Aromatherapy in Turkey: Popular, but who really uses it?

Aromatherapy in Turkey: Popular, but who really uses it?

Aromatherapy, an alternative healing method based on the use of essential oils, is becoming increasingly important in society. A study conducted in Turkey aims to examine people's attitudes and thoughts towards aromatherapy and to find out what factors influence the use of this form of therapy. The study, in which 985 questionnaires were evaluated, shows that around 72.4% of participants have already heard of aromatherapy. In particular, women, provincial or district residents, and those with income are significantly more likely to be familiar with the concept of aromatherapy.

Almost 59% of those surveyed said they had already used essential oils, with lavender, tea tree, peppermint, rose and thyme being the most commonly used. Women use essential oils more often than men. According to those surveyed, the main areas of application for these oils are improving the appearance of the skin and treating skin and respiratory diseases. The main sources of information about essential oils are the Internet, social media and pharmacists.

The results of this study suggest that awareness and use of aromatherapy in the community is high. Given the tendency among the public to use these products, advice from professionals such as doctors, pharmacists and nurses becomes increasingly important. This development could lead to a change in current practice by placing more emphasis on advice on the safe and effective use of aromatherapy products.

Basic terms and concepts

• Aromatherapie: Eine Form der alternativen Medizin, die ätherische Öle zur Verbesserung der körperlichen und psychischen Gesundheit nutzt.
• Ätherische Öle: Konzentrierte Extrakte aus Pflanzenteilen, die für therapeutische Zwecke in der Aromatherapie eingesetzt werden.
• SPSS: Ein statistisches Softwarepaket, das für die Datenanalyse verwendet wird.
• P-Wert: Ein statistisches Maß, das dazu dient festzustellen, ob ein Unterschied oder Zusammenhang statistisch signifikant ist.

The findings of this study could contribute to increasing healthcare professionals' exposure to aromatherapy, leading to informed use of essential oils in the population. This highlights the need for well-informed advice to minimize potential risks and make the most of the benefits of this alternative healing method.

Perception and use of aromatherapy in Turkey

The present study examines the attitudes and thoughts of the population in Turkey regarding aromatherapy and the factors that influence the use of aromatherapy. 985 questionnaires were identified as suitable in terms of data quality. The statistical software package SPSS 23.0 was used for data analysis, with a P value of less than 0.05 being considered statistically significant.

General results

• Etwa 72,4% der Befragten gaben an, bereits von Aromatherapie gehört zu haben.
• Das Bewusstsein über Aromatherapie war statistisch signifikant höher bei Frauen (P = 0,000), Personen, die in einer Provinz/Kreis leben (P = 0,011), und solchen, die in einer einkommensgenerierenden Position arbeiten (P = 0,003).
• Von den Teilnehmern haben 58,9% angegeben, ätherische Öle zu verwenden.

Usage and Preferences

The five most commonly used essential oils are, in order, lavender, tea tree, peppermint, rose and thyme. Essential oil use was higher in women than men (P = 0.000). The main uses for essential oils were skin care (51.7%), skin diseases (51.0%) and respiratory diseases (46.0%).

Sources of information

• Die häufigsten Informationsquellen über die verwendeten ätherischen Öle waren Internet/Soziale Medien (57,6%) sowie Apotheker (53,4%).

conclusion

The results of the research indicate that the awareness and use of aromatherapy is widespread among the Turkish population. Given the public's high propensity to use these products, it is essential that doctors, pharmacists and nurses provide advice on the use of these products.

The research provides important insights into the prevalence and acceptance of aromatherapy in Turkey and highlights the need to provide informed sources of information for the population.

To read the detailed study results, please visit https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38363968.