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芳香療法

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芳香療法(英語:Aromatherapy),簡稱芳療,是指藉由來自植物中的芳香成份(英語:Aroma compound)以及芳香植物所萃取出的精油(essential oil)作為媒介,以按摩泡澡薰香等方式,達致舒緩精神壓力及改善睡眠的效果[1],惟目前仍是缺乏足夠臨床驗證的替代療法。儘管沒有足夠的醫學證據表明芳香療法可以預防、治療或治癒任何疾病[2][3][4], 但一些患者(例如癌症)會嘗試芳香療法來改善舒適,緩解疼痛、噁心或壓力[2][3]

支持者的觀點

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芳香療法可作為一種輔助療法,基於實證,配合規範治療[5],有助提升整體醫療效果[6]。芳香療法使用的植物材料和芳香植物油,包括精油和其它芳香化合物,放鬆情緒緊張[7],或許對舒緩症狀有用[8],尚無證據表明芳香療法可以預防或治癒任何疾病[2][8][9],支持者則認為具有療效[10]

有效性

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芳香療法治療功效的證據很少,尤其缺乏高品質的研究[2][3][8]

美國國家癌症研究所稱[11],目前芳香療法在癌症患者治療中的研究還沒有發表在符合同行評審的科學期刊上過。其他發表在非同行評審期刊上的研究結果則好壞參半。關於「睡眠、焦慮、情緒、噁心和疼痛」有些研究結果有所改善,有些則沒有改善。[12]

安全問題

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芳香療法存在多種不良反應的風險;再加上其益處缺乏證據,芳香療法的價值值得懷疑[13]

許多研究探討了濃度高的精油會刺激皮膚,特別是以未稀釋的形式使用(稱為純淨使用)時[14][15][16]。冷壓柑橘皮油(如檸檬油或萊姆油)可能會發生光毒性反應[17]

許多精油含有致敏成分英語Sensitization (immunology)(sensitiser,在多次使用後會引起皮膚不良反應,甚至身體其他部位的不良反應)[14]。如果植物是人工栽培的而不是野生,則精油成分可能會受到除草劑的影響[18][19]Some oils can be toxic to some domestic animals, with cats being particularly prone.[20]

有些精油對某些家畜來說可能有毒,貓尤其容易受到影響[20]。大多數精油對人體也可能有毒性[21]。一份報告記錄了三例青春期前男孩在接觸薰衣草和茶樹精油後出現男性女乳症[22]在英國的芳香療法貿易委員會則發表了一份聲明反駁。[23]但另一個研究小組也發表了三例青春期前男孩因接觸外用薰衣草精油而患男性女乳症[24]。 持續接觸薰衣草產品可能導致女孩乳房過早發育,並且「薰衣草精油和茶樹精油中的物質是潛在的內分泌干擾物,對雌激素雄激素的受體有相當的影響」[25]

攝取精油或吸收時可能產生毒性。根據通報[26],低至 2 毫升的劑量就會引起臨床上明顯的症狀,而攝取僅 4 毫升就可能發生嚴重中毒。有報告稱[27],攝入鼠尾草牛膝草崖柏雪松精油出現了肝損傷和癲癇等毒性反應。如果沒有適當收藏,可能會發生兒童意外誤食。如同任何具生物活性的物質,即使對一般公眾安全的精油仍然可能對孕婦和哺乳期婦女構成危害[28]

攝取或塗抹在皮膚上的精油可能會與藥物發生不良交互作用。例如,局部使用富含水楊酸甲酯的精油(如冬青油)可能會增強抗凝血劑華法林的作用。

2021年末,一款芳香療法噴霧因受到類鼻疽伯克氏菌的污染,導致4例類鼻疽和2例死亡[29]

參見

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參考資料

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  1. ^ 芳香療法能幫助提升睡眠質素嗎?. HKU Sleep Lab. [2025-09-25]. 
  2. ^ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Farrar AJ, Farrar FC. Clinical Aromatherapy. The Nursing Clinics of North America. December 2020, 55 (4): 489–504. PMC 7520654可免費查閱. PMID 33131627. doi:10.1016/j.cnur.2020.06.015. 
  3. ^ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Editorial Board, PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils. Bethesda (MD): National Cancer Institute, US National Institutes of Health. 13 January 2023 [2024-04-21]. PMID 26389313. 
  4. ^ Lee, Myeong Soo; Choi, Jiae; Posadzki, Paul; Ernst, Edzard. Aromatherapy for health care: An overview of systematic reviews. Maturitas. March 2012, 71 (3): 257–260. PMID 22285469. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.018. 
  5. ^ Immunological and Psychological Benefits of Aromatherapy Massage. [2016-01-29]. (原始內容存檔於2018-06-03). 
  6. ^ "What are complementary and alternative therapies?"
  7. ^ "Aromatherapy". Better Health Channel. Retrieved 2014-08-14.
  8. ^ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Hines S, Steels E, Chang A, Gibbons K. Aromatherapy for treatment of postoperative nausea and vomiting. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. March 2018, 2018 (3): CD007598. PMC 6494172可免費查閱. PMID 29523018. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD007598.pub3. 
  9. ^ Barrett, S. Aromatherapy: Making Dollars out of Scents. Science & Pseudoscience Review in Mental Health. Scientific Review of Mental Health Practice. [21 February 2013]. 
  10. ^ Ades TB, ed. (2009). "Aromatherapy". American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Complementary and Alternative Cancer Therapies (2nd ed.). American Cancer Society. pp. 57–60. ISBN 9780944235713.
  11. ^ Her, Jihoo; Cho, Mi-Kyoung. Effect of aromatherapy on sleep quality of adults and elderly people: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Complementary Therapies in Medicine (Elsevier BV). 2021, 60: 102739. ISSN 0965-2299. PMID 34166869. doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2021.102739可免費查閱. 
  12. ^ PDQ. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils. National Cancer Institute. 9 March 2007. 
  13. ^ Posadzki P, Alotaibi A, Ernst E. Adverse effects of aromatherapy: a systematic review of case reports and case series. Int J Risk Saf Med. 2012, 24 (3): 147–161. PMID 22936057. doi:10.3233/JRS-2012-0568. 
  14. ^ 14.0 14.1 Aromatherapy. US Food and Drug Administration. 28 September 2023 [21 April 2024]. 
  15. ^ Manion, Widder, Chelsea, Rebecca. Essentials of essential oils. American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. May 2017, 74 (9): e153–e162. PMID 28438819. doi:10.2146/ajhp151043. 
  16. ^ Grassman, J; Elstner, E F. Essential Oils. Caballero, Benjamin; Trugo, Luiz C; Finglas, Paul M (編). Encyclopedia of Food Sciences and Nutrition 2nd. Academic Press. 1973. ISBN 0-12-227055-X. [頁碼請求]
  17. ^ Cather, JC; MacKnet, MR; Menter, MA. Hyperpigmented macules and streaks. Proceedings (Baylor University Medical Center). 2000, 13 (4): 405–406. PMC 1312240可免費查閱. PMID 16389350. doi:10.1080/08998280.2000.11927714. 
  18. ^ Edwards, J; Bienvenu, FE. Investigations into the use of flame and the herbicide, paraquat, to control peppermint rust in north-east Victoria, Australia. Australasian Plant Pathology. 1999, 28 (3): 212. S2CID 36366606. doi:10.1071/AP99036. 
  19. ^ Adamovic, DS. Variability of herbicide efficiency and their effect upon yield and quality of peppermint (Mentha X Piperital L.). [6 June 2009]. 
  20. ^ 20.0 20.1 Bischoff, K; Guale, F. Australian Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Oil Poisoning in Three Purebred Cats. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation. 1998, 10 (2): 208–210. PMID 9576358. doi:10.1177/104063879801000223可免費查閱. 
  21. ^ American College of Healthcare Sciences. Essential Oil. American College of Healthcare Sciences. Accredited Online Holistic Health College. 20 April 2017 [13 April 2019]. 
  22. ^ Henley DV, Lipson N, Korach KS, Bloch CA. Prepubertal gynecomastia linked to lavender and tea tree oils. N. Engl. J. Med. 2007, 356 (5): 479–485. PMID 17267908. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa064725可免費查閱. 
  23. ^ Lavender & Tea Tree Oil Rebuttle (sic). [3 October 2010]. (原始內容存檔於13 March 2012). 
  24. ^ Diaz A, Luque L, Badar Z, Kornic S, Danon M. Prepubertal gynecomastia and chronic lavender exposure: report of three cases. J. Pediatr. Endocrinol. Metab. 2016, 29 (1): 103–107. PMID 26353172. S2CID 19454282. doi:10.1515/jpem-2015-0248. 
  25. ^ Weaver, Janelle. Lavender oil linked to early breast growth in girls. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). 2019 [2022-04-07]. (原始內容存檔於2022-04-07). 美國國家環境衛生研究院 (NIEHS) 的研究表明,持續接觸薰衣草產品與女孩乳房過早發育有關。薰衣草精油和茶樹精油是潛在的內分泌干擾物,發表在內分泌學會的《臨床內分泌和代謝期刊》。 
  26. ^ Eucalyptus oil. International Programme on Chemical Safety (UPCS). 
  27. ^ Millet, Y; Jouglard, J; Steinmetz, MD; Tognetti, P; Joanny, P; Arditti, J. Toxicity of Some Essential Plant Oils. Clinical and Experimental Study. Clinical Toxicology. 1981, 18 (12): 1485–1498. PMID 7333081. doi:10.3109/15563658108990357. 
  28. ^ Dw, Sibbritt; Cj, Catling; J, Adams; Aj, Shaw; Cs, Homer. The Self-Prescribed Use of Aromatherapy Oils by Pregnant Women. Women and Birth. March 2014, 27 (1): 41–45. PMID 24670414. doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2013.09.005. hdl:10453/43623可免費查閱 (英語). 
  29. ^ Aromatherapy spray recalled in U.S. following rare tropical disease deaths. CBC News. 

外部連結

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評論

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