Essential oils in wellness centers: Overview on european union legislation, potential therapeutic effects and toxicity

Abstract

Essential oils or volatile oils are natural products that have a large series of uses in the food and cosmetic sectors. According to their intended use, essential oils are subjected to various European guidelines that aim to protect the health and safety of consumers. Volatile oils present important biological activities, some of the most known being their antimicrobial properties, but other potential therapeutic indications for such products have been more recently suggested, as well. However, they are not necessarily harmless and can present an important sensitizing potential. Essential oils have been administered through different routes, including inhalations and skin applications, in the treatment of stress and anxiety. Regardless of the route of administration, aromatherapy deeply relies on the sense of smell and its connection with the limbic system. Nevertheless, outside of the principles of aromatherapy, numerous scientific studies have revealed their potential beneficial implications in Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.