“The Earth Laughs In Flowers.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Lavender Can Help Your Anxiety- Lavender is a plant herb that is often used in traditional medicine for the alleviation of anxiety. It is one of the most popular remedies around aromatherapy. It is believed that the essential oil of lavender promotes a sense of calm and relaxation. There have been studies which indicate that lavender oil may have sedative qualities and these may be responsible for its anxiety-easing effects.
As in aromatherapy, the application of lavender oil on the skin or breathing lavender essential oil scent helps transfer messages to the brain’s limbic system, which regulates emotion and impresses the central nervous system. It is thought that lavender can help your anxiety by promoting a soothing effect on the brain’s central nervous system. Lavender Can Help Your Anxiety
Research has shown that the fragrance of lavender oil activates the olfactory senses present in the nose which subsequently results in relaxation. Studies have also shown that unlike benzodiazepines (here’s a video on how I weened off), lavender linalool does not directly act on the GABA receptors but instead acts on the nasal olfactory neurons through which it influences GABA receptors and eventually creates the calming effects.
Different methods to use Lavender
- One of the most widespread ways in which lavender is used for anxiety alleviation involves the mixing of a carrier oil like sweet almond or jojoba with lavender essential oil and then applying and massaging that mixed oil solution on the skin or pouring it into a bath.
- Another method is to put some drops of lavender oil into a tissue paper or a clean cloth and then breathe in the fragrance.
- You can also put a few drops of lavender oil in a vaporizer or an aromatherapy diffuser.
Different studies on how lavender can help your anxiety
There aren’t many large-scale major clinical trials about the effects of lavender on anxiety sufferers. However, there is a lot of research which shows that lavender oil may provide some anxiety alleviation effects.
In 2012, a published study in the Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice showed that lavender oil aromatherapy helped reduced anxiety in women with high postpartum risk. The study involved women who have delivered a baby in the last 18 months and it found that aromatherapy sessions of 15 minutes each, two times a week, for 4 weeks, helped lower anxiety as well as ease depression.
The anxiety alleviating benefits of lavender essential oil has been tested in many studies for specific populations. In 2005, a published study in Physiology & Behavior showed that sufferers waiting for dental work had better mood and reduced anxiety after inhaling lavender scent. Lavender Can Help Your Anxiety
Lavender Can Help Your Anxiety As A Great Sidekick To Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
Some proof about the anti-anxiety benefits of ingesting lavender oil has also been found. In 2012, a report about the scientific analysis of 15 clinical trials that had been published before was presented in the Phytomedicine. The analysis found that dietary supplements with lavender oil as an ingredient did have some remedial benefits on stress and anxiety sufferers.
Conclusion:
I love Lavender, I smell lavender in each of my rooms in my house and it truly brings me back down to earth and to a calmer place. A fantastic scent to calm your nerves and get back to the present moment, rather than thinking of all the catastrophic stories that may show up in your life.
I use lavender oil that comes in a roll on every night right under my nose at bedtime., plus I put it in my wrists so either side I sleep on I smell it.
Thanks for sharing Patty.