Study on Aromatherapy and Mood Disorders
In April 2022, Frontiers in Pharmacology published a study named “Inhalation Aromatherapy via Brain-Targeted Nasal Delivery: Natural Volatiles or Essential Oils on Mood Disorders”
This study aimed at publishing a clinical review of over 150 studies on Aromatherapy and mood disorders that were published over the last 20 years.
“Inhalation Aromatherapy has shown unique advantages for treating mood disorders, especially depression, anxiety and mental disorders such as sleep disorder, which have been validated over the last decade through clinical and animal studies. Accumulating evidence has shown that EOs and/or VOs can bypass the blood=brain barrier to target brain tissue through the nasal brain pathway. Subsequently, they act on the cerebral cortex, thalamus, and limbic system in the brain to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression and improve sleep quality.
When these studies are published it is important to note that they aren’t testing just the “oil” ; what they are really looking for are which chemical constituents in the oil are creating the action. In the case of mood disorders, researchers looked at limonene, linalool, vinyl acetate, geraniol, citronellol and others.
This is a small summation of their findings:
- Lavender oil's main chemical constituents of linalyl acetate, linalool and limonene increase the action of the parasympathetic nervous system, increase dopamine receptors, increase alpha brainwaves and decrease serotonin transporters.
- Roman Chamomile’s main chemical constituents of alpha pinene, angelic acid and tiglic acid increase mitochondrial function and increase 5-htp synapses.
- Bergatnot’s main chemical constituents of limonene, linalool and linalyl acetate increase EEG activity and neuroprotective effects,
- Lemon Balms main chemical constituents of citral, citronellol, linalool, geranium and b-caroloppylene increase dopamine and serotonin.
These studies can bring up to understand that while not clinically studied, oils such as orange, lime, grapefruit, jasmine, helichrysum, fennel and eucalyptus could possibly also affect the brain in this way. With over 150 studies being reviewed, it will be a short time before other researchers start studying other oils with these chemical qualities.
We suggest making an inhaler of Roman Cham, lavender and Bergamot that is used twice a day, one sniff in each nostril. This is the most direct inhalation route and safest. It also lessens the likelihood that your oils will oxidize faster.
To read the study for yourself click here:https://mcusercontent.com/42b7e19a129f10174ee592e21/files/c3daa71a-7a20-4f57-e1bd-f442aa7ccff2/OLfactort_depression.pdf
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