Health is a basic precondition for happiness and progress in the life of an individual as well as a community. Quality health care is the lifeline for the growth of any nation. We are undergoing a global health crisis characterized by mounting inequities within and between countries. Despite the tremendous medicinal advances and increasing average life expectancy, there is disturbing evidence of rising disparities in health status among people. We are frantic with worry as there is no cure in sight for AIDS so far. But then; what about diabetes?1 Which is said to be common problem, which has serious consequences. Diabetes mellitus is a silent disease and is now recognized as one of the fastest growing threats to public health in almost all countries of the world2. It has been incapacitating people for a long time but it has eluted a cure for many decades now.

Aromatherapy is a holistic healing process for thebody and mind with the use of fragrances. The basisof this therapy lies in the essential oils containedin plant materials. These can be found in leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, bark and resin. These oils arehighly concentrated and when extracted, can either beused in a pure form or diluted and blended with otheroils to produce the required strength. Essential oils are medicinal and fragrantand travel through the blood stream reacting withhormones and enzymes. When the fragrance is inhaledthe nerve ends in the nose transmit pleasurablesignals to the brain which reacts to the positivepower of the fragrant aroma inducing pleasantmemories, restoring emotional balance and encouragingrelaxation and energisation. Many of these fragrantoils have antiseptic and antitoxic qualities andoften act as an antidote to viral infections, inflammations, aches and pains.

Diabetes is a widespread disease and, according to the WHO, in some cases has reached epidemic proportions. It is currently the fourth most common cause of death in the industrialized countries and is rapidly increasing in the developing countries. Type 1 diabetes is caused by the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic islets, leading to efficientza insulin secretion. he highest rates of increase of type 2 diabetes are to be found in the developing countries or their communities, where an increase in the standard of living is associated with the adoption of the Western life-style and socioeconomic modernisation. It is a multifactorial disorder with genetic and environmental components. The primary aim of anti diabetic therapy is to reduce hyperglycemia levels and control glycaemia. As things stand at present, the drugs available on the market are old drugs such as metformin and the sulphonylureas and recently introduced drugs such as the -glucosidase inhibitors and thiazolinediones. As is understandable, the strategies aimed at controlling glucose homeostasis in type 2 diabetes differ and correspond to the different abnormalities presented by the diabetes.