Lavender essential oil is the most popular essential oil in use today. In the scientific community, it appears to be the second-most researched essential oil, only after Tea Tree. This is probably because the medical effects of Tea Tree, used as an antiseptic, antiviral and anti-fungal agent, are easily measured, and its actions are more familiar to the medical profession. Lavender's actions are a little more challenging to define, as its primary actions affect us on psychological and emotional levels. Yet recently, even these effects have been proven without a doubt by major studies performed at world-renown university and medical centers. Here we'll have a look at the effects of Lavender essential oil, and some of the incredible research that backs up these claims.
The overall action of Lavender oil is both calming and regenerating. It's a profound effect, as our bodies need to be relieved of stress in order to heal, and lead healthy lives in general. The sweet smell alone bestows calm on folks of all ages; from the little ones all wound up when it's time for bed, to the wizened generation whom may be recovering from illness, loss, or general fatigue. It has done the same for lab rats, hamsters and mice in research laboratories (we do not condone the testing of any essential oil on animals -- yet these studies have been performed and the data is worth discussing).
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.
The latest research is even suggesting that ingesting Lavender has essentially the same effects as inhaling it. And despite the widespread belief in the United States that one should never, ever ingest essential oils, this is simply not true. Lavender is very safe: it is listed by the FDA as "Generally Recognized As Safe" for ingestion as a food additive, and some companies even have their bottles labeled as dietary supplements. While its important to keep in mind that the protocols for ingesting any essential oil are always on the order of 1-3 drops a couple times per day -- and almost never more than this -- its also great to see research of such a large scale telling us ingestion of certain oils is not only acceptable, but can result in a dramatic improvement in one's health.
This latest research (abstracts of all research referenced in this article are available through pubmed.gov) was an evaluation of a new capsule containing 80mg of the essential oil (the equivalent of about 2 drops of oil). Study participants took one capsule daily for ten weeks, and came in every two weeks for an assessment of their mental, emotional and physical well-being. The primary focus was whether the Lavender capsule was effective at treating "non-syndromal" anxiety, which essentially means anxiety that isn't so serious as to be all-consuming of one's life. The results were impressive: under every evaluation technique or scale used in the study, the Lavender capsule outperformed the placebo. Participants were less stressed, slept deeper, and had better health and well-being overall.
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!
Previous research that has focused on the aroma has also produced statistically significant results. In two separate placebo-controlled trials, participants in common stressful situations were exposed to Lavender aroma. One study examined the response of people waiting to have their teeth worked on, and others were about to take a major exam. In both cases, the essential oil resulted in reports of lower anxiety.
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 overall action of Lavender oil is both calming and regenerating. It's a profound effect, as our bodies need to be relieved of stress in order to heal, and lead healthy lives in general. The sweet smell alone bestows calm on folks of all ages; from the little ones all wound up when it's time for bed, to the wizened generation whom may be recovering from illness, loss, or general fatigue. It has done the same for lab rats, hamsters and mice in research laboratories (we do not condone the testing of any essential oil on animals -- yet these studies have been performed and the data is worth discussing).
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.
The latest research is even suggesting that ingesting Lavender has essentially the same effects as inhaling it. And despite the widespread belief in the United States that one should never, ever ingest essential oils, this is simply not true. Lavender is very safe: it is listed by the FDA as "Generally Recognized As Safe" for ingestion as a food additive, and some companies even have their bottles labeled as dietary supplements. While its important to keep in mind that the protocols for ingesting any essential oil are always on the order of 1-3 drops a couple times per day -- and almost never more than this -- its also great to see research of such a large scale telling us ingestion of certain oils is not only acceptable, but can result in a dramatic improvement in one's health.
This latest research (abstracts of all research referenced in this article are available through pubmed.gov) was an evaluation of a new capsule containing 80mg of the essential oil (the equivalent of about 2 drops of oil). Study participants took one capsule daily for ten weeks, and came in every two weeks for an assessment of their mental, emotional and physical well-being. The primary focus was whether the Lavender capsule was effective at treating "non-syndromal" anxiety, which essentially means anxiety that isn't so serious as to be all-consuming of one's life. The results were impressive: under every evaluation technique or scale used in the study, the Lavender capsule outperformed the placebo. Participants were less stressed, slept deeper, and had better health and well-being overall.
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!
Previous research that has focused on the aroma has also produced statistically significant results. In two separate placebo-controlled trials, participants in common stressful situations were exposed to Lavender aroma. One study examined the response of people waiting to have their teeth worked on, and others were about to take a major exam. In both cases, the essential oil resulted in reports of lower anxiety.
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!
About the Author:
The author loves aromatherapy, and the wonderful therapeutic actions of aromatics like frankincense oil and lemongrass essential oil.
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