A Case Report of the Heating Effect in Fennel Essential Oil on Aromatherapy

香氣療法에서 茴香(Fennel)의 局所 溫熱 效果에 대한 증례보고

Nowadays Aromatherapy has been proved its own superiority and is getting popular for its specipic effects. Then, we can find some of aroma herbs are similar to those of Oriental medicine herbs. The purpose of this study was to identify the heating effect in Fennel essential oil on Aromatherapy, which is known for an effect of Hui-Hyang(Foeniculm vulgare) on Oriental medicine. We studied a patient who has visited Dongseo Oriental Hospital with Handam From November 29th 2001 to April 12th 2003 and has been observed for 5 months. We chose three spots in his body where the temperatures were lower than the other sides over $0.4^{\circ}C$. Then we treated him only with Fennel essential oil for 20 days. We used Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging to analyze the symptoms and assess the results of treatment. The results we obtained were as follows; 1. Fennel essential oil showed the heating effect at all the three spots on the Handam patient. 2. Fennel essential oil has the characteristics of Warmness and Heat in Oriental Medicine. 3. More studies are needed to analyze what kind of characteristics Other essential oils have by Oriental medical thought for better clinical use in Oriental Medicine.