# Aromatherapy Source: https://spiritfold.com/Aromatherapy Published by the Australian Spiritual Alliance on Spiritfold, licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. **Aromatherapy** is the use of essential oils from plants (flowers, herbs or trees), by inhalation, massage or application to the skin, with the aim of improving physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.[1] Its modern form was developed mainly in France.[2] Because many treatments work through contact with the skin or breathing oils into the lungs, and not through smell alone, some professional groups have suggested that "essential oil therapy" is a better name.[1] ## Description ### Essential oils An **essential oil** is a volatile oil (one that evaporates readily) taken from an aromatic plant, either by steam distillation or by pressing. Oils can also be extracted with solvents (these are called *absolutes*) or made synthetically, but aromatherapists generally don't count these as true essential oils and don't regard them as suitable for therapeutic use. Each oil has its own chemical make-up, and this gives it its aroma.[1] The Victorian Government's Better Health Channel describes essential oils as concentrated plant oils.[2] Keep this in mind when reading the safety advice later on this page. ### How oils are used An aromatherapist blends oils for each client and suggests how to use them: on the skin, in massage, by inhalation or in bath water.[2] Oils may be breathed in from the air, using a diffuser or steam, or inhaled directly, for example from a personal inhaler. Before going on the skin they are diluted in a *carrier oil*, usually a vegetable or nut oil. Massage often goes with skin application, and is generally described as an integral part of aromatherapy treatment.[1] Aromatherapy is practised by aromatherapists and by other natural therapists such as naturopaths and massage therapists. It is also increasingly taken up as professional education by nurses, allied health professionals and people working in areas such as palliative care.[1] ### How practitioners explain it The most common explanation is that aromatherapy works through the sense of smell. Molecules from the oil reach receptors in the nose, and the signal sent to the brain includes responses in the limbic system, which is involved in memory and emotion. Effects of oils on the skin are thought to depend on whether their components pass through it. Aromatherapy professional associations also describe an energetic or spiritual pathway, in which the oil interacts with energy flows in the body. Research on how particular oils and methods of use might work is limited.[1] ## Scope ### What it includes - Choosing and blending essential oils for the individual client[1][2] - Inhalation of oils, application of diluted oils to the skin, and massage[1] ### What it is not - **It is not something to swallow.** Professional associations for aromatherapists in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States have position statements that advise against swallowing essential oils, using them internally (on or near mucous membranes), and putting undiluted oils on the skin.[1] In other words, the profession itself draws these limits, not only health authorities. - **It is not a proven treatment.** The Australian Government's 2015 review found no clear evidence that aromatherapy was effective. A 2024 systematic review for the government's Natural Therapies Review included 323 studies and found a large and growing body of research, but concluded that no conclusions could be drawn with confidence about the effects of aromatherapy for any condition or outcome. All the evidence was of low or very low certainty, so the true effects may be substantially different. The reviewers had serious concerns about the methods of the studies and about the possibility that studies showing large benefits were more likely to be published.[1][3] - The same review found low-certainty evidence that, across conditions, aromatherapy may improve sleep quality, health-related quality of life and physical function, and that it may improve some outcomes in particular groups, such as pain in people with chronic musculoskeletal conditions and nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. For mental health in people living with cancer or with dementia, it found low-certainty evidence of little or no effect. For pain, nausea and vomiting, fatigue and mental health overall, results varied between studies and the evidence was very uncertain.[1][3] "Low certainty" is a technical term: it means the reviewers had limited confidence in the finding, and the real effect may be quite different.[1] The review's report also says it was not written to guide individual choices about practising or using a therapy.[3] ## Traditions and lineage Aromatherapy has been practised for centuries in various cultures; its modern form was developed mainly in France.[2] ## Context ### Within Spiritualism Spiritfold has found no published source linking aromatherapy with Spiritualism. ### In Australian Spiritualism Spiritfold has found no published source linking aromatherapy with Spiritualism in Australia. ### A Spiritualist perspective There is no traditional tie between aromatherapy and Spiritualism, and a Spiritualist teacher would treat it as a practice in its own right, with its own training and associations. Some Spiritualists use oils at home or work as aromatherapists, and that can sit comfortably alongside their faith. What we would ask is that the two not be blended. Spiritual healing depends on the healer's attunement to spirit, not on any oil, massage or product, so a healing service needs none of them. If a pleasant scent were used in a healing room, a newcomer could easily come away thinking the oil did the work, and that would mislead them about what spiritual healing is. An aromatherapist who is also a healer should make it plain to each person which one they are receiving, and should ask before touching anyone or using any oil. The safety advice on this page matters in our own buildings too: oils are not for swallowing, and they must be stored well out of children's reach. As always, healing of any kind is offered alongside medical care, and anyone with a health concern should see their doctor. ## Aromatherapy in Australia ### Use In a 2016–17 survey of Australian adults cited by the 2024 review, 11% said they had used aromatherapy oils and 3.9% had seen an aromatherapist. Of those who used aromatherapy oils for therapeutic reasons, most chose oils themselves (43%) rather than consulting a practitioner (12.5%).[1] The review suggests that part of aromatherapy's appeal may be that oils are easy to obtain without a prescription.[1] This is one reason the product rules and safety advice below matter: most people using oils are choosing and handling them without professional guidance. ### Training and associations The national *HLT52315 Diploma of Clinical Aromatherapy* is a current qualification in the Health Training Package. It describes clinical aromatherapists as practitioners who may be self-employed or work in a larger health service, and requires at least 120 hours of work as part of its assessment. No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to it.[4] The International Aromatherapy and Aromatic Medicine Association (IAAMA) offers membership to practitioners in Australia who have completed accredited training. It and other natural therapy associations set standards for practice and ethical conduct and require continuing education, and some have safety guidelines on oils that should not be used.[1] Because there is no government registration (see below), these associations are the main place where standards for practitioners are set, so it is reasonable to ask a practitioner about their training and membership. ### Regulation of practitioners Aromatherapy is not regulated under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, the law under which the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and the national boards register health professionals. This means aromatherapists don't have to be registered.[1] ### Regulation of oils and products The government's safeguard for consumers works mainly through the products rather than the practitioner: essential oils intended for therapeutic use are regulated by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).[1] Which agency is responsible depends on what a product claims to do. A product that makes only cosmetic claims is regulated by the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme (AICIS); a product that makes a therapeutic claim is a therapeutic good regulated by the TGA. Therapeutic products containing essential oils must meet requirements that include the Poisons Standard, labelling rules and the TGA's child-resistant packaging requirements. Essential oils supplied only as starting materials to practitioners are generally exempt from entry on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods.[5] Most essential oils regulated by the TGA are lower-risk medicines, which are assessed for quality and safety but not for effectiveness.[1] A product being on the TGA's register therefore tells you something about how it was made, not that it works. ### Private health insurance and the Natural Therapies Review Since 1 April 2019, aromatherapy has been one of 16 natural therapies that private health insurers can't cover.[6] The reason given for the exclusion was that a 2015 government review found too little evidence to reach firm conclusions about how clinically effective these therapies were.[3] The Natural Therapies Review 2024 looked at the evidence again, including newer research.[6] Its Chair, Professor Michael Kidd, recommended a therapy for re-inclusion where there was moderate-certainty evidence that it worked for at least one outcome in one condition, with most of the evidence in its favour. On that basis he recommended that seven therapies become eligible again, but did not recommend aromatherapy.[3] The review looked only at clinical effectiveness: like the 2015 review, it did not assess safety, quality or cost-effectiveness, because studies of these therapies generally lacked that information.[3] ## Safety and good practice Because essential oils are concentrated, a small amount can do real harm.[7] The cautions below come from Australian health authorities and should be followed by anyone who uses or stores oils. ### Swallowing and poisoning Essential oils can be poisonous if swallowed, and Better Health advises that they should never be taken by mouth.[2] Western Australia's health department warns that, despite claims that "natural" oils are safe to consume, swallowing even small amounts can cause serious poisoning. Children are especially at risk: as little as 2 mL of eucalyptus oil can seriously poison an infant. Symptoms can begin within about 30 minutes, or up to four hours later, and include drowsiness, slow or shallow breathing, seizures, coughing or choking, and vomiting.[7] A study of calls to the NSW Poisons Information Centre between July 2014 and June 2018 recorded 4412 essential oil exposures, with calls rising over the period. In 63% of cases the person exposed was under 15. Most exposures were accidental, and some happened when an oil was mistaken for a liquid medicine such as cough mixture. The researchers recommended keeping essential oils away from oral medicines. They also noted that child-resistant closures are only required on containers holding more than 15 mL, although as little as 5 mL can cause life-threatening poisoning in a child, so a small bottle without a safety cap is not a safe bottle.[8] **What to do:** - Store essential oils securely in child-resistant containers, out of reach of children.[7][2] - If someone swallows an essential oil, rinse their mouth, don't make them vomit, don't give them anything to drink unless advised to, and phone the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26. In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000).[7] ### Skin, breathing and other cautions - Some oils are toxic and should never be used at all; Better Health names camphor, pennyroyal and wintergreen.[2] - Oils should not be put on the skin undiluted. Used neat inside the nose or on sensitive skin, they may burn or irritate, and some people have allergic reactions such as rashes.[2][7] - Oils should not be used in any body opening, such as the ears, mouth or vagina. People with asthma, and people prone to nosebleeds, should take care when inhaling vaporised oils.[2] - Pregnant women and people with conditions such as epilepsy or high blood pressure should talk to their doctor before using any oils, as some oils can be dangerous for them.[2] - The 2024 review notes that lower concentrations of oils are recommended for some groups, including pregnant women, children, and people with skin conditions or asthma or undergoing radiotherapy.[1] The 2024 systematic review didn't assess safety,[1] so its findings should not be read as saying anything either way about whether aromatherapy is safe. ## Related modalities - [Massage](https://spiritfold.com/Massage) - [Flower essences](https://spiritfold.com/Flower_essences) - [Western herbal medicine](https://spiritfold.com/Western_herbal_medicine) - [Naturopathy](https://spiritfold.com/Naturopathy) ## References 1. Cochrane Australia. *Systematic review of evidence on the clinical effectiveness of aromatherapy*. Report prepared for the Natural Therapies Review, 4 March 2024. Published by the Australian Government Department of Health as ["Natural Therapies Review 2024 – Aromatherapy evidence evaluation"](https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/natural-therapies-review-2024-aromatherapy-evidence-evaluation) (accessed 11 October 2026). 2. ["Aromatherapy"](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/aromatherapy). Better Health Channel, Department of Health, State Government of Victoria. Produced with the Office of the Chief Health Officer; last reviewed 30 September 2015 (accessed 11 October 2026). 3. Kidd, Michael. Letter to the Minister for Health and Aged Care, 16 February 2025, with *Natural Therapies Review 2024 – Report and recommendations*. Australian Government Department of Health, [published 27 March 2025](https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/natural-therapies-review-2024-report-and-recommendations) (accessed 11 October 2026). 4. ["HLT52315 Diploma of Clinical Aromatherapy"](https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/HLT52315). National Training Register, training.gov.au. Current; release 5, 22 December 2025 (accessed 11 October 2026). 5. Therapeutic Goods Administration. ["Understanding the different types of complementary medicines"](https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/resource/guidance/types-complementary-medicines). Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Published 1 October 2016; last updated 3 May 2018 (accessed 11 October 2026). 6. ["Natural Therapies Review 2024"](https://www.health.gov.au/topics/private-health-insurance/reforms/natural-therapies-review). Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Last updated 1 June 2026 (accessed 11 October 2026). 7. ["Essential oils – Health warning"](https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Essential-oils). HealthyWA, Department of Health, Government of Western Australia. No review date shown (accessed 11 October 2026). 8. Swannell, Cate. ["Essential oil poisoning calls increase; children most affected"](https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/essential-oil-poisoning-calls-increase-children-most-affected). Media release on a research letter by Cairns and colleagues, *Medical Journal of Australia*, 9 December 2019 (accessed 11 October 2026). ## Further reading - Better Health Channel. ["Aromatherapy"](https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/aromatherapy). Department of Health, State Government of Victoria, 2015. - Cochrane Australia. [*Systematic review of evidence on the clinical effectiveness of aromatherapy*](https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publications/natural-therapies-review-2024-aromatherapy-evidence-evaluation). Australian Government Department of Health, 2024. - Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. ["Natural Therapies Review 2024"](https://www.health.gov.au/topics/private-health-insurance/reforms/natural-therapies-review). Australian Government. - HealthyWA. ["Essential oils – Health warning"](https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/Articles/A_E/Essential-oils). Department of Health, Government of Western Australia. - National Training Register. ["HLT52315 Diploma of Clinical Aromatherapy"](https://training.gov.au/Training/Details/HLT52315). training.gov.au. - Swannell, Cate. ["Essential oil poisoning calls increase; children most affected"](https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2019/essential-oil-poisoning-calls-increase-children-most-affected). *Medical Journal of Australia*, 2019. - Therapeutic Goods Administration. ["Understanding the different types of complementary medicines"](https://www.tga.gov.au/resources/resource/guidance/types-complementary-medicines). Australian Government, 2018.