A sultry atmosphere inside a closed room makes people of all ages lose water through excessive sweating. Their bodies are without shirts but wrapped in towels as they inhale fleshy grass aromas from herbs such as eucalyptus.

These are just some of the ‘ingredients’ that will eventually go through further body massage to firm up the series of events for the now speedy trend of holistic therapy. 

A sign of relief moving from this warm and sweaty atmosphere, the cool air pulses that flow over your body from north to east give you that healing sensation of aromatic treatment.

What is aromatherapy?

A very ancient knowledge and skill that involves applying essential oils from aromatic plants to promote health and well-being through massage, in the bath or as an airborne inhalant.

This is part of holistic therapy, which means it works on the mind, body and spirit, taking into account all aspects of your lifestyle.

"Once you breathe in the vapor, the congested nose while having flue, cough clears away,” says Simeon Gatete, a spa therapist at Ingenzi Salon in Kimironko.

And because Gatete is always working on people who complain about stress, muscle pain, fatigue and respiratory congestion, he believes that this practice is more effective than any other. In fact, full service begins with the sauna then fog of aromatic vapour.

"The aromas have a powerful effect that conjures up with the evocative smells of grassy flavour to decongest your nose,” says Judith Rukundo, a masseur at Blue Spa in the city centre.

"Your skin will also be smoothened as the oils blocking the sweat pores are removed,” she explains.

Sniffing the pain away, gentle or hard pressing massage deals with the muscular cramps and body fatigue to wrap up the activity.

Healing power of aromatherapy

Several online health publications hint that as the scent is inhaled, it is carried to a membrane (the olfactory mucous membrane) from where 20 million nerve endings carry signals to the brain. These signals are interpreted as smell.

The scent passes through a passage known as the buccal cavity which links the air in the mouth and nasal areas. This is why the sensations of smell and taste are not always easily distinguishable.

The aromas are analysed by various centres in the brain for memories, emotional and other responses.

Essential oils can be classified by their effects as stimulants, euphoric, sedatives, regulators or aphrodisiacs. The oils can be in more than one of these categories

Euphoric odours such as jasmine, grape fruit stimulate a gland called the thalamus to release pain-killing hormones called enkephalins which give an uplifting feeling of well-being.

Sedative odours which include lavender, chamomile cause secretion of the "happy hormone.” serotonin.

The important scents (aphrodisiacs) stimulate the pituitary gland to secrete hormones which can induce sexual feelings. Endorphins are also painkillers that can cause feelings of euphoria.

The essential oils combined with massage are believed to be one of the most natural ways to de-stress and now known as powerful therapy.

Benefits of aromatherapy

The essential oils have powerful healing properties which affect the body physically and psychologically.

The aromas help to strengthen the immune system, loosen muscles and reduce stress, tension and anxiety, thus helping with insomnia and depression.

Muscular and rheumatic pains and menstrual and menopausal problems can also be greatly reduced with Aromatherapy.

A combination of this suggests positive results but medical experts warn about the exhilaration that aromatherapy in saunas can bring about.

Dangers of overdoing

"Anything that increases heat or pressure in the male private parts affects sperm production,” warns Dr Javier Rwamwejo, of King Faisal Hospital.

Also Dr Xu Deyi, of Chinese Society of Obstetrics, in an article titled "Sauna affect male fertility,” says about 70 per cent of men who use saunas twice a week, are prone to infertility due to the high temperature exposure by their private parts from hot environments.

"More men in Rwanda are increasingly being diagnosed with infertility related issues,” Dr Rwamwejo says. "Saunas could be among the causes of the trend.”

Several experts also warn that high temperatures retard sperm production thus affecting the sperm count.

Extra prudence should also exist as it is not only with the temperatures, the aromas too have been investigated and the revelations are not on our side.

From scientific research on aroma inhalation with people who had massage in spas, discovery proves that certain chemicals in the oils, called volatile organic compounds, mix with the air to form secondary organic aerosols.

These are particles which irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and are also known to cause headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver and kidneys.

Aromatherapy has many benefits, but it is imperative that safety precautions are taken when handling essential oils. While they may seem harmless (they are extracted from plants, after all), many need to be diluted before applying directly to the skin.

Essential oils should be diluted before being applied to the body because they are too concentrated for the skin.

Is aromatherapy practice safe?

A wide range of licensed health professionals (such as massage therapists, nurses, and counselors) may have experience and training in aromatherapy. It is important to talk with your medical doctor to see whether aromatherapy may be helpful and safe for your specific health condition.

Do not swallow the oils used in aromatherapy. Many of the oils are potent and can be dangerous if taken internally (swallowed).

Children under five should not use aromatherapy because they can be very sensitive to the oil. Nor should anyone use oils near the eyes or mouth, because irritation of the skin and membranes may occur.

People with certain chronic illnesses or conditions should not use aromatherapy without first consulting a doctor. These illnesses and conditions include:

Lung conditions such as asthma, respiratory allergies, or chronic lung disease. Oils may cause airway spasms.

Skin allergies. Some oils may cause skin irritation, especially in the membranes of the eyes, nose, and mouth.

Pregnant women should not use aromatherapy. Some oils (such as juniper, rosemary, and sage) may cause uterine contractions.

Always tell your doctor if you are using an alternative therapy or if you are thinking about combining an alternative therapy with your conventional medical treatment. It may not be safe to forgo your conventional medical treatment and rely only on an alternative therapy.