The use of aromatherapy in pediatric practice

Abstract

Aromatherapy is a method of treatment using natural essential oils injected into the body through the respiratory tract, skin and (or) mucous membranes. Currently, about 3,000 essential oil plants have been studied, from which over 500 organic compounds have been isolated and identified, the number of which in the composition of one essential oil can vary from 120 to 500, and no essential oil has yet been fully investigated. Essential oils are multicomponent organic compounds of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones and other hydrocarbons produced by essential oil plants. Biologically active substances of essential oils have a low molecular weight and therefore easily penetrate the skin through the bloodstream. The effect exerted on a person by essential oils is determined in two ways ― neuro-reflex and humoral. Each essential oil is multifunctional. The composition of essential oils can include up to 300 components, so they can have several medicinal properties at the same time, but there is a general trend in the action of essential oils. All of them have immunomodulatory, pronounced bactericidal and antiseptic effects, antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. In medical practice, the method of hardware aromatherapy is used, the active factor of which is a therapeutic respiratory environment that simulates the natural air background over plants. The study of the effect of essential oils in children's institutions showed their positive effect on the general condition of children, emotional tone, immunological reactivity and nonspecific protection factors, the frequency and severity of respiratory pathology, the course of the adaptation period. The beneficial effect of the complex effect of aromatherapy in the sensory room is shown. Thus, the high efficiency of hardware aromatherapy, good tolerability, the availability of domestic equipment allows us to recommend the method for wide use in therapeutic and preventive and sanatorium-resort institutions.