Chapter 6 Health, disease and therapy
Having now discussed the characteristics and chemistry of the essential oils and before we move on to their applications in the treatment of clients or patients, we should pause to put aromatherapy into the context of conventional, complementary and alternative medicine.
HEALTH
Health can be difficult to define and measure; the WHO (World Health Organization) describes it as ‘a state of physical, mental and social well-being’. In the past it may have been viewed merely as freedom from disease or injury but this is too limited a definition for modern society. In fact lifestyle factors and our changing environment have given rise to new forms of ill-health.
Dietary choices, sedentary occupations and lack of exercise are responsible for obesity and associated conditions including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Smoking, excessive alcohol intake and improper drug use curtail both life and its quality. As life expectancy increases it is mirrored by the increase in degenerative diseases such as arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, cancer, hearing and eyesight decline, and brain cell deterioration (Alzheimer’s).
If physical health is hard to define and subject to the pressures of modern society, mental health presents a more complex situation. Any variation from normal behaviour is tolerated less and there is an expectation that it should be controlled or cured but longer life expectancy and changes in social organization challenge the mental health and well-being of many individuals.
Stress and anxiety conditions affect both physical and mental health and are also associated with a modern lifestyle and its demands. Everyone experiences stress – some is normal and essential. But to be subject to stress over a long period can be very harmful. Stress is thought to exacerbate all other clinical conditions as it acts on the sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. This system is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ reactions in the body. It may cause changes to normal digestion, respiratory and cardiovascular system, poor immunity and exhaustion. Mentally it may be implicated with irritability, restlessness, mood swings, inefficiency, withdrawal and aggression. An estimated 60% of visits to GPs are thought to be due to stress related problems. It is responsible for a considerable loss of working days.
The solution to stress was very different for our ancestors and often involved simply attacking a threat or running away. Today the triggers can be more varied and the required reaction may not involve any actual physical activity. A modern definition, attributed to Richard Lazarus, is that of ‘a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize’.
Dealing with the stress epidemic is an area where partnership between conventional medicine and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has been beneficial.
DISEASE
Disease can be defined as to be a lack of health with both physical and mental symptoms that cause a functioning outside the normal range of accepted values. It may be due to infections and infestations, injuries and genetic factors. In one sense disease is the measurable aspect of health; by measuring the symptoms of a disease and their severity we can see if an individual is becoming more or less healthy. By counting the number of cases of disease and the number of cures we can find out if health of the population is increasing or decreasing. Measurable results that give predictable reductions in disease are the basis for the development of what is called conventional medicine.
The study of the patterns of disease is called epidemiology and gives a wide range of information that can be used for medical, social and political ends. Biological, environmental and social are just some of the factors that need to be considered.
THERAPY
Therapy is the treatment of ill-health, be it due to disease, genetic factors, injury or lack of well-being. We will now look at how we can weigh up the merits of different kinds of therapy and what sort of evidence is useful in choosing conventional, complementary or alternative medicine, or a combination of them all, in an a particular case.
CAM is becomingly increasingly popular but there are a number of issues that need to be taken into consideration when evaluating the use and efficacy of any therapy. These include sources of information, research and clinical trials, safety, training and regulation. The situation relating to these is constantly evolving so there will be a need for it to be regularly reviewed and updated. For accurate, up-to-date information on these issues the speciality periodicals and appropriate organizations should be consulted.
SOURCES OF INFORMATION
We live in a world of information overload from which the field of essential oils and aromatherapy has not escaped. In addition to printed materials – such as textbooks, periodicals, research papers, magazines, general interest and hobby books – there is the internet and word of mouth. This information can range from the objective and reliable through to the subjective of dubious opinion. The internet is particularly prone to these contrasting styles with inputs from those who have vested interested and commercial motives. However, information from bona fide sources and organizations can be a useful tool. The plethora of information combined with our interest in our health has led to a recognizable group of people known as the ‘worried well’.
It should also be remembered that there is pressure for research publication as a requirement for academic tenure. Some subjects are more amenable to producing results with a shorter time span. Scientific based research, and particularly clinical trials, necessitate a considerable investment in time and other resources so the quantity of information must be weighed against its quality.
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