How Lavender Oil Reduces Depressive Mood in Healthy Way
What is a lavender essential oil?
Lavender essential oil is one of the most common and adaptable essential oils used in aromatherapy. Lavender has long been known for its bloomy fragrance and attractive purple color. Extracted from the Lavandula angustifolia plant, the basic function of lavender oil is to provide relaxation and is believed to treat fungal infection, insomnia, menstrual cramps, depression, anxiety, allergies and nausea. Among the essential oil methods, lavender is a multipurpose oil. It is purported to have sedative effects, anti-fungal, antidepressant, antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory as well as antispasmodic, detoxifying and hypotensive.
Health Benefits
Most people generally associate lavender with two distinctive qualities: its color and its fragrance. Yet, you may not know that the lavender flower as well as the lavender oil derived from it have extensive histories or pasts in herbal medicine. In later times, lavender became an additional bathing suit in many regions, including ancient Persia, Greece, and Rome. These cultures believed that lavender helps cleanse the body and mind. Since ancient times, lavender has been used to alleviate symptoms and provide support for multiple circumstances. Modern science has confirmed many of its health benefits.
Lavender can help with some of the following:
1: Anxiety: -
Lavender can also help people with anxiety. Although there is currently a lack of large-scale clinical trials examining the effects of lavender on people with anxiety, numerous studies suggest that the oil may offer some anti-anxiety benefits. In a major 2019 meta-analysis, people with anxiety who took 160 mg of lavender oil capsules had a significant anxiety reduction. Numerous studies have verified lavender's anxiety-reducing effects in precise populations. For example, a study circulated in Physiology & Behavior in 2005 concentrated on 200 people awaiting dental treatment and found that breathing lavender scent reduced anxiety and improved mood as well. Other studies have found similar results.
In another 2010 study, lavender capsules were compared to the anti-anxiety drug lorazepam, which concluded that the effects of lavender were comparable to those of prescription drugs.
In addition, a pilot study published in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice in 2012 suggests that lavender essential oil-based aromatherapy may help reduce anxiety in high-risk postpartum women. In an experiment involving 28 women who gave birth in the last 18 months, researchers found that twice a week, 15-minute long aromatherapy sessions helped reduce the level of anxiety as well as depression.
2 Insomnia:
Extensive research on the topic has shown that lavender essential oil can help promote sleep and fight insomnia. At one time, lavender was recommended for people suffering from insomnia or other sleep disorders. People filled their pillows with lavender flowers to help them sleep and get a good night's rest. Today, research shows that breathing in lavender scents can improve sleep quality. A systematic review of 15 studies from 2014 found that inhalation of essential oils, including lavender, had a positive effect on people with minor sleep disturbances. Several smaller studies have found further benefits of lavender for sleep problems.
A 2015 study published in the Journal of Complementary and Alternative Medicine found that an amalgamation of sleep hygiene procedures and lavender essential oil therapy helped college students get a better night's sleep than sleep hygiene alone. In the study of 79 students who self-reported sleep problems, breathing lavender at bedtime improves daytime energy and mobility.
What are the main uses of lavender essential oil?
Lavender is a multi-purpose plant. People use lavender in form of different methods to promote good health and wellness, including:
- Dried flowers
- Essential oil
- Capsules
- Beauty products
1: Dried Flowers:
Lavender, of course, starts as a bright purple flowering plant. In its original form, it has a comfortable scent. You can add buds to foods, use them in dishes or put them in tea. You can even dry them and put small sachets in your drawers to refresh your clothes.
2: Essential Oil:
Lavender is commonly used in aromatherapy. To get the benefits of its calming smell, you can put a bottle of lavender oil on your nose and breathe. Lavender spray, like a pillow spray at bedtime, is another effective way to use lavender as aromatherapy. There are a number of self care ideas that you need to follow.
3: Capsules:
However, the intake of lavender oil on its own is not recommended, lavender-infused capsules are frequently used in the treatment of anxiety. In small quantities, such as capsules, lavender oil is considered safe to ingest. Since lavender capsules are herbal supplements, you can buy them without a prescription.
4: Beauty Product:
With lovely color and fragrance like lavender, it is not surprising that numerous beauty products offer it prominently, including:
- Shampoos
- Body bars
- Cleansers
- Face mask
The best part is that you can get a lavender gift basket with all these products. Like lotions and creams, these products may not have much medical benefit, but they can be a pleasant part of beauty procedures.
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