| It's taken some time, and some (maybe a LOT) of | | | | While Sandalwood and Lavender have the most data |
| the Western medical establishment will still make fun, | | | | to back them up, many other essential oils have had |
| but aromatherapy has been officially validated by | | | | positive test results. Rose is a standout; it has also |
| science. Not just the killing of microbes by Tea Tree, | | | | been tested alongside Valium (apparently the |
| mind you, but the practice of 'aroma-therapy' - the | | | | anti-anxiety gold standard) with better and |
| inhalation of essential oil vapors to effect the psyche. | | | | longer-lasting results. The rose aroma's effect seem |
| Now we can all breathe an even hardier sigh of relief, | | | | to increase over time, where as benzodiazepines' |
| knowing we're not crazy for thinking we feel better | | | | effect will tend to decrease - and the test subjects |
| when inhaling Lavender oil, but stressed out lab rats | | | | appeared less confused or sedated. Rose, like |
| feel better, too! The natural health and wellness | | | | Lavender, reduced conflict between test subjects as |
| movement gets one more feather in its cap. Yes, | | | | well. For a little variety, you can mix Rose and |
| this may not be news to long-time practitioners, but | | | | Sandalwood together (try a 1:4 ratio)...this is a classic |
| this validation has important implications for a | | | | Indian aromatic blend combining two of the world's |
| therapeutic environment where unnatural medicines | | | | best known anti-anxiety scents. |
| currently dominate the landscape. | | | | Other oils found in research databases include |
| The body of evidence from controlled, | | | | Angelica, Chamomile, Lemon, Lemongrass, Tagetes |
| scientifically-valid research has grown significantly over | | | | and Ylang Ylang. Some oils tested didn't show |
| the last decade, demonstrating aromatherapy's | | | | repeatable results in the laboratory environment, but |
| potent anti-anxiety (also called 'anxiolytic') action. In | | | | if you find and oil aroma that you find relaxing, it's |
| most cases, these studies are easily reproduced by | | | | more than likely not purely 'in your head'; the |
| the lay practitioner - just rub a little Sandalwood oil on | | | | olfactory (smell) sense is the one of the five senses |
| your wrists or diffuse a vial of lavender and you too | | | | most directly wired to the brain's emotional centers. |
| can partake in the now-proven actions of | | | | These are, in turn, directly wired to the autonomic |
| aromatherapy. A few common oils have significant | | | | nervous system controlling functions such as heart |
| amounts of research to back them up...let's have a | | | | rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure - all of which |
| look at what the science says about these oils, and | | | | are closely tied to one's level of stress. |
| how you as a regular guy or gal (or mother with one | | | | So what to do with these stress relieving wonders? |
| or more active children) can reap these benefits. | | | | They're really easy to use - one of the great |
| Lavender has been the most frequently studied of all | | | | features of aromatherapy. Both topical application and |
| the essential oils. Its anti-anxiety (or simply 'relaxing') | | | | inhalation show repeatable results in laboratory tests. |
| action has been documented both in the laboratory | | | | A common method of topical application is to dilute |
| (using stressed-out mice and rats) and in clinical | | | | the essential oil in a carrier oil like Jojoba down to |
| environments with actual human beings. Many, many | | | | 10% or less. Essential oils tend to pass easily into the |
| studies have reported the same thing: inhalation of | | | | bloodstream when applied to the skin, so nearly any |
| lavender oil brings calm under a great variety of | | | | technique will do. A few drops of your mixture can |
| conditions. At least one study compared Lavender oil | | | | be placed on the wrists and rubbed together (this is |
| aroma to that of Juniper, Cypress, Geranium, Jasmine | | | | nice, as you'll smell the aroma as well). For inhalation, |
| and Frankincense. It was only the Frankincense that | | | | there's a great many aromatherapy diffusers |
| had a somewhat similar effect, but not nearly as | | | | available, from little, inexpensive plug in units, to |
| effective as Lavender. Several studies compared | | | | professional models which make a cloud of pure, |
| Lavender's effect to diazepam (Valium) with | | | | intense aroma. For anxiety relief, any model where |
| Lavender's aroma having similar (but likely more | | | | you can smell the aroma will do the job - the higher |
| healthy) calming results. In other studies, Lavender | | | | end diffusers tend to bathe a larger area in your |
| has been shown to improve sleep, decrease conflict | | | | aroma of choice. |
| between animals, and reduce the amount of pain | | | | Choosing an oil for yourself (or helping your children / |
| medication needed by recovering hospital patients. | | | | family / loved one's decide) is easy. What do you (or |
| Sandalwood oil is another well-known stress reducer. | | | | they) like to smell? One of the simplest yet most |
| For those that may not enjoy the floral aroma of | | | | profound aspects of aromatherapy for the psyche is |
| Lavender, Sandalwood could be the oil of choice. Its | | | | the legitimacy of individual of aroma preference. As |
| warm, earthy scent is grounding and centering, being | | | | uncovered by the laboratory studies, oils of greatly |
| used by some spiritual traditions to enhance relaxed, | | | | differing aromas can have similar anxiolytic action. |
| focused meditative states. The science shows similar | | | | While some people love flowery scents, others are |
| results - Sandalwood oil topically applied relaxed the | | | | drawn towards woods and resins. And it may be that |
| body while stimulating psyche. Studies on sleep/wake | | | | someone who likes the relaxing/stimulating aroma of |
| cycles using Sandalwood oil topically improved the | | | | Rose needs that dual-effect; others loving |
| quality of sleep and lessened waking episodes. A small | | | | Sandalwood might be better off with its centering |
| study using Sandalwood suggested the oil may be | | | | grounding action. In a word: experiment. Many |
| helpful in reducing anxiety for palliative care patients. | | | | companies will offer small sizes or even samples. |
| Beyond the scope of Western scientific inquiry, | | | | Once you find one or more aromas that suit your |
| Sandalwood oils and pastes have been used for | | | | needs, play with them - have fun! Whatever way |
| centuries in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of | | | | you choose to indulge your senses with essential |
| psychological disorders, utilizing its sublime | | | | oils...you can take comfort in knowing the science of |
| mental-health promoting actions. | | | | aromatherapy is there to back you up. |