Aromatherapy as a tool for self-care, prevention and complementary treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms

Although existing available pharmacological treatments can be effective, their onset of action can take up to 6 weeks, side-effects are common, and recovery can require treatment with multiple different agents 8 .Furthermore, long-term drug therapies can result in reduced therapeutic effect, tolerance, drug abuse, as well as cases of dependence.In this scenario, it is important to invest in new pharmacological therapies, 8 as well as in disseminating and encouraging the use of Integrative and Complementary Health Practices (ICHP), that can support emotional balance and mood modulation, such as Aromatherapy. 12With good acceptance around the world, Aromatherapy uses essential oils (EO), 13 compounds extracted from plants, flowers, stems, leaves, roots and fruits of a multitude of plants through the distillation process.It has been used for thousands of years and was even defended by Hypocrites, who argued that aromatic baths and massages were essential for maintaining health. 14The Figure 1 points out the main ways of using EO. Figure 1 Different ways to use essential oils.