Do Essential Oils Work

Does Aromatherapy Using Essential Oils Work ?

From easing pain to improving mood...

 here's what the evidence says about aromatherapy

Lifts Your Mood

Recent research had mixed results. In a study published in the journal Psycho­neuro­endocrinology, researchers taped cotton balls scented with lavender oil, lemon oil, or distilled water to the noses of 56 volunteers and quizzed participants about their mood. “There were not significant positive effects for lavender, but the mood effects for lemon oil were notable,” says study lead Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, Ph.D., a psychiatry professor at Ohio State University.

Reduces Anxiety

You’re likely to see essential oils such as bergamot, chamomile, frankincense, lavender, lemon, and rose in aromatherapy products touted to relieve anxiety.

Some research suggests that the scents of lavender and lemon essential oil may be helpful, but the studies are specific to those with dementia. For example, a 2015 study of 186 dementia patients, published in the journal BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, found that lavender essential oil had calming effects, especially in combination with acupressure—the application of pressure to points on the body. In an earlier study of 71 people with dementia, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, lemon balm essential oil reduced signs of agitation, such as throwing objects or screaming.

Source...Consumer Reports