芳香療法在宗教與心靈層面的應用

The Application of Aromatherapy in The Religious and Mental Field

洪立明(Hung, Li-ming)

《法印學報》 9期 (2018/12) Pp. 193-220

摘要

雖然香氣在宗教場域的應用由來已久，但正視香氛對身心的影響，卻是從近代歐洲才開始的，並且逐漸形成顯學。香氣應用在宗教場域中，可提供莊嚴肅穆的神聖營造功能，但在此之上，其實也可起到舒適身心，並有預防公共場合疾病傳染的作用。即使跳脫公開場域，在個人的宗教修持方面，芳香植物亦可扮演著沈靜身心、調理色身不適的角色。而近代芳香療法的盛行，加上長照的議題迫在眉睫，也提供民眾在正統醫療之下，另一種輔助的醫護選擇。芳香療法主張「身、心、靈」三者平衡，使身心能安穩和諧，這樣的理念與宗教契合，加上宗教場域慣以香作為儀式用途，其目的不乏淨化場域，或迎請神佛。因此芳香療法的應用，或可結合宗教場域與宗教理念，加以應用。筆者以芳香療法的角度，探討分析芳香療法可運用在宗教的各種層面，包含場域儀式、個人修行，以及宗教醫護關懷，提供宗教人士在香的應用上，可以更加廣泛。

關鍵字

宗教 ； 長期照顧 ； 臨終關懷 ； 芳香療法 ； 精油

並列摘要

The application of frangrance in the religious field has long-term records, but its affection to body and mind was ignored til recent years' researches starting in Eurpoe and becomes famous. Aroma fragrance is applied in the religious field to provide solemn and sacred functions. On top of this, it can also be used to comfort body and mind and prevent the spread of diseases in public areas. Besides of public, aromatic plants can also be as a role in calming mind, body and comforting pain even in private religious practice. Since long-term care issue becomes important these years, modern aromatherapy also provides an alternative to medical care option as orthodox medical care. Aromatherapy focuses on the balance of body, mind and spirit, becomes stable and harmonious. This core concept can be adopted with religion since the religious field is used for using fragrance on ritual purposes to purify the field and welcome the God, or the Buddha. Therefore, the application of aromatherapy can be applied in combination with religious fields and concepts. We explore the application from the perspective of aromatherapy in various aspects of religion, including rituals, personal practice, and religious medical care, providing a wider guideline of how to apply aroma fragrance for religious followers.

並列關鍵字

Religion ； Long-term care ； Hospice care ； Aromatherapy ； Essential oils