Relieve Your Anxiety With Oils of This MEDICINAL Flower

AHA Publisher — Tue, 21 Dec 2021 08:00:48 +0000

Michelle Marks via NaturalHealth365 – Lavender flowers and their oil are famous for their use in aromatherapy and massage sessions. While there are not many studies on lavender flowers or their oil, most studies show a positive correlation between the use of lavender and anxiety relief in patients. In contrast, Western medicine tends to use benzodiazepine drugs to “treat” patients with generalized and persistent anxiety that is also accompanied by nervousness. Unfortunately, these drugs cause can fatigue and have the potential to be abused – hence the demand for natural and safe alternatives like lavender is on the rise. Study Reveals That Inhaling Lavender Oil Can Help to REDUCE Your Blood Pressure and Heart Rate A 2012 study that investigated the effects of lavender oil on the brain’s activity – including nerve and mood response in humans – revealed the positive effects of lavender. The participants of the study were grouped into two, one group inhaled lavender oil, while the other used a ‘base oil.’ The results of this study are of significance because researchers measured parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature to arrive at a conclusion. Subjects that inhaled lavender oil showed a marked drop in their blood pressure Subjects that inhaled lavender oil showed a marked drop in their blood pressure, heart rate, and skin temperature indicating a decrease in autonomic arousal. In terms of mood responses, those who inhaled lavender oil showed increased activity of theta (4-8 Hz) and alpha (8- 13 Hz) of the brain’s electric signals. In addition, these subjects reported being more active, relaxed, and fresher than the subjects that inhaled base oil – clearly indicating that lavender not only relaxed the subjects but also improved their mental alertness. How Does Lavender Aromatherapy Lower Anxiety? Both in vitro and in vivo studies indicate many possible mechanisms by which lavender decreases anxiety. Lavender oil improves the expression of GABA-A receptors in cells in test tube studies and has also been shown to inhibit glutamate binding in the brain. Glutamate is a powerful excitatory neurotransmitter, which when present in high levels interferes with sleep patterns and induces anxiety in patients. Furthermore, lavender also contains a high amount of linalyl acetate – which exerts a relaxing effect, key to decreasing anxiety. A study was done to assess the mood, alertness, and brain response of 40 adults receiving three minutes of aromatherapy using a relaxing odor (lavender) and stimulating odor (rosemary). The group that got lavender therapy was less depressed, more relaxed, and performed better in math computations with more accuracy after therapy. The rosemary group showed increased alertness while the accuracy of math was not the same. The researchers of the study concluded that lavender does play a significant role in improving anxiety – especially via relaxation and inhibiting symptoms of depression in patients. How Should I Choose Lavender Oil? The bioactive constituents of lavender are linalool, linalyl acetate, 1,8-cineole B-ocimene, terpinen-4-ol, and camphor. However, the relative level of each of these constituents varies depending on the type of species. Be sure the lavender oil you choose has linalool at a higher concentration. Ideally, a good quality product is distilled and processed immediately after harvesting. After production, the resultant oil should be stored in a tightly closed, darkened glass container and in a cool and dark place avoiding chemical degradation. Lavender oil has no potential for drug abuse or sedating side effects and appears to be an effective and well-tolerated alternative to benzodiazepine drugs to improve anxious thoughts. However, lavender should be used cautiously or avoided in patients with known allergy to lavender. Clearly, if you’re experiencing mental or emotional stress – lavender may help. Inhaling a few drops of this medicinal oil may provide the relief you’ve been looking for. Sources for this article include: NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov NIH.gov To read the original article click here.

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Topical Lemon Balm Lotion for Alzheimer’s

AHA Publisher — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 07:00:04 +0000

Michael Greger M.D. FACLM via Nutrition Facts – Improving cognitive performance with aromatherapy in young, healthy volunteers is one thing, but how about where it really matters? As I discuss in my video Best Aromatherapy Herb for Alzheimer’s, a group of Japanese researchers had a pie-in-the-sky notion that certain smells could lead to “nerve rebirth” in Alzheimer’s patients. Twenty years ago, even simply raising such a possibility as a hypothetical was heretical. Everybody knew that the loss of neurons is irreversible. In other words, dead nerve cells are not replaced, an important factor in neurodegenerative diseases. That’s what I was taught and what everyone was taught, until 1998. Patients with advanced cancer volunteered to be injected with a special dye that’s incorporated into the DNA of new cells. On autopsy, researchers then went hunting for nerve cells that lit up in the brains. And, as you can see at 1:14 in my video, there they were: new nerve cells in the brain that didn’t exist just days or months before, demonstrating “that cell genesis occurs in human brains and that the human brain retains the potential for self-renewal throughout life”—something in which we can take comfort. It still doesn’t mean smells can help, though. An aromatherapy regimen of rosemary, lemon, lavender, and orange essential oils was attempted for a month. At 1:43 in my video, you can see the trajectory of the subjects’ cognitive function and their ability to form abstract ideas starting six weeks before the treatment. Prior to the aromatherapy regimen, there was a rather steady decline, which was reversed after the aromatherapy. The researchers concluded that aromatherapy may be efficacious and “have some potential for improving cognitive function, especially in AD [Alzheimer’s disease] patients”—all, of course, without any apparent side effects. What about severe dementia? We always hear about the cognitive deficits, but more than half of patients with dementia experience behavioral or psychiatric symptoms. Thorazine-type antipsychotic drugs are often prescribed, even though they appear to be particularly dangerous in the elderly. “Antipsychotic medication may be viewed as an easier option than non pharmacological alternatives,” such as aromatherapy. Another study examined the effect of rubbing a lemon balm-infused lotion on the arms and face of patients twice daily by caregiving staff, compared with lotion without the scent. “During the 4 weeks, significant improvements were seen” in agitation, shouting, screaming, and physical aggression, as were improved quality of life indicators, with patients less socially withdrawn and more engaged in constructive activities, compared to the unscented control. This is important because antipsychotics cause patients to become more withdrawn and less engaged. They are like a chemical restraint. The drugs can reduce agitation, too. So, aromatherapy with lemon balm “is safe, well tolerated, and highly efficacious, with additional benefits on key quality of life parameters.” These findings clearly indicate the need for longer-term multicenter trials,” but we never had any, until…never. We still don’t have any. This study was conducted in 2002, and there have been no follow-ups. Is that a surprise? Who’s going to fund such a study: Big Balm? To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Greger click here.

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Relieve Your Anxiety With Oils of This MEDICINAL Flower

Topical Lemon Balm Lotion for Alzheimer’s