Effect of aromatherapy on patients with Alzheimer’s disease
pObjective: Recently, the importance of non-pharmacological therapies for dementia has come to the fore. In the present study, we examined the curative effects of aromatherpay in dementia in 28 elderly people, 17 of whom had Alzheimer’s disease (AD).
Methods: After a control period of 28 days, aromatherapy was performed over the following 28 days, with a wash out period of another 28 days. Aromatherapy consisted of the use of rosemary and lemon essential oils in the morning, and lavender and orange in the evening.
Results: All patients showed significant improvement in personal orientation related to cognitive function on both the GBSS-J and TDAS after therapy.
Read the complete article hereyg_299 173..179
Daiki JIMBO,
1 Yuki KIMURA,1 Miyako TANIGUCHI,1 Masashi INOUE2 and Katsuya URAKAMI1
. . .Stress Repression in Restrained Rats by (R)-(−)-Linalool Inhalation and Gene Expression Profiling of Their Whole Blood Cells:
As an attempt to quantitatively analyze the physiopsychological effects elicited by odorants, white blood cells and gene expression were profiled in the whole blood of the rats exposed to (R)-(−)-linalool during restraint stress for 2 h. In neutrophils and lymphocytes, significant changes caused by the restraint were repressed by their exposure to the odorant. This indicates that inhalation attenuates stress-induced changes. Significant changes on the stress-induced variations were induced by inhalation in 115 gene expression levels. Of those, 109 genes were down-regulated, whereas the remaining 6 were up-regulated. These findings show that (R)-(−)-linalool inhalation represses stress-induced effects on the profiles of both blood cells and gene expression. Furthermore, these results suggest the possibility that the odorant-induced effects can be quantitatively evaluated by analyzing the profiles of blood cells and gene expression.
Akio Nakamura, Satoshi Fujiwara, Ichiro Matsumoto and Keiko Abe
J. Agric. Food Chem., 2009, 57 (12), pp 5480–5485 (Back)
Odorant chirality critical to physiological effects
The specific physiological responses induced by inhaling the two mirror-image forms of linalool in 24 human subjects undergoing experimental stress were investigated. Heart rate, blood pressure, electrodermal activity, and salivary cortisol were monitored. The study clearly indicated that odorants can modulate salivary cortisol levels, with both linalool isomers exerting relaxing effects. However, in the case of heart rate, one chiral form acted as an activating agent while the opposite form proved to be stress-relieving. In conclusion, the results revealed that (1) chirality crucially influences the physiological effects of odorants and that (2) odorants may act differently on certain physiological parameters.
Höferl M, Krist S, Buchbauer G. Chirality influences the effects of linalool on physiological parameters of stress. Planta Med. 2006: 72(13);1188-92.(Back)
Lavender oil affects digestion and appetite
The effects of olfactory stimulation with lavender oil on the autonomic nerve system in rats was studied. It was found that a 15-min daily exposure to lavender oil inhibited sympathetic nerves while exciting the parasympathetic gastric nerve. Food intake and body weight were increased. Local anesthesia of the nasal mucosa eliminated the autonomic changes. Linalool, a component of lavender oil, induced responses similar to those caused by the essential oil. Thus, lavender oil and its active component, linalool, affect autonomic nerves, suppress breakdown of fats, and enhance appetite and body weight.
Shen J, Niijima A, Tanida M, Horii Y, Maeda K, Nagai K. Olfactory stimulation with scent of lavender oil affects autonomic nerves, lipolysis and appetite in rats. Neurosci Lett. 2005: 383(1-2):188-93.(Back)
Jasmine tea affects heart rate and mood states
The effects of the odor of jasmine tea and lavender on autonomic nerve activity and mood states in a total of 24 healthy volunteers was studied. Both jasmine tea and lavender odors at perceived similar intensity caused significant decreases in heart rate and produced calm and vigorous mood states. The effects of the two chiral forms of linalool, one of the major odor components, at the same concentration as in the tea, was also examined. Only one of the linalool isomers elicited a significant decrease in heart rate and produced calm and vigorous mood states. Thus, the low intensity of jasmine tea odor has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states, and one of its components can mimic these effects.
Kuroda K, Inoue N, Ito Y, Kubota K, Sugimoto A, Kakuda T, Fushiki T. Sedative effects of the jasmine tea odor and (R)-(-)-linalool, one of its major odor components, on autonomic nerve activity and mood states. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2005: 95(2-3);107-14.(Back)
Linalool calms the central nervous system
This study examined the possibility that the purported sedative effects of plant oils containing linalool on the central nervous system might be ascribed to the local anaesthetic activity of linalool. The experiments in mice demonstrated an inhibitory effect of linalool on the neurotransmitter acetylcholine release in the neuromuscular junction. The inhibitory effect was most consistent with a local anaesthetic action. These findings could provide a rational basis to confirm the traditional medical use of linalool-producing plant species.
Re L, Barocci S, Sonnino S, Mencarelli A, Vivani C, Paolucci G, Scarpantonio A, Rinaldi L, Mosca E. Linalool modifies the nicotinic receptor-ion channel kinetics at the mouse neuromuscular junction. Pharmacol Res. 2000: 42(2);177-82.
...Aromatherapy – effective alternative treatment for alopecia: In a randomized, double-blind, controlled trial one group of patients diagnosed as having Alopecia areata had a combination of thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood oils in a base of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) massaged into their scalp. The results revealed that 44% of patients in the treatment group showed improvement compared with just 15% of patients in the control group.
Hay. I.C.; Jamieson, M.; Ormerod, A.D.
Successful treatment for alopecia areata.
Arch. Dermatol.. 1998: 134; 1349-52. (Back)
. . .Essential oil of thyme is antibacterial: Viable counts of Salmonella typhimurium on nutrient agar were found to decrease upon addition of either essential oil of thyme or its constituent thymol, especially under anaerobic conditions.
Juven, B.J.; Kanner, J.; Schved, F.; Weisslowicz, H. Factors that interact with the antibacterial action of thyme essential oil and its active constituents.
Appl. Bacteriol. (ENGLAND). 1994: 76; 626-31. (Back)
. . .Aromatherapy in intensive care: Researchers studied the effects of aromatherapy in the intensive care unit as a means of helping to alleviate anxiety and stress. 122 patients randomly received either massage, aromatherapy (using lavender oil), or bed rest. While there was no significant difference in the physiological stress indicators between the three groups, patients who received aromatherapy were found to be less anxious and more positive immediately after the treatment.
Dunn, C; Sleep, J.; Collett, D. Sensing an improvement: an experimental study to evaluate the use of aromatherapy, massage and periods of bed rest in an intensive care unit. J. Advanced Nursing (ENGLAND). 1995: 21; 34-40. (Back)