The bottled extracts of plants are essential oils. According to John Hopkins Medicine, essential oils are made by steaming and pressing plants to capture the compounds responsible for their scent. Their unique scents have been used in healing for thousands of years, and may be healing.
Potential Health Benefits of Essential Oils
1. Lower stress and anxiety
“Some of essential oils’ benefits include reducing stress and anxiety. These are the most important. Shanti Dechen is a certified clinical aromatherapist and director of Aroma Apothecary Healing Arts Academy, Crestone, Colorado.
A meta-analysis and review published in Phytomedicine September 2019 found that 90 randomized and unrandomized studies were reviewed and that inhaling or ingesting lavandin essential oil (diluted under guidance) can reduce anxiety levels. The authors also found that lavender essential oil can be used in massage therapy to reduce anxiety. These effects could be due to linalyl Acetate and Linalool, which are key components in lavender and have calming or sedating properties.
They also noted that the average quality of studies available was low and suggested that more studies on anxiety and lavender essential oil are needed. However, they do acknowledge that lavender essential oil can be inhaled safely, is accessible and affordable. It may also be used to reduce anxiety.
According to the Cleveland Clinic essential oils that can be used to treat anxiety include lemongrass oil and orange oil, cedarwood oil, and lemongrass oil.
2. Headache and migraine relief
According to the Cleveland Clinic, headaches are the most common pain-related health concern. They affect up to 75% of adults around the world. Johns Hopkins Medicine estimates that approximately 12 percent of Americans suffer from migraines, which is a more severe type of headache. Headaches can cause absenteism at work or school, and can also lead to anxiety and depression, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Peppermint oil is a common remedy for headaches. However, there are very few studies. A review found that peppermint oil may be able to relieve headaches if applied topically around the temples and head. Peppermint oil’s primary active ingredient, menthol may explain this. According to an uncontrolled study, 25 migraine patients experienced a cooling sensation and menthol gel applied to their pain sites was found to reduce pain. The gel was effective in reducing migraine intensity for patients suffering from migraine. It can be used up to two hours after the application.
3. Relieve Nausea
Essential oils can be used to manage nausea and vomiting caused by pregnancy, chemotherapy, or indigestion.
For nausea and digestive discomfort, ginger essential oil (and peppermint essential oil) are frequently used. A March 2018 review in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics found that peppermint helps to relax the gastrointestinal muscles, and reduces inflammation that can worsen nausea.
Research has shown that ginger stimulates digestion and prevents food from lingering in the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to nausea.
These physiological interactions between essential oils and the stomach may offer real-world benefits, according to research.
Inhaling peppermint oils led to significant decreases in nausea and vomiting in hospitalized patients, according to a September 2020 study in the Journal of Holistic Nursing. These results were similar to those observed in patients who received aromatherapy and anti-emetic (anti nausea) medication. Patients were allowed to choose which group they would like to be part, which could have affected the results if they expected their treatment to work.
The results of research on ginger essential oil’s effects on nausea and vomiting are not promising. A study showed that women who had received chemotherapy for breast cancer experienced only minor improvements in nausea and vomiting when they inhaled ginger essential oil.
4. Reduce Menstrual Cramps Pain
According to a study, between 16 and 91 per cent of women and girls experience menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea). Many turn to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs), for relief. According to the American College of Obstetricians & Gynologists, while most women can tolerate short-term NSAIDS, common NSAIDs such as aspirin, ibuprofen, (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium(Aleve), are not recommended for women suffering from bleeding disorders, asthma, aspirin allergy or liver damage, stomach disorders, ulcers, and other conditions.
Side effects of NSAIDs include gas, bloating and heartburn as well as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. MedlinePlus states that Acetaminophen (Tylenol), a pain-relieving medication, can also cause side effects such as rash, hives and difficulty swallowing. Itching, swelling, itching and redness are all possible side effects of Tylenol.
Aromatherapy and other holistic approaches, such as massage, can offer a safer alternative to or complement approach to easing menstrual discomfort. They may also help reduce side effects and NSAID use.
According to the Cleveland Clinic’s, painful menstrual cramps are caused by the uterus contracting so strongly that it presses against nearby vessels. This cuts off oxygen supply to muscle tissue. When a part of the uterus is temporarily deprived of oxygen, pain can be felt.
There is limited evidence that essential oils can relieve menstrual discomfort. One study conducted in Korea showed that 45 high school girls were given a 10-minute abdominal massage using either an essential oil mixture or acetaminophen. The pain relief experienced by the essential oil group was greater than that of those who received acetaminophen after 24 hours.
The study results are encouraging, but they need to be taken with a grain. It is not clear if the pain-reducing effects of the abdominal massage, essential oils, or both. It is difficult to determine how aromatherapy could work for larger groups of women over time due to the small sample size and the fact that only one treatment has been given.
In November 2018, a review in the Journal of Clinical Medicine looked at 19 studies that examined the effects of aromatherapy on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea sufferers. It included inhalation, massage and oral use. The review found moderate evidence of the effectiveness of essential oils in reducing menstrual pain, but it concluded that further research is needed to overcome certain methodological obstacles.
5. Encourage sleep
According to the Cleveland Clinic, nearly 70 million Americans suffer from sleep disorders each year. According to the Mayo Clinic, common treatments for sleep disorders such as insomnia include cognitive behavioral therapy or prescription sleep aids. A relaxing essential oil can also be helpful in your nighttime routine.
For example, lavender oil contains many beneficial compounds such as linalyl-acetate and linalool. According to a review, these two compounds depress central nervous system activity. Linalool exhibits sedative effects while linalyl-acetate has narcotic properties. (Merriam Webster defines “narcotic” to be a drug that dulls your senses, relieves pain and induces deep sleep at moderate doses.
Inhaling lavender essential oil can help you fall asleep, according to research. A study of 60 patients admitted to a cardiac intensive unit showed that those who inhaled lavender essential oils for 15 days had significantly better sleep quality and anxiety than patients who didn’t.
Similar findings were found in another study involving 31 young adults aged 18-30. They discovered that lavender essential oil may help improve sleep quality. The next morning, subjects reported feeling more energetic. Researchers believe this could be due to an increase in deep- and slow-wave sleep patterns compared to a night where participants did not sniff lavender.
