Inhaling lavender and rosemary effect alertness in different ways
In an article published in the International Journal
of Neuroscience, EEG brain wave patterns were analyzed to help show how the
inhalation of two essential oils affects the brain. Inhalation of lavender resulted
in decreased alertness (increased beta waves). Subjects reported feeling more
relaxed and less depressed. The inhalation of rosemary resulted in increased
alertness (decreased alpha and beta waves). Subjects reported feeling more relaxed,
though alert, and less anxious.
Extensive study shows that essential oils reduce use of pain medication
for women in childbirth
An 8-year-long British study if 8,058 mothers in
childbirth showed that two essential oils, clary sage and chamomile, were
effective in relieving pain and reducing maternal anxiety when rubbed onto the
skin. This resulted in a decrease in opiod use from 6.0 % of women in 1990 to 0.4% of women in 1998. The cost savings was
substantial. With 1592 women using aromatherapy for pain in 1997, the cost was a
remarkably low $0.74 per woman spent on pain relief.
Inhaling lavender oil decreases anxiety during
hemodialysis treatments
In an article published in a major neuroscience journal,
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).
Click on lavender
references for more medical research on lavender.
Updated 4.26.02
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