The Powerhouse - Lavender

I thought I knew all there was to know about Lavender, but did I?! It has been part of double blind clinical studies on patients with Dementia, PTSD, Anxiety Disorder, Mums with post partum issues, Menopausal women, migraines and severe pain.

Simply using a diffuser of Lavender in the workplace, increased productivity just by using Lavender aromatically! Tysoe (2000) found that over a 3 mnth period 90% of employers believed there was an improvement in the workplace.

In EEGs, individuals who inhaled Lavender for 3 minutes had increased alpha rhythms (indicator of alertness) and increased speed of mathematical calculations. Individuals were more relaxed with decreased anxiety scores and improved moods Diego (2000). So Diffuse!

Jager et al (1992) did intensive lab studies to determine Lavender specifically Linalool and Linalyl acetate were detected in the plasma of subjects. The topical application with massage reaches maximum levels within 19 minutes this rapid absorption is said to cause nervous system depression (relaxation). So get Massaging!

Orally - 3 clinical trials were identified to show the efficacy of oral lavender, it showed improvement to patients who suffered from restlessness, there was less disturbed sleep and had positive benefits on well being. (A,B) In a study that compared Lorazepam, in adults for GAD (Anxiety). They improved from oral Lavender and this was comparable to 0.5mg daily of lorazepam.(C) Oral Lavender of 80mg a day for 6wks in patients suffering Post Traumatic stress disorder and neurasthenia showed improvements in general mental health (1).

Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and GAD (Anxiety) Scale, aromatherapy of Lavender showed positive effects over 4 weeks of administration (D) on women with postpartum depression and anxiety. 60 Women who had an episiotomy and those who had caesareans as well as those with 635 women with perennial discomfort following child birth showed improvements such as less pain and improved healing (E,F, G). I (along with cousins) recently sent a family member a Essential Oils kit as a Baby Shower gift, so next time you dont know what to send....this could be the answer.

Patients with agitated behaviour in dementia patients, showed Lavender aromatically delivered showed modest results (H) but in evaluation of adults and full term newborns, a frontal EEG showed activation of the left frontal lobe associated with behaviour and had less depressed affect.

Older patients were tested using mixture of Lavender, basil, juniper and marjoram and this concoction reduced sleep disturbance and improved overall well being (I).

100 Intensive Care Patients, half of whom received artificial ventilation, received Lavender foot massages and showed a lowering of blood pressure, heart rate, depressed respiratory rate and pain reduction (J).

Migraine sufferers which inhaled Lavender for acute management of migraine headaches, had significant reduced pain and symptoms after 15 minutes. This was done by rubbing 2-3 drops of lavender into their upper lip in early stages of attack (K).

Women with menopausal symptoms, used a blend of rose, geranium, and jasmine in almond, primrose oil for a period of 8 weeks. The report stated that this was effective treatment of hot flushes and pain in climacteric women (L).

Lavender Oil seems to have many benefits on the human body and one’s mental health and well being. So the next time you have pain, feeling restless, need assistance sleeping or have acute problems consider "The Powerhouse of Oils - Lavender."

As I read the research, I realised that my preconceptions of Lavender Oil and its uses have changed. I can use it for so much more than I thought!

I look forward to using this multi-purpose and multi-dimensional natural solution in my home and with my family.

Im loving Lavender.

PS: If you are one of those who doesnt like the smell of Lavender, you could try Vetiver as a solution as they have similar applications but the smell is a woody smell.

References and Further detailed readings:

1. The effect on staff of essential oil burners in extended care settings.

Tysoe P

Int J Nurs Pract. 2000 Apr; 6(2):110-2.

EEG asymmetry responses to lavender and rosemary aromas in adults and infants.

Sanders C, Diego M, Fernandez M, Field T, Hernandez-Reif M, Roca A

Int J Neurosci. 2002 Nov; 112(11):1305-20.

Jager W, Buchbauer G, Jirovetz L, Fritzer M. Percutaneous absorbtion of lavender oil from a massage oil. Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Chemists. 1992;43:49–54.

A. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Efficacy and safety of silexan, a new, orally administered lavender oil preparation, in subthreshold anxiety disorder—evidence from clinical trials. Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift. 2010;160(21-22):547–556. [PubMed]

B. Kasper S, Gastpar M, Müller WE, et al. Silexan, an orally administered Lavandula oil preparation, is effective in the treatment of ’subsyndromal’ anxiety disorder: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial. International Clinical Psychopharmacology. 2010;25(5):277–287. [PubMed]

C. Woelk H, Schläfke S. A multi-center, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalized anxiety disorder. Phytomedicine. 2010;17(2):94–99.[PubMed]

1: Phase II trial on the effects of Silexan in patients with neurasthenia, post-traumatic stress disorder or somatization disorder.

Uehleke B, Schaper S, Dienel A, Schlaefke S, Stange R

Phytomedicine. 2012 Jun 15; 19(8-9):665-71.

D. Conrad P, Adams C. The effects of clinical aromatherapy for anxiety and depression in the high risk postpartum woman—a pilot study. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2012;18(3):164–168.[PubMed]

E. Vakilian K, Atarha M, Bekhradi R, Chaman R. Healing advantages of lavender essential oil during episiotomy recovery: a clinical trial. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2011;17(1):50–53.[PubMed]

F. Sheikhan F, Jahdi F, Khoei EM, et al. Episiotomy pain relief: use of Lavender oil essence in primiparous Iranian women. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. 2012;18(1):66–70. [PubMed]

G. Dale A, Cornwell S. The role of lavender oil in relieving perineal discomfort following childbirth: a blind randomized clinical trial. Journal of Advanced Nursing. 1994;19(1):89–96. [PubMed]

H. Holmes C, Hopkins V, Hensford C, MacLaughlin V, Wilkinson D, Rosenvinge H. Lavender oil as a treatment for agitated behaviour in severe dementia: a placebo controlled study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry. 2002;17(4):305–308. [PubMed]

I. Graham C. Complementary therapies: in the scent of a good night’s sleep. Nursing Standard. 1995;9(article 21)

J. Woolfson A, Hewitt D. Intensive aromacare. International Journal of Aromatherapy. 1992;4(2):12–13.

K. Lavender essential oil in the treatment of migraine headache: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. Sasannejad P, Saeedi M, Shoeibi A, Gorji A, Abbasi M, Foroughipour MEur Neurol. 2012; 67(5):288-91.

L. Hur MH, Yang YS, Lee MS. Aromatherapy massage affects menopausal symptoms in Korean climacteric women: a pilot-controlled clinical trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2008;5(3):325–328. [PMC free article] [PubMed]

Lavender and the Nervous System Peir Hossein Koulivand, 1 Maryam Khaleghi Ghadiri, 2 and Ali Gorji Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013; 2013: 681304.

Published online 2013 Mar 14. doi: 10.1155/2013/681304

I am not a medical practitioner and do not diagnose, treat or prescribe in any shape, manner or form. Always discuss with your medical practitioner before using any alternative medicines, natural supplements, or vitamins. All information, content and product descriptions contained within this site are for reference purposes and are not intended to substitute advice given by a pharmacist, physician or other licensed health-care professional. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. I research relevant articles, studies and share information found, feel free to do further reading from the list below and always seek professional advice.

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