AROMATHERAPY IN MODERN HEALTHCARE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ITS HISTORY, MECHANISMS, APPLICATIONS AND MEDICINAL PLANTS USED

Aromatherapy is a complementary therapeutic approach based on the use of volatile essential oils derived from aromatic medicinal plants. The practice has a long history, originating in ancient medical systems of Egypt, India, China, and Greece, where aromatic plants were employed for therapeutic, cosmetic, and spiritual purposes. In contemporary pharmacognostic research, aromatherapy is recognized for the bioactive potential of essential oils, which are complex mixtures of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters. The mechanisms of action involve olfactory stimulation of the limbic system as well as transdermal absorption, leading to neuropharmacological, autonomic, and systemic effects. Essential oils have demonstrated a range of pharmacological activities including anxiolytic, analgesic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and sedative effects. Aromatherapy has found applications in the management of stress-related disorders, pain, insomnia, dermatological and respiratory conditions, and as supportive therapy in chronic diseases and palliative care. Medicinal plants frequently employed in aromatherapy include Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha piperita, Eucalyptus globulus, Rosa damascena, and Melaleuca alternifolia. This review consolidates current knowledge on the historical evolution, phytochemical profile, mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, and medicinal plant sources of aromatherapy, emphasizing its scientific basis and importance in pharmacognosy and natural product research.