While conventional medicine continues to drug women with PMS with addictive
SSRIs, Japanese researchers have determined that Lavender essential oil can
alleviate premenstrual emotional mood changes, confirming other research showing
that Lavender aromatherapy produces overall calming effects.
The research comes from Japan's Shitennoji University and Kyoto University.
The scientists conducted a randomized crossover study using 17 women with an
average age of 20 years old who experienced premenstrual emotional symptoms in
the late luteal phase of their menstrual cycle. These emotional symptoms have
been defined by conventional medicine as premenstrual syndrome, and in its worst
stage, as premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD – which typically appear in
the late luteal phase (about a week prior to menstruation).
The women were selected from Shitennoji University after the researchers
conducted medical questionnaires and medical histories from a larger group of
women.
The women were tested during two different monthly cycles. Their cycle phases
were determined by measuring their body temperatures and their levels of estrone
and pregnanediol-3-glucuronide – taken from urine samples.
During the first test, half the women inhaled the scent of Lavender essential
oil – generally called aromatherapy – for ten minutes. The other half of the
women were tested using water as a control.
During the second test, the control group inhaled the Lavender aromatherapy
while the other group was tested with the control.
The researchers tested the effects of the aromatherapy using two different
measurements. The first was heart rate variability (HRV) measured by
electrocardiograph. Other research has established that reduced heart rate
variability (HRV) is associated with increased stress and anxiety and related
symptoms.
The other measurement used to test their emotional states was the Profile of
Mood States index – a standardized test that uses a five-point scale (ranging
from "not at all" to "extremely") for 65 different adjectives describing a
subject's current state of mind and mood. Examples include "irritability,"
"fatigue" and so on.
The researchers found from both tests that the groups inhaling the Lavender
had increased heart rate variability – indicating improved moods and reduced
stress. They also found that the Profile of Mood States test results were
significantly better in the Lavender aromatherapy groups compared to the two
control groups.
Some of the more significant improvements in the Profile of Mood States test
were in the depression, dejection and confusion categories. These three
categories are typically lower for premenstrual syndrome sufferers.
The improved symptoms of the Lavender aromatherapy groups
continued for up to 35 minutes following the ten-minute aromatherapy.
The researchers surmised that the improvement from Lavender aromatherapy was
due to Lavender affecting the women's parasympathetic nervous system:
This study indicates that short-term inhalation of Lavender could
alleviate premenstrual emotional symptoms and could, at least in part,
contribute to the improvement of parasympathetic nervous system
activity."
Premenstrual syndrome and PMDD involve a number of symptoms, which include
but are not limited to mood swings, anxiety, stress, panic attacks, fatigue,
food cravings, insomnia and others.
While many doctors and scientists agree that the syndrome is related to
changes in hormone levels, there have been differing opinions on which are
responsible. However, a 2006 study from Sweden indicated that a reduction in
serotonin availability appears to be related to increased occurrence of
premenstrual
syndrome and PMDD.
This finding has led to the widespread prescribing of selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) by conventional medicine for premenstrual syndrome
and PMDD. While in the U.S., PMDD is considered a disease and SSRIs the
prescriptive course, many countries - including those in the EU - have rejected
this notion that PMDD is a disease and SSRIs are the necessary prescriptive
course, due to the fact that SSRIs have been shown to become addictive and have
numerous side effects including nausea, headaches, drowsiness, mania and
others.
Meanwhile, Lavender aromatherapy shows promise as a natural and safe way to
boost serotonin levels. Recent research from China's School of Pharmaceutical
Sciences indicates that Lavender essential oil aromatherapy elicits the
stimulation of both serotonin and dopamine from the brain – both of which can
elevate moods and produce calmness.
Confirming this, in 2011 researchers from Taiwan's Taipei Medical University
Hospital found that Lavender aromatherapy elevated moods and increased sleep
quality in a clinical study of 67 women who were aged between 45 and 55 years
old. This study also showed that Lavender increased heart rate variability –
another sign of serotonin boosting - among the women.
The Japanese researchers analyzed their Lavender essential oil and determined
the major constituents included about 75% linalyl acetate and linalool, as well
as ocimene, caryophyllene, ocimene and lavendulyl acetate.
Lavender (Lavandula sp.) aromatherapy has been used for centuries by herbal
practitioners for calming anxiety and for mood disorders. There are more than
three dozen medicinal varieties of Lavender, and Lavender's recorded use dates
back over two thousand years.
The typical way of utilizing aromatherapy is with a diffuser. Just a few
drops (3-4) of an essential oil onto a diffusing element can quickly deliver its
therapeutic scents throughout the room. An easy diffuser is a clean crumpled
tissue. Other types of diffusers are available - including some that utilize
heat to diffuse the scent. An essential oil may be diffused by dropping into
boiled water as well - this will diffuse the scent via the vapor - but less oil
should probably be used in this case. Aromatherapy scents may also be diffused
via candles and lamp rings - but be careful because essential oils are also
flammable.
REFERENCES:
Chien LW, Cheng SL, Liu CF. The effect of Lavender aromatherapy on autonomic
nervous system in midlife women with insomnia. Evid Based Complement Alternat
Med. 2012;2012:740813.
Eriksson O, Wall A, Marteinsdottir I, Agren H, Hartvig P, Blomqvist G,
Långström B, Naessén T. Mood changes correlate to changes in brain serotonin
precursor trapping in women with premenstrual dysphoria. Psychiatry Res. 2006
Mar 31;146(2):107-16.
Case Adams is a California Naturopath and
holds a Ph.D. in Natural Health Sciences. His focus is upon science-based
natural health solutions. He is the author of 25 books on natural health and
numerous print and internet articles. A listing and description of many of his
books can be found on Realnatural.org. A new video series on low back
pain can be found on Healthy-back.net. Case appreciates feedback and questions at
case@caseadams.com.
Disclaimer: This
article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views
expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of GreenMedInfo or its
staff.
