TRUessence ESSENTIAL OILS & NATURALLY RELIEVING STRESS

Stress Relievers
Essential oils naturally relieve stress by occupying the same receptor sites as endorphins…without the potential of addiction or toxicity to the body.

The human body does not respond well to long term stress, yet stress seems constantly present in our modern lives.  Physiologically, the human body mobilizes itself for extreme action when under stress, yet most of the time the only reasonable response to stress at work or at home is to override natural impulse and try to be calm, collected, careful and patient.  This creates friction and conflict between our minds and our bodies.  Over time, this can lead to abnormal inflammation states, which lead to degenerative disease, particularly cardiovascular disease, autoimmune problems and cancer.  The constantly stressful life is ultimately a life of pain and disease.  Essential oils have been used to reduce stress and anxiety for centuries.  Intuitively, most of us recognize immediately the calming effect of many essential oil aromas.  Recently scientists have documented this phenomenon in research that helps to explain how essentials work to calm and balance our lives.

J. H. Hwang at the Geochang Provincial College in Korea conducted experiments in which subjects were asked to inhale a blend of lavender, ylang  ylang and bergamot once daily for 4 weeks.  At the end of the test period, he found those subjects which had inhaled the oils had (1) lower blood pressure, (2) slower pulse, and (3)lower serum cortisol levels.  These subjects also reported (4) lower stress and anxiety ratings.1  Both physiological and psychological measures supported the fact that inhaling the essential oil blend created a physical and mental calming effect.  Other studies indicate, almost paradoxically, that despite their sedating action, essential oils cause no decline in mental alertness or concentration.2, 3

Researchers at the University of Alabama investigated nine essential oils known to reduce anxiety, stress and depression.  In order of effectiveness they are Lavender, Rose, Orange, Bergamot, Lemon, Sandalwood, Clary Sage, Roman Chamomile and Rose Geranium.4  In a study done at Florida Atlantic University’s College of Nursing, graduate nursing students were given lavender and rosemary essential oils and then tested for stress levels just before taking a test.  The results showed that the students who received the essential oils had lower anxiety measures, lower pulse rates and subjectively described themselves as feeling more relaxed than those that did not receive the oils.5

Japanese lab tests with rats and mice consistently show that specific essential oils reduce all measurable signs of stress, including reducing chemically-induced seizures and muscle spasms.6, 7 Additionally, lavender essential oil was as effective as Valium in reducing certain stress measures among test animals.8, 9  Unlike Valium, however, essential oils carry no known negative side effects.

Finally, in a study done at the University of Miami School of Medicine, it was found that when lavender oil was added in very small amounts to a baby’s bath water, both the mother and the baby benefitted.  Mothers were more relaxed, smiled more and touched their infants more during the bath.  The babies looked at their mothers a greater percentage of the time, cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after the bath.  Cortisol levels of both mothers and babies decreased significantly, confirming behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants.10

1. Hwang, JH. “The Effects of the inhalation method using essential oils on blood pressure and stress responses of clients with essential hypertension,” Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi, 2006 Dec;36(7):1123-34.
2. Carvalho-Freitas MI, Costa m, “Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L.,” Biol Pharm Bulletin 2002 Dec; 25(12):1629-33.
3. Pultrini Ade M, Galindo LA, Costa M. “Effects of the essential oil from Citrus aurantium L. in experimental anxiety models in mice.” Life Science, 2006 Mar 6;78(15):1720-5.
4. Setzer WN. “Essential oils and anxiolytic aromatherapy.” Nat Prod Commun 2009 Sep;4(9):1305-16.
5. McCaffrey R, Thomas DJ, Kinzelman AO. “The effects of lavender and rosemary essential oils on test-taking anxiety among graduate nursing students.” Holistic Nursing Practice, 2009 Mar-Apr;23(2):88-93.
6. Boskabady MH, Kiani S, Rakhshandah H. “Relaxant effects of Rosa damascena on guinea pig tracheal chains and its possible mechanisms(s),” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2006 Jul 19;106(3):377-82.
7. Lis-Balchin M, Hart S. “Studies on the mode of action of the essential oil of lavender (Lavdula angustifolia P. Miller). Phytotherapy Research 1999 Sep;13(6):540-2
8. Bradley BG, Starkey NJ, Brown SL, Lea RW. “Anxiolytic effects of Lavandula angustifolia odour on the Mongolian gerbil elevated plus maze.” Journal of Ethnopharmacology 2007 May 22;111(3):517-25
9. Umezu T. “Behavioral effects of plant-derived essential oils in the geller type conflict test in mice.” Japanese Journal of Pharmacology 2000 Jun;83(2):150-3.
10. Field T, et al. “Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants.” Early Human Development 2008 Jun;84(6):399-401.