Since I first heard about it I wonder what was that about, aromatherapy? Is it worth trying? Will that work and for which ailments? Well, to find out and answer to these and many more questions I had a look at medical libraries and scientific trials on aromatherapy and their results, and you know what, after writing this article the way I thought about aromatherapy completely changed, and so you will I hope.

For those of you that have already tried it this article will give you an insight on those treatments and essentials oils about which you didn't know yet, and for those who didn't it will give you a perfect excuse to try it. Aromatherapy is one of the complementary and alternative medicines used to treat various diseases and symptoms, because essential oils have many kinds of pharmacological actions including anti-microbial, sedative, analgesic, spasmolytic and estrogen or steroid hormone-like effects, etc. [1].

Essential oils are in fact everything but oils. Essential oils do not contain any fatty acids that will eventually justify to define them as "oils", they are purely and simply highly concentrated plant extracts that exert powerful cosmetic and medicinal properties. Essential oils have been traditionally used to reduce body tension and emotional stress, being the most common types of essential oils are bergamot, lavender, and geranium. Some essential oils have been found to exert sedating effect, such as bergamot, lavender, chamomile, and other essential oils [2,3]. Image left: Themed herb pots -Aromatherapy- by Leonora Enking under Creative Commons license  (CC BY-SA 2.0).

LAVANDULA ANGUSTIFOLIA

Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Lavandula
Common name: Lavender, English lavender, common lavender, true lavender, narrow-leaved..

If you like Japanese food you may by now know what Wasabi is, or at least guess because not many people knows where this strong greenish condiment known as Wasabi comes from.

Wasabi (わさび（山葵）), originally 和佐比, Wasabia japonica or Eutrema japonica, also commonly known as Japanese horseradish, is is one of the most popular spices in many Asian countries, especially in Korea and Japan [6], a plant member of the Brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and mustard [1]. The root of Wasabia japonica is used as the source of an extremely spicy condiment used in many Japanese traditional dishes as sushi or sashimi. The name Wasabi translates from the Japanese as "mountain hollyhock" [10].

Wasabi rhizome is a very popular pungent spice in Japan, where it has been used to treat rheumatic arthralgia, through promoting blood circulation and alleviation of pain [6], and it is known that some of the active constituents found on it, namely the Isothiocyanates, exert also anti-cancer properties. Other physiological functions found in Wasabi include its use as appetite enhancer [11]. One of the facts that differences Wasabi from other Brassicaceae species is its higher concentration of Isothiocyanates (ITCs), especially long-chain ITCs [11].

Isothiocyanates are other plant extracts with flavoring properties that are arising as promising antimicrobial agents, with activities often rivaling synthetic chemicals [1]. Image left: Wasabi by Adrian8_8 under Creative Common license (CC BY 2.0).

WASABIA JAPONICA

Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Wasabia
Common name: Wasabi, Mountain hollyhock, Yunnan horseradish, Yunnan wasabi .

Curcuma longa, a bitter taste tropical plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family cultivated extensively in Asia, India, China and many other countries [1], has been traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat multiple symptoms and as a natural remedy for many other ailments and affections. Curcuma longa resembles a lot other Zingiberaceae family plants as Zingiber officinale (Ginger), and as this one has many known properties and health benefits. The powder obtained from the dried rhizome of Curcuma longa (turmeric), known as curry, is used in many traditional Indian dishes and is part of the Indian diet since centuries ago.

Almost everyone is familiar with the yellow color of curry, but not everyone knows that this color is the effect of a polyphenol found in Curcuma longa rhizome, a polyphenol known as Curcumin.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane), one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa, is a pungent, bitter and astringent Turmeric constituent that has been traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids. Now scientists from Ludwig-Maximilans University in Munich (LMU) led by PD Dr. Beatrice Bachmeier, have discovered that Curcumin suppresses metastases of certain cancers. Image: Turmeric root by Shu Tu under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.

Curcumin(diferuloylmethane), is one of the most active chemical constituents found in Turmeric or Curcuma longa. Traditionally used in herbal preparations and as a dye and flavoring agent, Curcumin is a polyphenol compound from the group of curcuminoids that is known for its characteristic yellow color, the color we can seen in curry powder, extracted from Turmeric root and used in many traditional culinary Indian recipes,

In a recent study done on the effects and efficacy of Curcumin in delaying the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus, 240 prediabetic population were given either placebo or curcumin during 9 months. After the test period the participants were subject of analysis with the following results:

1. 16.4% of the subjects in the placebo group were diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
2. None (0%) in the Curcumin-treated group acquired Type 2 diabetes mellitus.

But that's not all, the curcumin-treated group showed a better overall function of β-cells and lower C-peptide. Image: Vietnam Plants under Creative Commons license (CC BY 2.0).

CURCUMA LONGA

Family: Zingiberaceae
Genus: Curcuma
Common name: Turmeric, Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica Valeton.