned therein has been proved to have excellent therapeutic effects in modern treatment, but it has not been emphasized. This paper discusses and analyzes aromatherapy specifically. It will focus on the essential oils, which, as plant extracts, are rich in bioactive components. We will provide a comprehensive discussion on the use of essential oils in medicine. First, we review the history and traditional applications of essential oils. Since ancient times, essential oils have been used to treat a variety of diseases and occupy an important position in traditional medicine. Subsequently, we explored the chemical composition and pharmacological effects of essential oils. Essential oils contain a variety of components, each of which has a specific pharmacological effect and can have a variety of beneficial effects on the human body, such as relieving symptoms and promoting healing. In summary, essential oils are of great significance in the field of medicine and have a wide range of application prospects. Through continuous efforts and explorations, we are expected to overcome the various challenges faced by essential oils in the medical field, to further utilize their roles in clinical treatments, to provide patients with safer and more effective therapeutic choices, and to make a greater contribution to the cause of human health.
The Origin and Development of Chinese Medicine Aromatherapy
As an important part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the origin of TCM aromatherapy can be traced back to the ancient Yellow Emperor. In ancient medical texts, the application of aromatherapy is documented in detail, emphasizing the effects of different odors on the human body and their therapeutic value. Aromatherapy is the ancient name for ‘Xiang therapy’ or ‘Fu Qi’. Ancient people put incense medicine in a small bag and tucked in the clothes and smell constantly. Since Han Dynasty, aromatherapy has been included in the scope of traditional Chinese medicine, which plays a role in strengthening the body and preventing diseases from occurring in the first place.
The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine is one of the classics of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), in which the elaboration of aromatherapy is of paramount importance. The Ling Shu and Su Wen sections detail the effects of different odors on the human body, the association of the five Zang organs and six Fu organs, and the application of aromatherapy in the treatment of disease. The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine says: “People have five organs and five qi to generate joy, anger, sadness, worry and fear; therefore, joy and anger hurt the qi, cold and heat hurt the form, violent anger hurts the yin, violent joy hurts the yang, joy and anger are not in order, excessive cold and heat, health will be threatened.［1］” That is to say: “the four seasons of the environment on the health impact, but less than the emotional impact on people’s health to more powerful. China has a Chinese idiom of refreshing the heart, also refers to the fragrance can affect the heart and spleen, let a person feel happy. Thus, <Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing> also mentioned: mouth and nose are the orifice of Yang Ming. If Yang Ming is weak, evil Qi will go into body easily.With the Aromatic Qi, spleen and stomach can be settled with rising clear Yang Qi［2］.”
Shen Kuo (1031-1095) of the “Meng Xi Bi Tan” records, Song Zhenzong (968-1022) the Suhexiang pills made into Suhexiang wine, given to Wang Wenzheng lieutenant, this wine “can adjust the five organs, treat all diseases of belly. Whenever he got cold, he would drink a cup of it.”［3］ Song Dynasty (960-1279) will also put incense medicine into the food, fruit and sweet soup.
Li Shizhen (1518-1593) in the “Ben Cao Gang Mu” written in the “Fang Xiang Chapter”, recorded hundreds of aromatic plants therapeutic function: incense and aconite decoction bath rubella, can cure the wind, cold and rheumatism; Agarwood incense, honey incense, sandalwood incense, Jiang Zhen incense, Su He incense, An Xi incense, etc. and burned to prevent the plague.［4］.
As long as the use of appropriate, traditional Chinese medicine, incense, incense powder, spices, etc. They can indeed drive away pests, defense against disease. In modern times, Chinese aromatherapy was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in 2009, further illustrating the authenticity, importance and heritage of aromatherapy.
Wth the development of modern medicine, more and more studies have begun to pay attention to the mechanism of action of aromatherapy and its value of application in the clinic. From the perspective of modern pharmacology, odor molecules can stimulate the body to produce immunoglobulins, strengthen metabolism, regulate the human nerve function, and achieve the purpose of curing, preventing or invigorating the spirit. It provides a new possibility for the application of aromatherapy in modern medicine. Therefore, it is of great significance to revisit and study TCM aromatherapy to promote the development of modern medicine.
Chinese Medicine Theory and Aromatherapy
The Five Elements Theory of Chinese Medicine believes that everything in nature can be categorized into five elements (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water), which in turn correspond to five types of odors. These five odors are bitter, pungent, sweet, sour, and salty, each with different properties and effects. Odor can affect the function of internal organs and the operation of qi and blood, which in turn affects the health of the human body. The five odors correspond to the five organs, and each odor has a specific role and effect. For example, the bitter taste has the role of astringency, collection, commonly used in the treatment of diarrhea and bleeding and other symptoms; pungent taste has the role of dispersal, hair, commonly used to expel cold and dispel cold and wind- cold and other diseases. According to Chinese medicine theory, Physicians can determine the patient’s constitution and condition by smelling the odor, and also can use the smell to carry out treatment. For example, bitter odor is beneficial to the heart, which can clear heat and dry dampness; pungent odor is beneficial to the lungs, which can disperse lung qi and open the orifices to awaken the spirit. Through the rational use of different odors of drugs, the body’s internal organs can be adjusted to achieve the purpose of treating diseases and strengthening the body.
According to Heydari et al. (2018)［5］, they evaluated the effect of rose essential oil aromatherapy on the management of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). The results of the study showed that aromatherapy with rosehip essential oil significantly reduced the symptoms of PMS patients, including mood swings, anxiety, pain, and fatigue. This is in line with the understanding of aromatherapy in Chinese medicine theory, which states that different odors can regulate the body’s qi and blood circulation and emotional state, thus improving the associated symptoms.
Similarly, according to Sebayang［6］‘s research, aromatherapy has achieved significant results in the management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. The symptoms of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in pregnant women can be effectively relieved by incensing essential oils with volatile odors such as lemon essential oil, ginger oil, and peppermint essential oil. These findings further corroborate the application of TCM aromatherapy in different fields and its theoretical basis.
The above two cases provide us with concrete examples of the application of aromatherapy in TCM aromatherapy. Through these cases, we can gain a deeper understanding of the effects of aromatherapy in different fields and provide us with new perspectives for an in- depth discussion of the principles and applications of aromatherapy and pharmaceutical odors.
Aromatherapy and medicinal odors
Aromatherapy is a method of treating the human body using the volatile odor of plant essential oils. Its principle mainly involves two aspects: first, the physiological effect of odor, that is, the odor molecules in plant essential oils can enter the human body through the nasal cavity and stimulate the nervous system to produce physiological effects［7］; and second, the psychological effect of odor, that is, the odor of plant essential oils can affect people’s emotions and psychological state, so as to regulate the physical and mental health［8］.
Aromatherapy is widely used in clinical practice in the treatment and rehabilitation of various diseases. By choosing suitable plant essential oils and using appropriate methods of aromatherapy or massage, it can relieve physical and mental stress, improve the quality of sleep, elevate the emotional state, and enhance immunity. Meanwhile, aromatherapy is also often used in combination with other treatment methods, such as massage therapy and acupuncture therapy, to achieve better therapeutic effects.
Many studies have shown that aromatherapy has a significant effect on relieving symptoms of stress and anxiety. For example, lavender essential oil has been shown to reduce anxiety and tension and increase feelings of relaxation［9］; neroli essential oil has calming and soothing properties that help to relieve anxiety and depression［10］.
Some plant essential oils have sleep- promoting properties that can be helpful for people suffering from insomnia. For example, lavender, neroli and chamomile essential oils have all been used to alleviate sleep problems and can be used through aromatherapy or massage to help improve the quality of sleep［10］.
Aromatherapy is also widely used in the treatment of digestive problems. For example, ginger and peppermint essential oils are used to relieve indigestion, stomach cramps, and nausea, and can be used by massaging the abdomen or vaporizing to help promote digestive health［11］.
Some plant essential oils are believed to have immune system- boosting properties that help prevent colds and other illnesses. For example, tea tree essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil［12］are used to prevent infections and can be used by steam distillation, spraying or massaging to help boost the immune system.
Aromatherapy has a wide range of applications in pain management. Some plant essential oils, such as lavender, clove［13］and peppermint, have been shown to reduce various types of pain, including headaches, muscle pain and arthritis. These plant essential oils can be used through massage, steam inhalation or aromatherapy to help relieve pain and improve a patient’s quality of life.
Aromatherapy is also widely used in the treatment of respiratory problems. Some essential oils, such as eucalyptus, thyme and pine, are used to relieve respiratory ailments such as colds, coughs and asthma. These essential plant oils can be applied by steam inhalation or spraying and help to clean the respiratory tract, kill germs and relieve symptoms of breathlessness［14］.
Many essential oils have been shown to have significant healing properties for skin problems. For example, tea tree essential oil has been used to treat acne and skin infections, and lavender essential oil has been used to relieve eczema and dermatitis［15］. These plant essential oils can be used by applying them directly or adding them to skin care products to help promote skin repair and regeneration.
Aromatherapy also plays an important role in mood regulation. Some essential plant oils, such as lemon, lavender and neroli, are used to alleviate problems such as anxiety, depression and emotional instability. These plant essential oils can be used through aromatherapy, massage or steam inhalation to help elevate emotional states, relieve stress and improve mental fatigue［16］.
Essential oils and their extracts have diverse applications in medicine. In the field of traditional Chinese medicine, Bai Zhi (Angelica dahurica) essential oil has been used to relieve headaches, while Fu Ling (Poria cocos) essential oil has been used to relieve anxiety and insomnia.
In Chinese medicine
1) Bai Zhi:
Chinese medicine properties: pungent, warm, attributed to the lung, spleen, stomach meridian.
Effects: It has the effect of dispelling wind and dispersing cold, opening the mind, relieving pain and release exterior.
Applications: can be used to treat headache, nasal congestion, cold and other symptoms.
2）Fu Ling:
Chinese Herbal Medicine Properties: sweet, light, neutral, goes to the heart, liver, and spleen meridians.
Effects: Strengthening the spleen, benefiting the stomach, inducing diuresis and seeping dampness, and calming the mind and restoring sleep.
Application: It can be used to treat insomnia, neurasthenia, loss of appetite and other symptoms［17］.
By comparing the effects of essential oils with the medicinal properties of Chinese medicines, we can find that they have similar medicinal effects in some aspects, but there are also some differences. Essential oils are more convenient and simple to use, and can work quickly, but their effects may be relatively light, and need to be used for a long time in order to achieve the desired effect; while Chinese medicine is more complex, the effect is relatively more comprehensive, but need to be based on the specific conditions of the deployment and matching, and the method of taking is relatively more cumbersome. Therefore, when choosing a treatment method, the advantages and disadvantages of essential oils and traditional Chinese medicines can be considered according to the patient’s specific situation and needs, and a suitable treatment plan can be chosen.
In the field of western medicine, further extracts based on essential oils, such as limonol and citrone in lemon essential oil, succinic acid in lavender essential oil, and theophyllone in tea tree essential oil, are also being studied for the development of anticancer drugs with certain anticancer activities［18］. These cases highlight the versatility and wide range of applications of essential oils in medicine, providing a wealth of options and possibilities for clinical practice.
The potential value and future development of essential oils and their extracts
Essential oils and their extracts show a broad application prospect and potential value in the medical field. Firstly, they are natural and safe. Compared with some synthetic chemical drugs, essential oil extracts are usually easier to be accepted by the human body and produce fewer side effects. Secondly, essential oils have diverse chemical compositions, each of which may have different physiological effects on the human body. Therefore, it is possible to select the appropriate essential oil extract for treatment according to the specific condition, increasing the relevance and personalization of treatment. In addition, essential oils can be applied in a variety of ways, either externally through aromatherapy, massage, distillation, etc., or internally through oral or inhalation, and thus can be applied to different patients and treatment needs.
In the future, with the continuous progress of science and technology and people’s emphasis on natural healing, the application of essential oils and their extracts in the field of medicine will have a broader prospect. On the one hand, we can discover more components with specific pharmacological effects through in- depth research on the chemical composition and mechanism of action of essential oils, so as to develop more new types of essential oil extracts and expand the scope of their application in the treatment of different diseases. On the other hand, we can combine with modern medical technology, such as nanotechnology and genetic engineering, to improve the extraction, purification and preparation technology of essential oils, so as to make them purer, more stable and easier to be stored, and to enhance their reliability and practicability in clinical treatment. In addition, we can also strengthen the research on the therapeutic mechanism of essential oils, and deeply investigate its metabolic pathway and mechanism of action in the human body, so as to provide a more scientific theoretical basis for its application in medicine.
Although essential oils and their extracts have a wide range of application prospects in medicine, they also face a number of challenges, mainly including the following aspects:
First, quality control problems: the quality of essential oils is affected by various factors such as raw materials, extraction processes, storage conditions, etc., and there is the problem of large quality fluctuations, which may affect their therapeutic effects and safety.
Second, standardization and normative problems: at present, the production and use of essential oils lacks uniform standards and norms, resulting in quality differences between different products, making it difficult to obtain uniform and standardized use of essential oils in clinical applications.
Third, side effects and safety issues: Although essential oils are usually considered safe, in some cases they may trigger allergic reactions, skin irritation and other adverse reactions, especially in high concentrations or long- term use of possible safety hazards.
Fourth, insufficient scientific research: Although essential oils are widely used in traditional medicine, their therapeutic mechanisms and modes of action still need to be validated by further scientific research to ensure their safe and effective application in clinical practice.
To address these challenges, we can adopt the following strategies:
First, establish a quality control system: Establish a strict quality control system for essential oils, including raw material procurement, production process monitoring and product testing to ensure stable and reliable product quality.
Second, formulate standards and norms: Formulate standards and norms for essential oil production, quality control and clinical application, strengthen product standardization and normative management, and improve product quality and safety of use.
Third, strengthen safety monitoring: establish a perfect safety monitoring system for essential oils, discover and deal with product safety problems in time, and guarantee the safety of patients’ medication.
Fourth, strengthen scientific research: Increase the scientific research on essential oils and their extracts in the medical field, in- depth investigation of their therapeutic mechanisms and modes of action, in order to provide a more scientific basis and guidance for their use in clinical practice.
Through the effective implementation of the above strategies, we are expected to overcome the various challenges faced by essential oils and their extracts in the medical field, to further utilize their role in clinical treatment, and to provide patients with safer and more effective therapeutic options.
Conclusion
Essential oils and their extracts, as an important part of traditional medicine, show a wide range of application prospects and potential value in the medical field. Through in- depth research and scientific exploration of essential oils, we have found that essential oils have a wide range of bioactive components that can exert a variety of beneficial effects on the human body, including soothing symptoms, promoting healing, and improving quality of life. Essential oils and their extracts have important applications in both traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine, both as the main ingredient in medicines and as adjunctive therapies to provide patients with more choices and better therapeutic effects.
However, essential oils still face some challenges in the field of medicine, including quality control, standardization, and safety. In order to overcome these challenges, we need to strengthen scientific research, develop uniform standards and specifications, establish a sound quality control system, and strengthen safety monitoring. At the same time, we also need to strengthen the promotion and popularization of essential oils, improve the knowledge and application level of essential oils among medical practitioners and the public, and lay a good foundation for the further development and application of essential oils in the medical field.
In conclusion, essential oils and their extracts have important significance and broad application prospects in medicine. Through continuous efforts and explorations, it is believed that essential oils will bring more hope and possibilities to the cause of human health and make greater contributions to human health and well- being.
參考文獻
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Author information:
Zhi-Lin Zhou, Master degrees of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, Certified Health Manager, and Psychological Counselor. A graduate of MCPHS ‘s NESA College, one of the oldest schools of Traditional Chinese Medicine in the United States, Zhi-Lin specializes in integrative treatments that combine physical and psychological approaches, dedicated to providing comprehensive and diverse healthcare solutions.
Bing Yang, licensed acupuncturist in Massachusetts. She got bachelor and Master degrees of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Beijing University of Chinese Medicine in 1990s and Doctor degree from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS). Currently she is the associate professor and Director of Chinese Herbal Programs of New England School of Acupuncture, MCPHS. She also maintains a private practice in Boston.
