Aromatherapy in combating human pathogens and diseases: Impact and prospects

Abstract

The article deals with a comprehensive understanding of the origin, application, status quo, and therapeutic significance of aromatherapy and provides a better and more systematic understanding of the potential therapeutic effects of essential oils (EOs) as aromatherapeutants against human pathogens. EOs used in aromatherapy have significant therapeutic effects over physical, psychological, and behavioural problems in addition to having antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties. Looking into a large number of cases of antimicrobial resistance caused due to overuse and misuse of antibiotics, aromatherapy holds a promising future and vapours of different EOs can be used to treat human diseases. However, the lack of standardized formulations is the major obstacle in broad-scale application of aromatherapy. Hence, future research should focus on optimizing the best concentrations and delivery systems for EOs to ensure its efficacy and safety before using it as an aromatherapeutant. Through nanotechnology, more efficacious and cost effective nanoformulations of traditional aromatherapeutants may be prepared. The integration of aromatherapy with modern medicine will contribute greatly towards reshaping the existing health care system by increasing the collaboration between modern allopathy and certified aromatherapists. This may result in increased public interest and accessibility of aromatherapy around the globe. © 2025 Har Krishan Bhalla & Sons.