Aromatherapy may not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to medicine for adult mental health, but recent studies have shown that it can be effective for some mental disorders. Aromatherapy is a growing area of research, and while we may not fully understand the extent of its benefits, it has been shown to be a safe resource that can even reduce symptoms such as psychomotor agitation and aggression in patients with dementia.
To begin, essential oils used in aromatherapy are extracted from plants and distilled into concentrated oils that can be inhaled directly by their vapors or applied to the skin through massage, lotions, or bath salts. Depending on the different types of oils and how they are used, they can carry different properties to affect mental health.
Oils from lavender, one of the most common and studied, have been shown to reduce anxiety, alleviate stress, and act as a sleeping aid. In fact, in a study conducted in dental offices, patients waiting for procedures felt less anxious when the smell of lavender was diffused in the room.
Aromatherapy with essential oils such as lavender oil can provide some benefits to mental health.
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Another oil to consider is frankincense, which is comprised of the resin of the Boswellia tree and has been used in Indian Ayurveda medicine for hundreds of years and is effective in treating depression, lessening anxiety, and creating euphoric feelings in terminally ill patients. As such, a study completed by Ariel University and Johns Hopkins University found that diffusing this oil could activate ion channels in the brain that could help lessen the pain of their symptoms.
A study was conducted on 8 different subjects with schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety who each received an aromatherapy massage for 6 weeks, and then, they were promptly assessed via the HAD (Hospital Anxiety and Depression) scale. For each patient, a personalized mix of aromatherapy oils was made according to their symptoms and desires for treatment. With aromatherapy massage, those participating in the study showed short-term gains in mood, relaxation, anxiety, and depression levels. These effects were less pronounced over a longer period of time. Because of this, the use of personalized aromatherapy oils could be extremely useful in certain hospital settings, especially in nursing departments, with more immediate care or shorter durations of stays. This could prove especially helpful by topical applications, massages, or oral absorption, especially when patients may have specific medical ailments or symptoms that may require tailored treatments.
Overall, more research must be done in this field to truly understand its health properties and correlation with adult mental health issues. Nonetheless, additional research has continued to demonstrate a link between these oils and alleviating problems with stress and mood. Perhaps in the future, we may see aromatherapy as a more established treatment alongside other medications to aid mental health stability.
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