Some people suffer from psychological disorders and may experience anxiety, stress, mood swings, or hysteria. Depending on the severity and nature of their condition the attacks can be chronic or relapse after treatment. If needed, pills are prescribed by a psychiatrist to tame the symptoms. Those who are conscious about health and worry about the possible side effects of drugs such as kidney failures or other organ problems and complications would seek alternative remedies. They may opt for natural methods so they can regularly take them without any side effects. One of the complementary therapies known for addressing anxiety and depression is oil therapy and may seek the help of aromatherapists to help them ease their condition.
Elucidating the Difference Between Aromachology, Perfumetherapy, Psychoaromatherapy and Psychotherapy
Psycho-aromatherapy is commonly assumed to be similar to other forms of specialization that involve aromas.
Aromachology
Aromachology is a combination of the words ‘aroma’ and ‘chology’ which is taken from the word psychology. It pertains to the use of scents to affect the mind or behavior of a person. Odors indeed can trigger a person to respond or react in a certain way, as a result, they take an action that’s according to what the aroma strategist wanted them to do. Aromachology focuses on environmental fragrancing through the use of subliminal smell to affect mood, influence perception, and encourage persons to take action. It does not focus on oil alone but includes all kinds of aromas to affect mood, perception, and behavior. Oils are just among the substances being used to influence the behavior. Muds, algae, animal feces, plant parts, petrichor, and other odorous materials can also be used regardless of whether they smell unpleasant or nice, or whether they are synthetic or natural.
Aromachology is often used in Marketing because it has been found in some research and literature that impregnating a pleasant subliminal smell can encourage a person to buy an item instead of a similar item. (1) Whereas fragrancing invoices with subliminal offensive odors can influence paying bills promptly. (1) Since this appears to be manipulative by nature, some consider this method unethical and disturbing.
Recommended for: regulating/ moderating purposes
Perfumetherapy
Perfumechology or perfumetherapy is more concentrated on the effect of perfume on the people who have smelled it. It includes understanding how our choice of fragrance reflects us and what our scent preferences suggest about us.
Recommended for: interpreting puposes
Psychoaromatherapy
Those who are using aromatherapy to deal with psychological disorders practice psycho-aromatherapy. It is derived from the words psychology which is the study of the mind and aromatherapy. Psychoaromatherapy is the practice of administering aromatic essential oils to help a person cope with psychological, and emotional concerns. It is often done by inhalation method through oil diffusion or smelling the aroma from the bottle or cotton. It is believed to be effective in attenuating psychological disorders symptoms because when the aroma has entered the body, it goes to the olfactory system – which is a gateway to the brain parts where our subconscious is being processed. (2)
Recommended for: therapy, easing symptoms
Psychotherapy with aromatherapy
When considering the use of oil therapy to minimize symptoms of psychological disorders, it is helpful to be reminded that it’s important to still seek the guidance of clinicians. Psycho-aromatherapy could be complementary to psychotherapy.
Psychoaromatherapy is the use of aromas to affect us emotionally and psychologically, whereas psychotherapy also known as talk therapy is a kind of counseling technique where the client talks with a psychologist to process his emotions and thoughts. This kind of therapy helps the person think more rationally, and be more composed, calmer, and level-headed. Thus, a psychologist who wants to use oils during consultation could employ psychotherapy with aromatherapy or use aromatic oils while conducting talk therapy sessions.
Ciele 