Lavender is simply an amazing remedy from every standpoint. It’s effective for so many things, being a topical antiseptic, wound healer and pain reliever. Its soothing qualities happen both on a local cellular level and on the grander scale of our overall body and mind. Its effective and its safe. Very safe, in fact — safe for everyone of every age. And it has a lot of scientific research to back it up; it may be the second most researched oil of all time, and the oil which actually began the modern aroma-medicine revolution. So what’s all the latest hub-bub about? Its the proven (meaning at least “very thoroughly tested”) anti-anxiety effects that are so potent as to match the most effective pharmaceutical drugs available. Here’s a quick look at the overall effects of Lavender, and the latest and greatest in science to back it up.
The sweet aroma of Lavender brings calm to almost everyone — it seems particularly effective for children, women and the elderly (some men may not appreciate the floral aroma, and might do better with soothing scents like Sandalwood or Bergamot). Lavender’s aroma has proven itself an effective stress reliever in many, many laboratory studies, addressing “stress” from virtually every possible way you can define it. It even relieves “stress” when applied directly to wounds, lessening the pain felt at nerve endings.
Certainly one of the great features of Lavender essential oil is its ease of use. Need to relieve a little personal stress? Just inhale deeply from the bottle. Need to de-stress the entire room you’re in, or maybe your automobile? Just sprinkle a little on the carpet. Need to calm your child? A warm bath with a few drops of oil goes a long way. How about a great night’s sleep? Just a couple drops on the bedspread will do the trick, or setting a diffuser on low throughout the night can help with staying asleep through those early morning hours.
Now, science is finally affirming the positive results of ingesting Lavender essential oil. This is a wonderful confirmation of the efficacy of the medicine that essential oils really are. Inhalation clearly works by interacting with the olfactory sense, which is tied to the limbic system and hippocampus. The result of stress reduction through inhalation has always been thought to be a response from the “emotional center” of our brains, telling the rest of our body that we can calm down, and “all is well”. Yet the possibility of our physiology responding to the oil actually floating around in our bloodstream has been casually ignored. In this case however, the oil is not being smelled at all, yet is manifesting all of its reputed anti-stress actions.
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria have published their data resulting from a ten week trial of a eighty-milligram capsule of Lavender essential oil. The double-blind, placebo-controlled study investigated the anti-stress effects of this encapsulated Lavender, by evaluating the physical and emotional condition of the participants on a number of criteria. The results were quite profound — the Lavender capsule was found to have statistically significant effects for the relief of mild to moderate anxiety disorder, as well as improving the quality of rest. Further, perhaps as a direct result of the improvement of participant’s mental condition and their improved sleep, their physical condition was markedly improved as well.
In a study by the same group of researchers, Lavender oil was compared not to a placebo, but to Lorazepam, a “high potency benzodiazepine drug.” The conclusion noted: “our results demonstrate that (the Lavender capsule) is as effective as lorazepam in adults with GAD (general anxiety disorder).” It was also noted that one of the wonderful features of the natural substance is that it has no potential for abuse, unlike the benzodiazepines (Valium is a well-known variety of this class of drugs). Lavender has actually been favorably compared to these anxiety-relieving drugs in many studies over the last decade, showing again and again the oil’s excellent stress-deducing ability. It has even been noted to reduce aggression and conflict — if only the whole world could be smelling this flower’s oil!
There have been a variety of other studies investigating the anti-anxiety properties of Lavender in different situations. One was the delivery of the aroma to a group of nursing students before a major exam, to see whether it helped their pre-exam jitters, and it did! Another placebo-controlled experiment exposed individuals in the waiting room at the dentist office to diffused Lavender essential oil. The patients experienced a significant reduction in their pre-appointment anxiety (though funny enough that the aroma didn’t reduce their perceived fear of the dentist, only the amount of stress they felt while waiting for their visit).
In a more medically oriented trial, patients were exposed to Lavender essential oil vapor immediately after surgery. Impressively, it was found that, among patients exposed to the aroma, fewer required pain relieving drugs at all, and those that did required less of them.
Convinced yet? There’s certainly enough data their to get inspired about experimenting with Lavender essential oil. It’s such an easy oil to use for the purposes described here, with a relatively low cost and availability. If you haven’t used the oil yet and are thinking about purchasing some, seek one out of relatively high quality. Essential oils are available in a wide variety of grades, with the less expensive ones sometimes being a bit harsh and unpleasant — not a very inspiring way to get started! Look for something labeled as “therapeutic grade”, which means its been produced with these types of applications in mind. Good luck, and may you enjoy better health for your efforts!
The author is a natural health professional utilizing pure essential oils and therapeutic blends.
categories: aromatherapy,stress,anxiety,psychology,disease,illness,alternative health,women,natural,health,wellness