中药挥发油是芳香中药最具代表性的有效组分，具有抗焦虑、抗抑郁、镇静安神、神经保护作用等药理活性，经嗅觉、皮肤等途径可达到缓和情绪、调节神志的作用，对于防治抑郁、焦虑、失眠等情志疾病有着独特的优势，也能在其他身心疾病的防治和康复过程中发挥辅助治疗的作用，是独具特色的健康服务资源。但目前存在基础研究薄弱，缺乏疗效确切、适宜给药的优质制剂和产品等问题。对相关研究文献进行总结，对中药挥发油给药途径、药效作用、作用机制进行系统梳理，对存在的问题进行分析并提出对策，为其深入研究和进一步开发利用提供参考。

Volatile oil is the representative effective component of aromatic Chinese materia medica (CMM), which has pharmacological activities such as anti-anxiety, antidepressant, sedative and neuroprotective effects. They can regulate people's mood through olfactory, skin and other ways of administration, play a role in regulating consciousness, and have unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of emotional diseases such as depression, anxiety, insomnia and so on. As a unique health service resource, it can also play an auxiliary role in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of other physical and mental diseases. However, at present, there are some problems, such as weak basic research, lack of effective and high-quality preparations and products. In this paper, the relevant research literature is summarized, the administration route, efficacy and action mechanism are systematically combed, the existing problems are analyzed and the countermeasures are put forward, so as to provide reference for its in-depth research, further development and utilization.