Aromapherapy through skin absorption can change hormones?

[deedeedaydee]

It was suggested to me yesterday that Aromatherapy (specifically, applying oils such as lavender to the skin) can impact human hormones.

Whilst the term "aromatherapy" sets off quackery alarms in my brain, the lady was quite insistent that this was true. so I was a little unsure what to believe. I *guess* the biological mechanism is there, after all, you can poison yourself through the epidermis I believe.

Having goggled scholarly articles/clinical studies, I came back with nothing I trusted, but lots of hippy sites with no references.

 

If someone could help educate me a little, I would appreciate it

[CharonY]

It is unlikely that the concentrations involved will have significant impact on hormonal regulation. It would have to be very potent to do so and then it would not be a safe compound. If mere contact can disrupt your endocrine systems, you should be very far away from it...

 

As far as therapeutic utility regardless of action it seems to have no to small effects. O'Connor et al (BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013) used a cross-trial and found no effects on agitated dementia, for example. Whereas a review from Lillehei and Halcon (J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Jun;20(6):441-51) found small benefits for improved sleep. There are a few studies that indicate stress reduction, but in all of them no placebos were used (i.e. they just compare it to applying oil with no applications). Those that worked with placebos found no effects on anxiety.

 

So while it is not clear whether it has any significant biochemical actions, at minimum it does not appear to do any harm and may exert some of its effects via the placebo or potentially other effects. But again, the claim to impact hormones (which? how much?) is indeed dubious and there are no studies that suggest that. Also, it would be most likely harmful if it did. Finally, almost all studies describing an effect are based on inhalation, indicating that the smell may have some relaxing properties (at least to those that are not sensitive to these kind of smells).

[StringJunky]

It is unlikely that the concentrations involved will have significant impact on hormonal regulation. It would have to be very potent to do so and then it would not be a safe compound. If mere contact can disrupt your endocrine systems, you should be very far away from it...

 

As far as therapeutic utility regardless of action it seems to have no to small effects. O'Connor et al (BMC Complement Altern Med. 2013) used a cross-trial and found no effects on agitated dementia, for example. Whereas a review from Lillehei and Halcon (J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Jun;20(6):441-51) found small benefits for improved sleep. There are a few studies that indicate stress reduction, but in all of them no placebos were used (i.e. they just compare it to applying oil with no applications). Those that worked with placebos found no effects on anxiety.

 

So while it is not clear whether it has any significant biochemical actions, at minimum it does not appear to do any harm and may exert some of its effects via the placebo or potentially other effects. But again, the claim to impact hormones (which? how much?) is indeed dubious and there are no studies that suggest that. Also, it would be most likely harmful if it did. Finally, almost all studies describing an effect are based on inhalation, indicating that the smell may have some relaxing properties (at least to those that are not sensitive to these kind of smells).

Wouldn't the carrier oils used inhibit dermal transfer as well? A quick google says vegetable, nut and seed oils are used.

 

Edited to add.

Edited June 15, 2015 by StringJunky

[CharonY]

Well, lipophilic compounds have, in theory a better chance to pass the barrier and at least some essential oils (or rather volatile parts thereof) have been under discussion as carriers for for transdermal drugs. That being said, they need to be highly concentrated to the extent that they can cause contact dermatitis. Of course, the drug property also plays a role here.

Obviously this will not be the case in aromatherapies (at least I would hope not).

[BodyScientist]

The only link would be through the brain relaxing, and entering a "hormonal adjustment" stage, where some changes are made, but this would be minimal, and wouldn't show up on anyones measurements.

[John Cuthber]

The only link would be through the brain relaxing, and entering a "hormonal adjustment" stage, where some changes are made, but this would be minimal, and wouldn't show up on anyones measurements.

Got any evidence for that?