By Sade Oguntola
Mood and sleep disorders have been found to be associated with chronic pain among many individuals. The most widely prescribed medications for anxiety, stress and ensure good sleep are limited by their side effects, thus the effectiveness of fragrances or scents of peels of fruits in the orange group.
MANY people probably recognise the smell of common aromatherapy scents from their bathing soap, such as jasmine, rosemary, and lavender.
Probably many people might have heard that each scent can influence the body in different ways. For example, the lavender scent in bathing soap is supposed to relieve stress and calm the body.
Though the term “aromatherapy” did not appear until the early 1900s, the concept has been around for thousands of years. Egyptians used odours to treat diseases, and the Greek physician, Dioscorides, even wrote books on essential oils and their healing properties. Today, aromatherapy is popular not only in spas but also as a way to relieve labour pains, reduce chemotherapy side effects, and promote restful sleep.
Few reliable scientific studies have been conducted, but a study from the Mie University School of Medicine found that patients with depression needed smaller doses of antidepressant medications after citrus fragrance treatment.
Another study from the University of Vienna demonstrated that when the scent of orange oil was used in dental clinics, female patients exhibited decreased anxiety. These studies imply that some fragrances may have a clinically quantifiable effect on mood.
Scientists at the Centre for Autoimmune Diseases at Tel Aviv University, also recently discovered a link between depression and our sense of smell, and found that citrus fragrances—lemons in particular—directly affected neurotransmitters in the brains of mice. The aromas help boost serotonin, a feel-good hormone, and reduce levels of norepinephrine, a stress hormone.
While there may be evidence for aromatherapy’s mood altering effects, scientific proof of how it improves mood and ensures smaller doses of antidepressant medications are needed is lacking until now.
This study at Brazil indicated that the oil extracted from fresh peels of Citrus aurantium (Osan jagan or Bitter orange) ensures an improvement in mood and sleep by working on the central nervous system. This is an hybrid between Citrus maxima (pomelo) and Citrus reticulata (mandarin).
This laboratory study, which was published in the 2013 edition of the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, however did not notice any impartment of movement in the tested mice, signs of toxicity or biochemical changes, except a reduction in cholesterol levels after the treatment.
For the study, fresh peels of ripe Bitter orange fruits were processed to extract oil from them. This was administered to mice while conventional drugs like Diazepam for anxiety and imipramine hydrochloride, a standard antidepressant drug,were used as controls.
The researchers wrote that the oil extracted from the fresh peels of Bitter orange possesses a significant mood altering effect, adding that these results are promising, as using extracted oil from Bitter orange for treatment might be considered a complementary therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
However, further studies are necessary to explore the detailed mechanism of action of the extracted oil.
In addition, they said that the extracted oil from Bitter orange appears to be well tolerated, as none of the different doses caused alterations or showed signs of toxicity.
But it is not only oils from peels of Bitter orange that can be an aromatic asset for health. Research from Japan’s Osaka University showed that the scent of grapefruit can actually boost metabolism and reduce food cravings.
In aromatherapy, Lemon essential oil has an amazingly wide range of uses. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, and schools. Researchers have showed that vaporised Lemon essential oil can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, staphylococcus aureus in two hours and germs causing pneumonia within three hours.
Even a 0.2 per cent solution of Lemon essential oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria. Its antiseptic properties will last for 20 days. It is particularly effective in neutralising unpleasant body odours of patients suffering from cancer.
In another research, Lemon essential oil has shown to have antidepressant effects. A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression. Lemon essential oil is an immune stimulant. It increases white blood cells, improves microcirculation and is antiseptic.
In individuals having trouble staying focused on workout routine, studies have also shown that the scent of lemon oil can actually create a greater sense of concentration, while increasing alertness.
In terms of skin care uses, the health benefits of Lemongrass oil in aromatherapy are numerous. It has been used considered in many skin care products because of its antibacterial, astringent and antiseptic properties. For example, it can be found in deodorants to prevent excessive sweating and body odour, in lotions to eliminate cellulite, and in creams to soothe broken or inflamed skin. It is also a kind of aromatherapy oil for its pleasing and uplifting effects.
Previously, Indian researchers, in the 2010 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Technical Research, also substantiate the claim that leaves of grapefruit reduce stress and anxiety. It has sedative effect on the central nervous system. This effect was comparable to the effect produced by diazepam, hence, the suggestion that this plant may be developed as a potentially useful agent for sleep disorders and related diseases.
The smell of spiced apple, Dr Gary E. Schwartz, a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University, found to produce changes in blood pressure and other physiological responses, comparable to those achieved through meditation, a standard relaxation technique used to help people deal with stress.
MANY people probably recognise the smell of common aromatherapy scents from their bathing soap, such as jasmine, rosemary, and lavender. Probably many people might have heard that each scent can influence the body in different ways. For example, the lavender scent in bathing soap is supposed to relieve stress and calm the body.
Though the term “aromatherapy” did not appear until the early 1900s, the concept has been around for thousands of years. Egyptians used odours to treat diseases, and the Greek physician, Dioscorides, even wrote books on essential oils and their healing properties. Today, aromatherapy is popular not only in spas but also as a way to relieve labour pains, reduce chemotherapy side effects, and promote restful sleep.
Few reliable scientific studies have been conducted, but a study from the Mie University School of Medicine found that patients with depression needed smaller doses of antidepressant medications after citrus fragrance treatment.
Another study from the University of Vienna demonstrated that when the scent of orange oil was used in dental clinics, female patients exhibited decreased anxiety. These studies imply that some fragrances may have a clinically quantifiable effect on mood.
Scientists at the Centre for Autoimmune Diseases at Tel Aviv University, also recently discovered a link between depression and our sense of smell, and found that citrus fragrances—lemons in particular—directly affected neurotransmitters in the brains of mice. The aromas help boost serotonin, a feel-good hormone, and reduce levels of norepinephrine, a stress hormone.
While there may be evidence for aromatherapy’s mood altering effects, scientific proof of how it improves mood and ensures smaller doses of antidepressant medications are needed is lacking until now.
This study at Brazil indicated that the oil extracted from fresh peels of Citrus aurantium (Osan jagan or Bitter orange) ensures an improvement in mood and sleep by working on the central nervous system. This is an hybrid between Citrus maxima (pomelo) and Citrus reticulata (mandarin).
This laboratory study, which was published in the 2013 edition of the BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, however did not notice any impartment of movement in the tested mice, signs of toxicity or biochemical changes, except a reduction in cholesterol levels after the treatment.
For the study, fresh peels of ripe Bitter orange fruits were processed to extract oil from them. This was administered to mice while conventional drugs like Diazepam for anxiety and imipramine hydrochloride, a standard antidepressant drug,were used as controls.
The researchers wrote that the oil extracted from the fresh peels of Bitter orange possesses a significant mood altering effect, adding that these results are promising, as using extracted oil from Bitter orange for treatment might be considered a complementary therapy for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
However, further studies are necessary to explore the detailed mechanism of action of the extracted oil.
In addition, they said that the extracted oil from Bitter orange appears to be well tolerated, as none of the different doses caused alterations or showed signs of toxicity.
But it is not only oils from peels of Bitter orange that can be an aromatic asset for health. Research from Japan’s Osaka University showed that the scent of grapefruit can actually boost metabolism and reduce food cravings.
In aromatherapy, Lemon essential oil has an amazingly wide range of uses. It is perfect for destroying air-borne germs in hospital rooms, waiting rooms, and schools. Researchers have showed that vaporised Lemon essential oil can kill meningococcus bacteria in 15 minutes, typhoid bacilli in one hour, staphylococcus aureus in two hours and germs causing pneumonia within three hours.
Even a 0.2 per cent solution of Lemon essential oil can kill diphtheria bacteria in 20 minutes and inactivate tuberculosis bacteria. Its antiseptic properties will last for 20 days. It is particularly effective in neutralising unpleasant body odours of patients suffering from cancer.
In another research, Lemon essential oil has shown to have antidepressant effects. A 1995 Mie University study found that citrus fragrances boosted immunity, induced relaxation, and reduced depression. Lemon essential oil is an immune stimulant. It increases white blood cells, improves microcirculation and is antiseptic.
In individuals having trouble staying focused on workout routine, studies have also shown that the scent of lemon oil can actually create a greater sense of concentration, while increasing alertness.
In terms of skin care uses, the health benefits of Lemongrass oil in aromatherapy are numerous. It has been used considered in many skin care products because of its antibacterial, astringent and antiseptic properties. For example, it can be found in deodorants to prevent excessive sweating and body odour, in lotions to eliminate cellulite, and in creams to soothe broken or inflamed skin. It is also a kind of aromatherapy oil for its pleasing and uplifting effects.
Previously, Indian researchers, in the 2010 International Journal of Pharmaceutical Technical Research, also substantiate the claim that leaves of grapefruit reduce stress and anxiety. It has sedative effect on the central nervous system. This effect was comparable to the effect produced by diazepam, hence, the suggestion that this plant may be developed as a potentially useful agent for sleep disorders and related diseases.
The smell of spiced apple, Dr Gary E. Schwartz, a Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Yale University, found to produce changes in blood pressure and other physiological responses, comparable to those achieved through meditation, a standard relaxation technique used to help people deal with stress.
Source Nigeria Tribune
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