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Aromatherapy study shows lemon, lavender cause no physical changes 3-3-08
Here’s some unsettling news for anyone who ever sniffed a scented candle,
essential oil or pricey pillow spray, hoping for healing or another kind of
physical boost.
It doesn’t work.
At least that’s the verdict on two of the heavy hitters in the world of
aromatherapy: lemon and lavender. Researchers at Ohio State University conducted
what they say is the most scientifically rigorous test of physical changes
caused by smelling the popular scents — and came up with nothing.
Oh, lemon oil certainly boosted mood, husband-and-wife scientists Ronald Glaser
and Janice K. Kiecolt-Glaser report in the March issue of the journal
Psychoneuroendocrinology.
But a randomized controlled trial that tested heart rate, blood pressure, stress
hormones and immune function showed no significant changes before and after the
big sniff.
In fact, some of the 56 men and women in the two-year study showed a stronger
reaction to distilled water than to either of the identified aromas.
“It’s nice that lemon oil affects mood, but it doesn’t do anything
physiologically,” said Kiecolt-Glaser, director of the division of health
psychology at OSU.
The scientists admitted they were surprised by the results of the study, which
subjected volunteers to mild stress and then measured how quickly they
recovered. They expected to find at least some significant response to lavender
and lemon, which figure prominently in essential oils, lotions and sprays
marketed as remedies for a range of ailments by the multi-million-dollar
aromatherapy industry.
Even ‘true believers’ didn't change
Volunteers had scent-saturated cotton balls taped beneath their noses.
Biological responses were measured before and after they dipped a foot for one
minute in icy water, a known stressor. Scientists also stripped away skin cells
with tape and then measured how fast the participants healed.
But the physiological markers didn’t budge, even when some volunteers were told
what scents they were sniffing, and what pleasant side effects to expect.
Nearly a third of the subjects were so-called “true believers,” people who
attested to the power of aromatherapy and regularly bought good-smelling
products to soothe themselves. Their minds were saying one thing, but their
bodies didn’t follow, said Ronald Glaser, a professor of molecular virology,
immunology and medical genetics.
“Maybe lavender really does relax you, but guess what? We couldn’t find it,” he
said.
The results of the study didn’t daunt Kathy Keville, a noted aromatherapist and
author of a dozen books on the subject, including “Aromatherapy for Dummies.”
She didn’t dispute the science of the Glasers’ work, but she said that any of
the more than 200 essential oils she uses regularly might have led to different
results. Applying the essential oils topically instead of simply sniffing might
also have produced different effects.
“If they had wanted blood pressure, they should have tried orange,” Keville
said. “There are studies on chamomile being used for pain relief.”
Don't misjudge aromatherapy
It would be unfair to conclude that aromatherapy doesn’t work based on the
results of even a rigorous single study, Keville said. Aromatherapy may not be a
cure for specific illnesses or pain, but it’s a great adjunct therapy, she
added.
That’s a view shared by Sue Repke, 44, one of the study participants, who
believes the researchers’ findings — but doesn’t agree with them.
She’s an aromatherapy advocate who dabs lemon oil at her temples for alertness
or eucalyptus oil to soothe a cold. She’ll turn to peppermint scents for a
pick-me-up and her two girls, Alex, 13, and Andi, 10, are big fans of
lavender-vanilla pillow spray.
“I think they need to keep looking, there’s something there,” said Repke, an
occupational therapist in Columbus, Ohio. “It’s so frustrating when you know
something works and they can’t find it.”
The Glasers say they would have been happy to report that a whiff of lavender or
lemon cures what ails you — if it were true. Their work was funded by a
two-year, nearly $374,000 grant from the National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health. Officials there said
the small exploratory study offers a good basis for future research.
Comment:
This article leaves alot out. Like the main goal of this research was behavioral including depression. Here is the link to the complete study: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00097253?term=%28NCCAM%29+%5BSPONSOR%5D+%28aromatherapy%29+%5BTREATMENT%5D&rank=1
It does not list the brand of essential oil used. Bad oil Bad results.
You have to use essential oils neet to get a medicinally measurable result.
You have to understand the real goal at NIH is not to promote complementary medicine, but to refute and remove it.
Using proper oils and technique other medical boards in other countries have proven aromatherapy works measurably using olfactory senses.