The bibliographic citations are derived from Medline databases through the National Library of Medicine.
Holmes C, Hopkins H, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H. (2002). Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. Intl J Ger Psych, 17:305-8.
Summary: 15 patients identified
with behavioral problems from a long-term care unit were recruited for this
study. They all had severe dementia. A communal area of the
unit was diffused with a lavender oil stream for ten treatment sessions. Results
showed a significant improvement in agitated behavior during aromatherapy when
compared with placebo.
Itai T, AmayasuH, Kurigbayashi M, Kawamura N, Okada M, Momose A, Tateyama T, Narumi K, Uemastsu W, Kaneko S. (2000). Psychological effects of aromatherapy on chronic hemodialysis patients. Psychiatry Clin Neurosci, 54(4):393-7.
Summary: 14 female patients treated
with chronic hemodialysis were studied for the effects of lavender oil and hiba
oil on mood and anxiety. The effects were measured
using the Hamilton scale for anxiety (HAMA) and the Hamilton scale for depression
(HAMD). Hiba oil aroma significantly decreased the mean scores for both
depression and anxiety and lavender oil aroma significantly decreased the mean
scores for anxiety (HAMA).
Buchbauer, G., Jirovetz, L., Jager,W., Dietrich, H. Plank, C. (1991). Aromatherapy: evidence for sedative effects of the essential oil of lavender after inhalation. Z Naturforsch, 46(11-12): 1067-72.
Summary: These researchers
investigated the sedative properties of the essential oil of Lavender (Lavandula
angustifolia Miller) and of its main constituents--linalool and
linalyl acetate on mice. They found that mice who inhaled lavender and its constituents
showed a significant decrease in activity, and that this decrease was
closely related to exposure time to the oils.
Guillemain, J., Rousseau, A., Delaveau, P. (1989). Neurodepressive effects of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. Ann Pharm Fr, 47(6):337-43.
Summary: Mice were fed a
1.6% dilution of essential oil of lavender. Sedative effects were observed with
some tests. Lavender significantly increased the sedative effects
of pentobarbital by increasing sleeping time.
Diego MA; Jones NA; Field T; Hernandez-Reif M; Schanberg S; Kuhn C; McAdam V; Galamaga R; Galamaga M. (1998). Aromatherapy positively affects mood, EEG patterns of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci, 96(3-4):217-24.
Summary: Following inhalation
of essential oil of lavender, subjects showed increased beta power on EEG patterns,
suggesting increased drowsiness, and reported feeling
more relaxed with less depressed mood. Their math computations were faster
and more accurate following the inhalation. Following inhalation of rosemary,
s
ubjects showed decreased alpha and beta power on EEG patterns, suggesting increased
alertness. They also reported less anxiety, and felt more relaxed and
alert. Their math computations were faster but not more accurate following the
inhalation.
Dunn, C., Sleep, J., Collett, D. (1995). Sensing an improvement: an experimental study to evaluate the use of aromatherapy, massage and periods of rest in an intensive care unit. J Adv Nurs, 21(1):34-40.
Summary: 122 patients admitted
to an intensive care unit were randomly allocated to receive a massage, aromatherapy
with lavender oil, or a period of rest. The patients
r eceiving aromatherapy reported a significant improvement in their mood and
perceived level of anxiety.
Elisabetsky E, Marschner J, Souza DO (1995). Effects of Linalool on glutamatergic system in the rat cerebral cortex. Neurochem Res, 20(4):461-5.
Summary: Linalool is a major
component of various essential oils including lavender, where it can constitute
up to 50% of the oil. This study investigates the pathway of the
sedative effects of linalool which, the authors state, include hypnotic, anticonvulsant
and hypothermic properties. They found that linalool inhibits glutamate binding
in the rat cerebral cortex and suggest this as a reason for linalool's effects
on the central nervous system.
Tasev, T., P. Toleva, V. Balabanova. 1969. Effet neuro-physique des huiles essentielles bulgares de rose, de lavande et de geranium [Neurophysical effect of Bulgarian essential oils from rose, lavender and geranium]. Folia Med (Plovdiv) 11(5):307–317.
Summary: A summary of this article is not currently available.
Gilani AH, Aziz N, Khan MA, Shaheen F, Jabeen Q, Siddiqui BS, Herzig JW (2000). Ethnopharmacological evaluation of the anticonvulsant, sedative and antispasmodic activities of Lavandula stoechas L. J Ethnopharmacol 71(1-2):161-7.
Summary:
This study tested a water-methanol extract of Lavender
Stoechas flowers on mice. It significantly lowered the severity of induced
convulsions and had a
sedative effect comparable to diazepam (Valium). The extract also relaxed contractions
in rabbit intestinal muscle similar to calcium channel blockers like
verapamil. The researchers found the extract to have anticonvulsant and antispasmodic
activities.
Lis-Balchin M, Hart S (1999). Studies on the mode of action of the essential oil of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia P. miller). Phytother Res, 13(6):540-2.
Summary: In this study,
true lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) inhibited muscle spasms for both
smooth and skeletal muscle of rodents. In particular, uterine and intestinal
muscle was tested, along with skeletal muscle. The spasmolytic effect was thought
to be mediated through cAMP. It was also found that the mode of action of
linalool, a major constituent of true lavender, was similar to the whole oil.
Kin, H.M., Cho, S.H. (1999). Lavender oil inhibits immediate-type allergic reaction in mice and rats. J Pharm Pharmacol,51(2): 221-6.
Summary: Lavender essential oil
was used both on and under the skin of mice to test cell-mediated immediate-type
allergic reaction. The researchers found that lavender
oil inhibited these allergic reactions by mast-cell degranulation.
Coulson IH, Khan AS (1999). Facial 'pillow' dermatitis due to lavender oil allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 41(2):111.
Summary: A summary of this article is not currently available.
Nelson RR (1997). In-vitro activities of five plant essential oils against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium. J Antimicrob Chemother, 40(2):305-6.
Comment in: J Antimicrob Chemother 1999 Mar;43(3):427-8
Summary: A summary of this article and comment are not currently available.
Frohlich, E. 1968. Lavender oil, review of clinical, pharmacological and bacteriological studies. Contribution to clarification of the mechanism of action. [In German]. Wien Med Wochenschr 118(15):345–350.
Summary: A summary of this article is not currently available.
Nikolaevskii, VV, Kononova, NS, Pertsovskii, AL, Shinkarchuk, IF (1990). Effect of essential oils on the course of experimental atherosclerosis. Patol Fiziol Eksp Ter, (5): 52-3.
Summary: Inhalation of essential
oils of lavender and monarda by rabbits reduced cholesterol content and atherosclerotic
plaque in the aorta, producing an angioprotective
effect. However, the oils did not reduce blood levels of cholesterol.
Hay IC, Jamieson M, Ormerod AD (1998). Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata. Arch Dermatol, 134(11):1349-52.
Summary: 86 patients will alopecia
areata (hair loss) were studied in this randomized, double-blind, controlled,
7-month trial, with follow-up at 3 and 7 months. One group
had essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood diluted in jojoba
and grapeseed massaged into their scalp daily. The control group had just
the
carrier oils jojoba and grapeseed massaged into their scalp daily. 44% of the
patients receiving the essential oils showed improvement, compared with 6% in
the
control group. The authors concluded that the essential oils were a safe and
effective treatment for hair loss.
Charron JM (1997). Use of Lavandula latifolia as an expectorant. J Altern Complement Med, 3(3):211.
Summary: A summary of this letter is not currently available.
Ziegler, J. 1996. Raloxifene, retinoids, and lavender: "me too" tamoxifen alternatives under study [news]. J Natl Cancer Inst 88(16):1100–1102.
Summary: A summary of this letter is not currently available.
Ghelardini C, Galeotti N, Salvatore G, Mazzanti G 1999. Local anaesthetic activity of the essential oil of Lavandula angustifolia. Planta Med 65(8):700-3.
Summary: True lavender (Lavandula
angustifolia) and its two main components, linalool and linalyl acetate,
were tested for pain-killing activity. All three substances drastically
reduced contractions of a rat nerve preparation and had significant anaesthetic
action on the conjunctival reflex of living rabbits. These responses were
all
dose-dependent. The researchers concluded that the local anesthetic activity
of lavender essential oil was confirmed.
Saeki Y (2000). The effect of foot-bath with or without the essential oil of lavender on the autonomic nervous system: a randomized trial. Complement Ther Med 8(1):2-7.
Summary:
This clinical trial studied young women who sat with their
feet soaking in hot water for 10 minutes. The effects of a foot bath with
lavender e.o. was compared
with the effects of a foot bath without oil. Parasympathetic nerve activity
increased significantly during both types of foot bath, but the lavender e.o.
caused the
changes to last longer (towards relaxation).
Cornwell, S. and A. Dale. 1995. Lavender oil and perineal repair. Mod Midwife 5(3):31–33.
Summary: A summary of this letter is not currently available.
Dale, A. and S. Cornwell. 1994. The role of lavender oil in relieving perineal discomfort following childbirth: a blind randomized clinical trial. J Adv Nurs 19(1):89–96.
Summary: A summary of this letter is not currently available.
Hartman D, Coetzee JC. (2002). Two US practitioners' experience of using essential oils for wound care. J Wound Care 118 317-20.
This
This article describes the results of using lavender and chamomile essential
oils on chronic wounds. The study compared 5 patients using essential oil therapy
to 3
controls using only conventional therapy. Lavender and chamomile were combined
and diluted in a grapeseed oil carrier base. The recipients of essential oil
t reatment did better than those who received only conventional treatment.
The authors conclude that essential oils have a promising role to play in chronic
wound care, but randomized controlled clinical trials are needed. (Essentics
note: lavender and chamomile are in our
Wound Care blend).
Last updated 03.24.05
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