Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office.

1: Physiol Behav. 2005 Sep 15;86(1-2):92-5. 

Lehrner J, Marwinski G, Lehr S, Johren P, Deecke L.

University Clinic of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the essential oils of orange and lavender on anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness in dental patients. Two hundred patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years (half women, half men) were assigned to one of four independent groups. While waiting for dental procedures patients were either stimulated with ambient odor of orange or ambient odor of lavender. These conditions were compared to a music condition and a control condition (no odor, no music). Anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness were assessed while patients waited for dental treatment.

Statistical analyses revealed that compared to control condition both ambient odors of orange and lavender reduced anxiety and improved mood in patients waiting for dental treatment. These findings support the previous opinion that odors are capable of altering emotional states and may indicate that the use of odors is helpful in reducing anxiety in dental patients.

[in another study it was found that lavender increases beta waves in the brain, increases relaxation and cognitive performance].

Ambient odor of orange in a dental office reduces anxiety and improves mood in female patients.

1: Physiol Behav. 2000 Oct 1-15;71(1-2):83-6.

Lehrner J, Eckersberger C, Walla P, Pötsch G, Deecke L. Neurological Clinic, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Essential oils have been used as remedies for a long time in different cultures across the world. However, scientific proof of such application is scarce. We included 72 patients between the ages of 22 and 57 while waiting for dental treatment in our study. The participants were assigned to either a control group (14 men, 23 women) or to an odor group (18 men and 17 women). Ambient odor of orange was diffused in the waiting room through an electrical dispenser in the odor group whereas in the control group no odor was in the air. We assessed by means of self-report demographic and cognitive variables, trait and state anxiety, and current pain, mood, alertness, and calmness.

In this study, we report that exposure to ambient odor of orange has a relaxant effect. Specifically, compared to the controls, women who were exposed to orange odor had a lower level of state anxiety, a more positive mood, and a higher level of calmness. Our data support the previous notion of sedative properties of the natural essential oil of orange (Citrus sinensis).

CAUTION: all citrus oils and Bergamot oil are photosensitizing when applied topically, so don’t apply to skin if you’re going into the sun. However, using a citrus oil on your feet or in cooking will NOT make your skin photosensitive. 

Treating ADD/ADHD with Essential Oils

Today, research has found that there is a natural alternative to treat ADD and ADHD symptoms. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed disorders in young children and teenagers. Several million children are treated for ADHD;  some classrooms report  30% of students have this illness.

The symptoms:

    * Inattention - Shorter than usual attention span and can be easily distracted
    * Impulsivity - Not being able to control impulses
    * Hyperactivity - Periodic over activity

The common treatment for ADHD is the drug Ritalin. Unfortunately, Ritalin simply controls the symptoms in only 70% of the cases, but does not cure the condition. In addition, Ritalin produces side effects, at times serious and sometimes permanent.

Terry Friedmann, M.D. is an author, speaker, and practitioner. For over 30 years, he has helped people discover how essential oils help attain and maintain wellness of body, mind and spirit. A pioneer in holistic medicine, Dr. Friedmann discovered cures for problems for which conventional medicine has no answers. He is the author of several books on natural medicine and a pioneer in essential oils for wellness of body, mind and spirit.

In a two year study (1999-2001), Dr. Terry Friedmann M. D. found significant results when children with ADD/ADHD were administered therapeutic essential oils by inhalation.

One oil was administered by inhalation 3 times per day for 30 days. An inhalation device was also used at night to administer a continuous inhalation of oil.

The inhalation of the oils settled the children's brain waves back to normal patterns and improved scholastic performance and behavioral patterns.

* Lavender increased performance by 53%
* Cedarwood increased performance by 83%
*  Vetiver increased performance by 100%.

This study will be published in the American Medical Association Journal. There is hope for ADD/ADHD with Young Living Therapeutic Essential Oils. Essential oils detoxify and oxygenate the body

Lavender Essential Oil Research 

Lavender vs. Caffeine Agitation (Buchbauer et al., 1994) University of Vienna found that diffusing lavender oil into the air reduced the agitation of test subjects injected with caffeine. Lavender outperformed its two main constituents, linalol and linalyl acetate, suggesting a synergistic effect.

Lavender Improves Sleep (G. Cannard, 1993) A study at the Tullamore General Hospital in Ireland applied one drop of a lavender oil blend to each of the four corners of patients' mattresses.  The lavender oil blend was also vaporized into the air during the night.

Lavender for Sleep (Wolfe, 1996) A study published in the International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry reported results of a pilot study of two patients with dementia.  Nighttime aromatherapy with the essential oils of lavender and Roman chamomile increased the duration of one patient's sleep and resulted in the second patient being taken off sleep medication.

Lavender for Daytime Alertness (Hudson, 1995) One drop of lavender oil was applied to the pillows of nine elderly patients for one week each night. Eight of the nine patients reported improved wakefulness and alertness during the day, suggesting improved and higher quality sleep at night.

Lavender vs. Insomnia (Hardy et al., 1995) A study published in The Lancet reported on using lavender oil to treat geriatric patients with chronic insomnia.  Researchers found that inhalation of ambient lavender oil outperformed sleep medications in improving sleep duration and quality.  No side effects were reported.

Lavender vs. Sleep (R. Hudson, 1996) A controlled clinical trial tested the ability of nighttime lavender aromas to improve sleep in elderly patients.

• 72% of patients receiving lavender aromatherapy slept well
• 11% of lavender patients receiving no odor slept well
• 79% of lavender patients reported having a good day
• 26% of no-odor patients reported having a good day

The Sense of Smell Institute (New York), in conjunction with Wesleyan University, has tested the effects of lavender on nighttime sleep and found that it improved sleep in men and women.
(2004-02-04) In the study, Namni Goel found that lavender increased the amount of time subjects spend in slow wave, or deep sleep, resulting in increased energy and alertness the next day.

Lavender vs. Cognitive Abilities (Knasko, 1992) A randomized controlled study tested the effect of lavender aroma on 92 adults.  Researchers found that subjects in the lavender group displayed better cognitive abilities and better moods than the unscented control group.

Lavender vs. Anxiety (Diego et al., 1999) A University of Miami study administered 3 minutes of aromatherapy to 40 healthy adults. Researchers found that subjects exposed to lavender aromas were less depressed and scored higher on mathematical tests (performing faster and more accurately).  Subjects also exhibited increased beta waves in the brain and exhibited lower anxiety scores.

Lavender vs. Cholesterol (Nikolaevskii et al., 1990) Inhalation of lavender reduced atherosclerotic plaques on the walls of the aorta (the chief blood supply to the brain) even though it did not reduce cholesterol levels in the blood.

Lavender vs. Blood Pressure (Romine et al., 1999) A University of Alaska study found that lavender reduced blood pressure.  In this randomized controlled clinical trial on 20 healthy men, scientists found that 10 minutes of lavender inhalation resulted in lower systolic and diastolic blood pressures, lower arterial pressures, and slower heart rates compared with the control group.

Lavender vs. Senility (Holmes et al., 2002) A placebo-controlled University of Southampton School of Medicine study found that diffused lavender oil was effective in treating agitated behavior caused by dementia.  Five percent of people over age 65 and 20% of people over age 80 have senile dementia.

Lavender vs. Dementia - Two percent lavender oil solution was diffused for two hours on alternate days.  Sixty percent of patients showed an improvement. Thirty-three percent of patients showed no change.

Lavender vs. Inflammation (Hajhashemi et al., 2003) A study conducted by the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences tested the effect of ingested lavender oil on inflammation.  Test subjects fed 200 mg/K body weight of lavender oil displayed substantially reduced inflammation (as shown by carrageenan-induced edema).

Lavender vs. Fungi (Inouye et al., 2003) A Teikyo University study in Japan found that diffusing essential oils "appears to offer promise" for inhalation therapy of respiratory tract infection. Fumigation of rooms for prevention of aerial infection. Researchers found that diffusing lavender oil (10mg per Liter of air or 0.7 ppm) was more than needed (0.3 ppm) to suppress the growth of pathogenic fungi on surfaces.

Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) Research

Tea Tree Oil Effectively Kills Resistant Micororganisms
WESTPORT, June 13, 2000 (Reuters Health) - Tea tree oil, a substance extracted from the leaves of an Australian tree, is effective in killing a variety of resistant microorganisms commonly found in hospitals, British and Australian researchers report in the May, 2000 issue of the Journal of Anti-microbial Chemotherapy.
 

Essential Oils Found to Fight MRSA
Tea tree oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia) is surprisingly effective at treating methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus ( MRSA ) infections. The researchers presented their findings at the 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons . Dr. Eugene Sherry of the University of Sydney in Australia said, “Applied to the skin of infected wounds an antibacterial wash derived from Eucalyptus Radiata and Melaleuca Alternifolia--better known as eucalyptus and tea-tree oils--can work when modern antibiotics fail.”

Oregano Oil Research

Oregano Oil May Protect Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Washington, DC) Oil from the common herb oregano may be an effective treatment against dangerous, and sometimes drug-resistant bacteria, a Georgetown researcher has found. Two studies have shown that oregano oil and, in particular, carvacrol, one of oregano's chemical components appear to reduce infection as effectively as traditional antibiotics. These findings were presented at the American College of Nutrition's annual meeting October 6 and 7 in Orlando, Florida

Harry G. Preuss, MD, MACN, CNS, professor of physiology and biophysics, and his research team, tested oregano oil on staphylococcus bacteria which is responsible for a variety of severe infections and is becoming increasingly
resistant to many antibiotics. They combined oregano oil with the bacteria in a test tube, and compared oregano oil's effects to those of standard antibiotics streptomycin, penicillin and vacnomycin. The oregano oil at relatively low doses was found to inhibit the growth of staphylococcus bacteria in the test tubes as effectively as the standard antibiotics did.

Another aspect of the study examined the efficacy of oregano oil [versus] carvacrol, which is believed to be the major antibacterial component of oregano. Oregano oil definitely was stronger as an antibacterial agent than carvacrol by itself.

….Preuss said. "The ability of oils from various spices to kill infectious organisms has been recognized since antiquity. Natural oils may turn out to be valuable adjuvants or even replacements for many anti-germicidals under a
variety of conditions."

October 11, 2001 Retrieved from
http://gumc.georgetown.edu/communications/releases/archive/carvacrol_treatment_10062001.htm

Peppermint Essential Oil Research

Peppermint vs. Radiation Damage ( Samarth and Kumar, 2004)A study published in the Journal of Radiation Research found that ingesting peppermint oil reversed declines in glutathione caused by treatment with gamma radiation.  Glutathione is the most important antioxidant and detoxification enzyme in the liver.  Peppermint reduced levels oxidized (rancid) fats in the tissues caused by radiation damage.

Peppermint vs. Headaches (Badia et al., 1990)  The effect of topically-applied peppermint oil on a tension-type headache was examined in a randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind crossover study conducted at Christian-Albrechts University.  Peppermint oil seems to be a harmless and effective treatment for tension-type headaches.

Peppermint vs. Pain (Gobel et al., 1994)  University of Kiel researchers found that peppermint oil and a mixture of peppermint and eucalyptus oil reduced headaches in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over design study.  Diluted peppermint oils was applied to the temples and forehead of 32 human volunteers.  "A significant analgesic effect with a reduction in sensitivity to headache was produced by peppermint oils."

Peppermint vs. Irritation (Gobel et al., 1994) Peppermint reduced emotional irritation.

Peppermint vs. Depression (Gobel et al., 1994) Peppermint decreased depression.

Peppermint vs. Inactivity (Gobel et al., 1994) Peppermint and Eucalyptus decreased inactivity.

Peppermint and Exercise - Research published in 2001 in the Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology found that inhalation of peppermint increased athletic performance in human volunteers.  Forty young adult volunteers were tested (20 men, 20 women) and measured in running ability, strength, and fitness.  Two drops of peppermint oil were placed on adhesive strip placed under participant's nose.

Peppermint Improves Fitness (Raudenbush 2001) Runners finished the 400-meter dash faster using peppermint oil inhalation.

Peppermint Increases Strength (Raudenbush 2001) Athletes showed significant increase in strength as determined by stronger handgrip following peppermint oil inhalation.

Peppermint Improves Endurance (Raudenbush 2001) Exercisers completed more pushups (performed until exhaustion) after peppermint oil inhalation.

Peppermint Improves Productivity - A 2002 research study at the Wheeling Jesuit University by Bryan Raudenbush and colleagues found that peppermint improved productivity. Twenty-one participants were divided into two groups:  1st group was exposed to peppermint fragrance and 2nd group was exposed to a non-odor situation.

• Improved Cognitive Function (Raudenbush, 2002) Participants showed markedly improved performance on card-sorting task (rearranging 30 randomized cards alphabetically in 30 seconds)
• Better Accuracy on Typing Test (Raudenbush, 2002) Participants showed markedly improved performance on typing accuracy.
• Faster Speed (Raudenbush, 2002) Participants showed markedly improved net typing speed.

 

 

How to Duplicate the Effects of the Studies at Home

Applying Young Living Oils on the Feet

The simplest method is to put a drop of lemon or orange essential oil in your palm and rub it on the soles of your feet.

Inhalation 

Or, put a drop in your palms, rub palms together and cup palms over your nose (without touching your face) and inhale several times – aaaaah.

Spray Bottle 

Another method is taking a 32 oz. spray bottle (use a small bottle if you want one for your car or purse, simply adjust the amount of essential oil you add) – fill spray bottle with distilled water then add 20-30 drops of lemon or orange – or add several drops of lavender too (the goal is to have about 20-30 drops of essential oil per 32 oz. spray bottle). Then, spritz into the air of the room/space or car (do not get into eyes).

Diffusing Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils 

Young Living has several different diffusers – the glass nebulizer or the Therapro diffuser (these are best for mold problems), the Home Diffuser (this uses water and less essential oil),  the Travel Diffuser (great for trips, outdoors to keep insects away, in cars, smelly hotel rooms, runs on batteries and has a plug), or the Aria diffuser which is our favorite because it is BEAUTIFUL and connects to our iPods to play music.

Sign Up with a Wholesale Membership Kit for a $40 savings off of ANY diffuser!

Ingesting / Internal Use of Lemon Essential Oil

Of course this method of application ONLY applies to Young Living Essential Oils as they are of high quality and can be used as supplements.

In a glass of water and add 1 or 2 drops of lemon or orange essential oil to taste. This is a delicious way to flavor water without adding calories or sweeteners! Do NOT attempt this with other brands of essential oils they are NOT pure enough, even those sold at health food stores!