Aromatherapy for Stress and Anxiety with Orange & Lavender Essential Oils

September 12, 2009 in Anxiety, Aromatherapy, Calming, Diffusing, Emotional Release, Essential Oils, Family Health, How do I use, Lavender, Men's Health, Mental Clarity / Studying, Mind / Body / Soul, Natural Health, Orange Oil, Peace and Calming, Relaxation, Science, Smell / Olfactory, Stress, Therapeutic-grade Essential Oil, Using Essential Oils by Evelyn Vincent | No comments

Do you find any of these situations stressful and causes of anxiety? Taking exams, dentist visits, work, tension in the household, the holidays?

I would like to share with you two studies which clearly demonstrate that aromatherapy can reduce stress and anxiety when therapeutic-grade essential oils are used in your average stressful situations. It was even found that orange and lavender essential oils are better at reducing anxiety than music!

In case you don’t already know, a therapeutic-grade essential oil is much higher quality than 100% pure, organic, or wild-crafted aromatherapy oils. For this reason the only oils I use, sell, and recommend are Young Living Essential Oils – you simply will not find any that are better. orange

Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office.

1: Physiol Behav. 2005 Sep 15;86(1-2):92-5.

Lehrner J, Marwinski G, Lehr S, Johren P, Deecke L.
University Clinic of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of the essential oils of orange and lavender on anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness in dental patients. Two hundred patients between the ages of 18 and 77 years (half women, half men) were assigned to one of four independent groups. While waiting for dental procedures patients were either stimulated with ambient odor of orange or ambient odor of lavender. These conditions were compared to a music condition and a control condition (no odor, no music). Anxiety, mood, alertness and calmness were assessed while patients waited for dental treatment.

Statistical analyses revealed that compared to control condition both ambient odors of orange and lavender reduced anxiety and improved mood in patients waiting for dental treatment. These findings support the previous opinion that odors are capable of altering emotional states and may indicate that the use of odors is helpful in reducing anxiety in dental patients.

In this study it was found that lavender increases beta waves in the brain, increases relaxation and cognitive performance…

Ambient odor of orange in a dental office reduces anxiety and improves mood in female patients.

1: Physiol Behav. 2000 Oct 1-15;71(1-2):83-6.
Lehrner J, Eckersberger C, Walla P, Pötsch G, Deecke L. Neurological Clinic, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

Essential oils have been used as remedies for a long time in different cultures across the world. However, scientific proof of such application is scarce. We included 72 patients between the ages of 22 and 57 while waiting for dental treatment in our study. The participants were assigned to either a control group (14 men, 23 women) or to an odor group (18 men and 17 women). Ambient odor of orange was diffused in the waiting room through an electrical dispenser in the odor group whereas in the control group no odor was in the air. We assessed by means of self-report demographic and cognitive variables, trait and state anxiety, and current pain, mood, alertness, and calmness.

In this study, we report that exposure to ambient odor of orange has a relaxant effect. Specifically, compared to the controls, women who were exposed to orange odor had a lower level of state anxiety, a more positive mood, and a higher level of calmness. Our data support the previous notion of sedative properties of the natural essential oil of orange (Citrus sinensis).

Learn more about aromatherapy and the olfactory system

CAUTION: all citrus oils and Bergamot oil are photosensitizing when applied topically, so do not apply to skin if you’re going into the sun. However, using a citrus oil on your feet or in cooking will NOT make your skin photosensitive.

5 Methods of Duplicating the Effects of the Studies at Home

1.) Apply Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils on the Feet

The simplest method is to put a drop of lemon or orange essential oil in your palm and rub it on the soles of your feet. More on Foot Application and a Foot Chart

2.) Inhalation of Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils

Put one drop of therapeutic-grade essential oil in your palm, rub palms together and cup palms over your nose (without touching your face) and inhale several times.

3.) Essential Oils in a Spray Bottle

Another method is taking a 32 oz. spray bottle (use a smalled bottle for your car or purse, simply adjust the amount of essential oil you add) – fill spray bottle with distilled water then add 20-30 drops of lemon or orange – or add several drops of lavender too (the goal is to have about 20-30 drops of essential oil per 32 oz. spray bottle). Then, spritz into the air of the room/space or car (do not get into eyes) like you would as an air freshener.

4.) Diffusing Therapeutic-grade Essential Oils

Next is, Young Living has 3 different diffusers – the glass nebulizer diffuser, the Ultrasonic Diffuser (this uses water and less essential oil), or the Travel Diffuser (great for trips, outdoors to keep insects away, in cars, smelly hotel rooms).

5.) Ingesting / Internal Use of Essential Oils

Of course this method of application ONLY applies to Young Living Essential Oils as they are of high quality and can be used as supplements.

In a glass of water add 1 or 2 drops of lemon or orange essential oil to taste.

This is a delicious way to flavor water without adding calories or sweeteners!

Learn more about Cooking with Essential Oils

CAUTION: Do NOT attempt this with other brands of essential oils they are NOT pure enough, even those sold at health food stores!

How much does it cost to use therapeutic-grade Orange and Lavender oils?

Lavender – 11 cents per drop

Orange – 5 cents per drop

There is approx. 250 drops per 15ml bottle. Because Young Living oils are superior quality, rarely do we use more than 4 drops per application. For inhalation purposes, one drop each is plenty.

(Note: the cost would be 24% less if you’re a wholesale customer or distributor)

The cost of using superior quality essential oils is priceless!

Buy Young Living Essential Oils

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