ABSTRACT
In explaining the persuasive attraction of alternative medicine, Kaptchuk and Eisenberg (1998) note, “The fundamental premises are an advocacy of nature, vitalism, science, and spirituality.” Use of aromatherapy has burgeoned along with the other forms of complementary and alternative medicine. As of 1997, out-of-pocket money spent for alternative medicine products and services was $27 billion and equaled that for all out-of-pocket U.S. physician services (Yager, Siegfried, & DiMatteo, 1999). There has been a growth of 900% in the use of aromatherapy from the 1980s and 1990s (Kessler, Davis, Foster et al., 2001). Pain, including headache, is one of the most common reasons for seeking complementary alternative medicine treatment (Eisenberg, David, Ettner et al., 1998), and in particular aromatherapy because it is suggested that, “almost all essential oils have some analgesic properties” (Gatefoss, as quoted in Buckle, 1999b).
