Aromatherapy affects our moods, alertness and concentration
Variations in effect on short term mental functioning. According to researchers at the University of Miami School of Medicine, USA, aromatherapy can have a significant affect on our brain (EEG) activity, our sense of alertness, and our moods.
Forty adults were given just three minutes of aromatherapy using two aromas, lavender (considered a relaxing
odor) or rosemary (considered a stimulating odor). The participants were given simple math computations before and after the therapy. The people in the lavender group showed increased beta power, suggesting increased drowsiness, they had less depressed moods, reported feeling more relaxed and performed the math computations faster and more accurately following aromatherapy. The rosemary group, on the other hand, showed decreased frontal alpha and beta power, suggesting increased alertness. They also had lower state anxiety scores, reported feeling more relaxed and alert, and they were faster (although not more accurate) at completing the math computations after the aromatherapy session. The implications of these findings are far reaching - suggesting that aromatherapy can be beneficial not just in clinics and hospitals, but also in schools, colleges, and the workplace. Source: Aromatherapy positively affects mood, EEG patterns of alertness and math computations.
Diego MA; Jones NA; Field T; et al
Int J Neurosci, 96:217-24, 1998 De
: - Valerian root has been
traditionally used by herbalists as a calmative and relaxant to help soothe the
nervous system and ease tension. However, two recent research studies have
demonstrated that valerian root may be particularly helpful to people who suffer
with insomnia and other sleep disorders.
In Switzerland (1), researchers
surveyed 128 people who were each given 9 separate samples to test (3 containing
placebo, 3 containing 400 mg aqueous extract of valerian root and 3 containing a
proprietary over-the-counter valerian preparation.
The results revealed that the
subjects stated that the valerian extract produced a significant improvement in
their quality of sleep as well as in the ease in getting to sleep. The best
scores came from those people who had considered themselves poor or irregular
sleepers prior to the study. The study confirmed that valerian root extract is
considered by users to be an effective aid to sleep which improves the quality
of sleep and the regularity of sleep patterns.
Another study(2), this time in
Germany, the efficacy and tolerance of a phyto-therapeutic compound called
‘Novo-Baldriparan’ which contains valerian root, hops and balm was
investigated on 225 patients all of whom were suffering from difficulties
falling asleep and sleeping through the night and/or states of nervous
agitation.
The patients were given Novo-Baldriparan
for a period of two weeks and their symptoms were recorded afterwards. The
results showed that the herbs produced a significant improvement in the severity
and frequency of all of the principal symptoms. Both the nervous unrest, which
was the underlying cause of the sleep disorders, as well as the sleep disorders
themselves were significantly reduced. The difficulties falling asleep improved
in 89% of the patients, the difficulties sleeping through the night improved in
80% and the states of nervous unrest improved in 82% of the patients. The
quantity of sleep was also considerably increased , while the patients noted
that external stressors which had previously caused considerable distress were
much less distressing during the period when they were taking the herbal
compound.
Interestingly, the results also
revealed that there were improvements in other stress-related symptoms such as
headaches, dizziness, and cardiovascular or gastrointestinal discomfort. Heart
rate and blood pressure improved and this was accompanied as a whole by a
noticeable improvement in the patients' general well being.
The tolerability of Novo-Baldriparan
was rated positively by both the doctors and patients - 96.9% of the physicians
and 96.4% of the patients gave the rating 'very good' or 'good'.
These studies, although not
double-blind, provide strong evidence that valerian root extract offers
appreciable and significant benefits not just for those people who suffer with
sleeping disorders, but for anyone who is having problems triggered or augmented
by stress.
(1) Leathwood P.D.;
Chauffard F.; Heck E.; Munoz-Box R. Aqueous extract of valerian root (Valeriana
officinalis L.) improves sleep quality in man. Nestle Res. Lab., 1814 La
Tour-de-Peilz SWITZERLAND PHARMACOL. BIOCHEM. BEHAV. (USA) , 1982, 17/1 (65-70)
(2)Orth-Wagner S.; Ressin W.J.; Friederich I.Phytosedative for sleeping
disorders containing extracts from valerian root, hop grains, and balm leaves.
