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Italian Scientists Conclude Aromatherapy Is A Valid Complementary Medicine

June 27th, 2010

A great many people have a very skewed perception of aromatherapy, so many in-fact that a weak critique of the practice currently shows up on the first page of search results for the term. Somehow aromatherapy got labeled as some “new age” foolishness, and that view pervades much of the Western world. Working in the background, scientists have been validating the use of essential oils for quite some time, for many medical applications. However, the data showing the effects of just aromas is somewhat limited — and this data is really what’s needed to change the way people think about essential oils.

Recently published research was performed to uncover the mechanism for an aroma’s perceived effects. Are their changes in the brain that could result in humans noting they feel differently? It makes sense that essential oils do illicit changes in the gray matter, as the olfactory sense is the one most closely connected to the brain. In fact, some scientist consider the smell sensors are actually brain cells that extend into the sinus cavity, with their other end directly wired to our emotional, motivational, and memory centers.

Italian researchers published a study shedding light on the neurological process that occurs when inhaling bergamot essential oil. By using brain wave data, behavioral response data and changes in messenger chemicals, they were able to deduce that the stress-reduction action is a result of blocking the strengthening of certain neural connections. This blocking prevents the sense of stress from building up over time.

If you think about the way stress works, its not a one time thing. It’s the same thing happening again and again — the feeling of stress builds over time because the circuit in your brain is getting stronger. Consider an experience you find stressful; it could be a noise like, like a jackhammer for example. Hearing it once is no big deal, hearing it all day every day could drive you…well, make you very stressed. Inhaling bergamot essential oil interferes this building up process (and has an immediately uplifting affect at the same time — quite a bonus).

This may elucidate the stress-reducing effect found in an earlier Korean study. In this study, adolescents wore an amulet emitting the aroma of either bergamot or a placebo. Those wearing the amulet with bergamot reported significantly lower stress levels during the study’s duration.

Along with bergamot essential oil’s use for it’s stress-reducing effects, and an action with potential significant medical applications: it’s ability to lessen the perceived intensity of pain. In their conclusion, the researchers note that because the mechanism is understood, bergamot it should be used in complementary medicine, alongside conventional medical techniques. (Knowing “why” something works is important for its integration in modern medical practices — on reason being to ensure it does not interfere with other therapies). This is very promising, as reducing the needs for pharmaceutical drugs not only can save significant health care dollars, it is often very beneficial for the health of the patient.

So what to do about the rest of aromatherapy? It’d be fantastic to see essential oils at your doctor’s office, not only for their obvious antiviral and antibacterial activity, but for they psycho-emotional actions of the aromas as well. Most certainly their are similar mechanisms for many essential oils which consistently elicit similar user responses — lavender is relaxing, lemon stimulating, etc.

There’s so much data published on the great many medicinal actions of essential oils that they’re likely catching the eye of some in the conventional medical community. It’s not a reach at all for much of aromatherapy’s more researched oils and actions to be given the same stamp of approval as bergamot. A search of the database of the National Institute of Health for “essential oils” yields pages and pages of results. Now with the affirmation that even the “aroma” part of aromatherapy has valid therapeutic actions, perhaps the use of essential oils will be more quickly embraced.

The author loves aromatherapy, and the wonderful therapeutic actions of aromatics like oregano oil and peppermint oil.

categories: aromatherapy,essential oils,stress,anxiety,disease,illness,alternative medicine,natural medicine,natural health,science

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Ingesting Lavender Oil Proven To Have Important Anti-Stress Effects

June 22nd, 2010

Lavender is simply an amazing remedy from every standpoint. It’s effective for so many things, being a topical antiseptic, wound healer and pain reliever. Its soothing qualities happen both on a local cellular level and on the grander scale of our overall body and mind. Its effective and its safe. Very safe, in fact — safe for everyone of every age. And it has a lot of scientific research to back it up; it may be the second most researched oil of all time, and the oil which actually began the modern aroma-medicine revolution. So what’s all the latest hub-bub about? Its the proven (meaning at least “very thoroughly tested”) anti-anxiety effects that are so potent as to match the most effective pharmaceutical drugs available. Here’s a quick look at the overall effects of Lavender, and the latest and greatest in science to back it up.

The overall action of Lavender oil is both calming and regenerating. It’s a profound effect, as our bodies need to be relieved of stress in order to heal, and lead healthy lives in general. The sweet smell alone bestows calm on folks of all ages; from the little ones all wound up when it’s time for bed, to the wizened generation whom may be recovering from illness, loss, or general fatigue. It has done the same for lab rats, hamsters and mice in research laboratories (we do not condone the testing of any essential oil on animals — yet these studies have been performed and the data is worth discussing).

The wonderful aspect of the stress-relieving action of Lavender is that it’s so easy to make use of the oil this way. For personal use, you only need to inhale deeply from a bottle, or dab a couple drops on your wrists to get a little whiff of the scent now and then. For the home, family, or workplace, there are several styles of essential oil diffusers available which release aroma into the air. Any diffuser style will work for stress reduction; it just takes a hint of the aroma in the air to have its effect.

Now, science is finally affirming the positive results of ingesting Lavender essential oil. This is a wonderful confirmation of the efficacy of the medicine that essential oils really are. Inhalation clearly works by interacting with the olfactory sense, which is tied to the limbic system and hippocampus. The result of stress reduction through inhalation has always been thought to be a response from the “emotional center” of our brains, telling the rest of our body that we can calm down, and “all is well”. Yet the possibility of our physiology responding to the oil actually floating around in our bloodstream has been casually ignored. In this case however, the oil is not being smelled at all, yet is manifesting all of its reputed anti-stress actions.

This latest research (abstracts of all research referenced in this article are available through pubmed.gov) was an evaluation of a new capsule containing 80mg of the essential oil (the equivalent of about 2 drops of oil). Study participants took one capsule daily for ten weeks, and came in every two weeks for an assessment of their mental, emotional and physical well-being. The primary focus was whether the Lavender capsule was effective at treating “non-syndromal” anxiety, which essentially means anxiety that isn’t so serious as to be all-consuming of one’s life. The results were impressive: under every evaluation technique or scale used in the study, the Lavender capsule outperformed the placebo. Participants were less stressed, slept deeper, and had better health and well-being overall.

To really be convincing, these same researchers also evaluated the Lavender capsule against a well-known, very potent anti-anxiety drug. The results were very impressive. The natural capsule was as effective as the pharmaceutical preparation in every way, with the researchers noting the important difference that the essential oil capsule had no potential for abuse. This was due to the fact that all the anti-anxiety properties came about without the additional feature of sedation; the Lavender oil pill could put you at ease without knocking you out!

Previous research that has focused on the aroma has also produced statistically significant results. In two separate placebo-controlled trials, participants in common stressful situations were exposed to Lavender aroma. One study examined the response of people waiting to have their teeth worked on, and others were about to take a major exam. In both cases, the essential oil resulted in reports of lower anxiety.

Other researched features of Lavender essential oil has been that the aroma has reduced the need for painkillers after operations. Smelling the aroma lowers the amount of cortisol being produced in the body. Cortisol is a hormone produced under stressful situations, and high levels of cortisol have been linked to a number of unhealthy conditions, including weight gain. The aroma increases the amount of deep, slow-wave sleep. And all these effects can lead to something greater: lessening stress and improving rest is almost always connected to a greater overall level of health, well-being, and positive mental outlook.

So clearly Lavender essential oil can really be of help to folks that are stressed out, or sleep poorly, or both. And the great thing about the oil is that is so easy to use for this purpose. No need to figure out dilution ratios for topical application — just inhale it! Open a little bottle and inhale straight from that, or sprinkle a little on your carpet, or go so far as to use in in an aromatherapy diffuser. You can even ingest a couple of drops a day, either in a capsule, cup of water, or “neat” if you like. Lavender essential oil is such a versatile, safe and effective stress reliever, its worth a try by nearly everyone in these fast-paced times.

Visit the website for more on applyingpure essential oils, the benefits of cinnamon essential oil and more.

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Catuaba Bark Extract: Accelerate Self Healing

June 21st, 2010

Alternative healing methods were once the mainstream health treatments when people utilized the properties of various herbs. People are once again enjoying the benefits of many long revered herbs.

This catuaba tree belongs to the family Erythroxylaceae, whose principal genus, Erythroxylum, contains several species that are sources of cocaine. Catuaba, however, contains none of the active cocaine alkaloids.

The catuaba tree is a small tree with orange and yellow flowers. It produces an oval-shape fruit that is not edible. The catuaba tree belongs to the genus erythroxylum, which contains several species from which cocaine is derived.

Indigenous and local peoples have used catuaba for generations. It is the most famous of all Brazilian aphrodisiac plants. In the Brazilian state of Minas there is a saying, “Until a father reaches 60, the son is his; after that, the son is catuaba’s!”

In Brazilian herbal medicine today, catuaba is considered a central nervous system stimulant with aphrodisiac properties. A bark decoction is commonly used for sexual impotency, agitation, nervousness, nerve pain and weakness, poor memory or forgetfulness, and sexual weakness.

According to Dr. Meira Penna, catuaba “functions as a stimulant of the nervous system, above all when one deals with functional impotence of the male genital organs . . . it is an innocent aphrodisiac, used without any ill effects at all.” In Brazil it is regarded as an aphrodisiac with “proven efficacy” and, in addition to treating impotence, it is employed for many types of nervous conditions including insomnia, hypochondria, and pain related to the central nervous system (such as sciatica and neuralgia).

To date, no toxicity studies have been done on catuaba – but its long history of use in Brazil has reported no toxicity or ill effects. In fact, according to Dr. Meira Penna, the only side-effects are beneficial – erotic dreams and increased sexual desire! While no clinical research has validated the traditional use of catuaba as an aphrodisiac, it continues to be used widely for its ability to enhance sexual drive and increase libido in both men and women.

According to Michael van Straten, noted British author and researcher of medicinal plants, catuaba is beneficial to men and women as an aphrodisiac, but “it is in the area of male impotence that the most striking results have been reported” and “there is no evidence of side effects, even after long-term use.

The gurus hate it when their personal secrets about natural medicine herbs get exposed! Now they’re fuming mad about this site catuaba bark extract and trying to shut it down.

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Two Vital Tips On How To Stop Panic Attacks When Driving

June 13th, 2010

Life can grind to a halt for those suffering from panic attacks. Daily activities can sometimes become impossible. Panic attacks can get so bad that it can sometimes feel like a good idea to stay at home rather then trying to deal with life. Many things in a person body can “lose control” when they are suffering from a panic attack.

For instance, they may lose control over their bowels where they will need to spend time in the bathroom until the panic attack ceases. Many times a panic attack may feel like a heart attack; the person may be unable to breathe, the chest feels tight and races.

being behind the wheel of a car is the worst time to have a panic attack. Stopping panic attacks while driving is a common question for those who suffer form them. This is because they would like to keep themselves, and others on the road, safe.

Some Tips On How to Stop Panic Attacks While Driving

If you are having a panic attack while driving there are some tips to help you stop it. How do you stop panic attacks while you are driving?

Tip 1 – Prevent An Attack/ Seek Outside Therapy

The best tip for anyone trying to stop panic attacks while driving is prevention. Seeking help form a therapist to try and discover the reason for your panic attacks is the first step. Once the trigger has been identified, the person will know how to stop panic attacks when driving by using relaxation techniques that the therapist has shown him or her to do. Once calm, the person can look for a place to stop for a time until the panic attack has completely ceased. No doubt this is how to stop panic attacks when driving for everyone’s safety on the road.

Tip 2 – Pull Over

It is sometime not possible to remain calm enough to pull over when having a panic attack. So it’s important to stop the car before a panic attack takes full hold. They should pull over to the side of the road and turn on their emergency lights. Once the vehicle has stopped, they can concentrate on keeping the anxiety at bay before the attack gets too bad.

Why is it so hard to stop a panic attack when driving when the person has all the tools they need? Concentrating on driving and the panic attack at the same time make sit more difficult. Not only do they have to worry with the anxiety and potential panic attack, they have to worry about the roadway and everyone else on it. What’s the best way on how to stop panic attacks when driving? The most assured way is to find a safe place to pull over and then do the breathing and relaxation exercises discussed with their physician.

For more information on how to stop panic attacks driving, Anxiety, Panic Attacks and related mood disorder issues visit Anxiety Panic Resources – get our free Downloadable 40-Part Video and MP3 Audio Mini Course.

categories: panic,anxiety,stress,stress management,disease,mental health,depression,OCD,ADD,Alternative Healing,natural remedy,wellbeing,wellness,self improvement

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Anxiety Problems In Children Are Probably Atypical But At Times Generally Misunderstood

June 9th, 2010

A lot of children go thorough anxiety as a normal part of growing up. They might be nervous about taking a test or commencing a new school. Youngsters don’t normally develop stress disorders or irrational fears because of this. However panic disorders can begin I children for other reasons.

It’s not possible to defend children from everything. Children can develop the same nervousness disorders present in adults. A generalized panic disorder might be seen in children in loads of different ways. They might excessively worry about normal events like school or things at home. They could be overly motivated about getting everything right. The child might do the same thing over and over again trying to get it perfect. They might also seek persistent approval and reassurance from others.

OCD, or Obsessive- compulsive Disorder, can also be found in children. OCD is intrusive or unwanted thoughts or obsessions that can’t seem to be cleaned from a person’s head. They also might display strong urges to repeatedly perform ritualistic behaviors and routines to try to ease their anxieties. Although the optimum age at which a child might be diagnosed with OCD is ten, it can be seen in children as young as two or three. This nervousness disorder may be seen in children through excessive hand washing, the feeling of terror that they will accidentally do something incorrectly, rechecking or counting items excessively to ward off unwelcome thoughts, etc.

Panic disorders are something different. Children may be diagnosed with panic attacks after suffering from at least two panic attacks. This is much more often throughout adolescence.

Certain phobias children may have can indicate nervousness disorders like fearing places, certain objects or situations. While a lot of children have a normal fear of animals, weather patterns or the dark a last fear, say for 6 months, that effects their everyday activities can be known as a phobia. Symptoms might include suffering from a stomach ache or headache, a tantrum, becoming clingy, or freezing in place when confronted with the fear.

Traumatic events like losing a parent or physical assault may cause these types of problems. These children might display symptoms of not eating or sleeping, emotional numbing, reliving the event through bad nightmares or through playing, or fear that the event might happen again.

Even thought children can suffer from these disorders they can manifest themselves differently. For one, children do not have an understanding that their fears are irrational plus, they might not be able to verbalize their feelings either. Children suffering from stress disorders who are suspected of having any anxiety disorder should be referred to their regular pediatrician.

For Further Material About Anxiety Disorders In Children, Fear, Panic Attacks As Well As Related Mood Disorder Issues Click Here: Anxiety Panic Resources - Plus Receive Our Complimentary Downloadable 40-Part Video And Mp3 Audio Lessons.

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