Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants

Bathing young infants in bath water with lavender essential oil was found to reduce stress and crying and enhance sleep in very young infants, according to a scientific study.

Very young infants, ranging in age from one-week to four-and-half-months, were given a bath with or without lavender-scented bath oil. The mothers in the lavender bath oil group were more relaxed, smiled and touched their infants more during the bath. Their infants looked at them a greater percentage of the bath time and cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after bath. The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased, confirming the behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants. These findings support a body of research showing the relaxing and sleep-inducing properties of lavender essential oil.

Reference:
Field T, et al. Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants. Early Human Development. 2008; 84(6):339-401.

Effects of aroma hand massage on pain and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer

A scientific study involving 58 hospice patients with terminal cancer found that a hand massage with a blend of bergamot, lavender and frankincense essential oils in an almond oil base resulted in a statistically significant decrease in pain and depression, compared with a control group, who received a massage with almond oil only. Read the scientific paper here.

Reference:
Chang, S.A. 2008. Effects of aroma hand massage on pain, state anxiety and depression in hospice patients with terminal cancer. J Korean Acad Nurs. 38(4):493-502.

Peppermint and post-operative nausea

In a scientific study, inhaled peppermint essential oil was found to decrease post-operative nausea in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Read the study abstract here.

Reference:

Briggs et al. 2016. Inhaled peppermint oil for postop nausea in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Nursing 46(7):61-67.

Lavender essential oil and restless leg syndrome

In a randomized controlled trial, lavender essential oil was found to be effective for treating restless leg syndrome. Read the full article here.

Reference: Hashemi, Sayyed Hossein, Ali Hajbagheri, and Mohammad Aghajani. “The Effect of Massage With Lavender Oil on Restless Leg Syndrome in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Nursing and Midwifery Studies 4.4 (2015).

Inhalation of lavender essential oil reduces anxiety in open heart surgery candidates

A randomized clinical, single blind study has shown that inhalation of lavender essential oil reduces anxiety in open heart surgery candidates. Read article here.

Reference:

	Hosseini S, Heydari A, Vakili M, Moghadam S, Tazyky S. Effect of lavender essence inhalation on the level of anxiety and blood cortisol in candidates for open-heart surgery. Iranian Journal of Nursing and Midwifery Research. 2016;21(4):397-401.

Bergamot essential oil decreases stress, anxiety and fatigue

In a clinical study, bergamot essential oil was found to decrease stress, anxiety and fatigue in women. Read more here.

Reference:
Watanabe E, et al. Forsch Komplementmed. 2015. Effects of bergamot (Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) essential oil aromatherapy on mood states, parasympathetic nervous system activity, and salivary cortisol levels in 41 healthy females. Forsch Komplementmed. 2015;22(1):43-9.

Lavender essential oils reduces fatigue of new mothers

Researchers found that inhaling lavender essential oils decreases fatigue in new mothers. Read the article here. 

 Reference:

Lee S. Effects of aroma inhalation on fatigue and sleep quality of postpartum mothers. Women Heath Nurs. 2004; 10(3):235-243. - See more at: https://doterra.com/US/en/blog/bibliography#sthash.BxY71OB8.dpuf

Lee, S. 2004. Effects of Aroma Inhalation on Fatigue and Sleep Quality of Postpartum Mothers.Korean J Women Health Nurs 10(30):235-243.