Essential oils are at the center of the natural and holistic health health movement. These highly concentrated oils are extracted from plant leaves and seeds and used for their curative powers. Lavender oil is a particularly popular element, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, used in wound care and aromatherapy.
Relief of Anxiety and Agitation
Lavender oil, when heated, releases a scent that has been shown to alleviate agitated or anxious individuals. Japanese researchers examined the oil for its anti-conflict and anti-anxiety effects. In tests on mice, researchers found that linalool, a naturally occurring element in lavender oil, was the primary reliever of anxiety. A 2010 study at King's College London used lavender oil to relieve patient anxiety about dental appointments. Researchers monitored patients exposed to lavender oil while waiting to be seen by the dentist. The study showed that the small of lavender reduced anxiety in nearly 75 percent of patients, compared to the control group.
Alleviating Sleeplessness
Health and beauty retailers often stock lavender-scented sleep masks, pillows and sachets to help people get a better night's sleep. A paper published in the February 2010 edition of the Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology launched a study of how lavender oil aided in relief of sleeplessness. The team of scientists are looking at how the molecules are activated and taken in by the body to relax it. One theory, tested by researchers at The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, is that some odors, including lavender, lead to relaxed breathing patterns in sleep.
Natural Antiseptic
Lavender oil is also a strong antiseptic, fighting infection and cleaning wounds. While it has the potential to be toxic when ingested, lavender oil is particularly effective when used as a topical application. A 2009 British study looked at lavender oil's impact on methcillin-sensitive and methcillin-resistant Staphylcoccus aureus. The researchers found that using the oils in a lab setting was effective and human research was warranted. As of May 2, 2010, numerous trials are underway to study the efficacy of lavender oil.
Relief of Alopecia Areata
The University of Maryland Medical Center points to a Scottish linking aromatherapy to reversing hair loss due to alopecia areata. Subjects had essential oils, including lavender oil, massaged into their scalps daily for a seven-month period. The result was that 44 percent of sufferers showed improvement with symptoms related to alopecia hair loss.
References
- Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior: Anticonflict effects of lavender oil and identification of its active constituents.
- Community dentistry and oral epidemiology: The effects of lavender scent on dental patient anxiety levels: a cluster randomised-controlled trial.
- Chemical Senses: The influence of odorants on respiratory patterns in sleep.
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine: The antimicrobial activity of high-necrodane and other lavender oils on methicillin-sensitive and -resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA).
- Archives of Dermatology: Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata.
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