A new study has confirmed that lavender has relaxing effects. That is why it can be used to alleviate the stress and anxiety that people feel prior to an operation. However, the scent must be smelt and not absorbed by the lungs.
Dr. Hideki Kashiwadani works for Kagoshima University. He stated that lavender has been used for many years in folk medicine. However, modern medicine has overlooked the benefits of lavender.
Kashiwandi and his team performed a study on rats. They exposed the rats to linalool, which is found in lavender extract. They found that linalool can trigger the olfactory neurons. This can trigger relaxation. The researchers also found that the mice that had damaged olfactory neurons did not experience relaxation. The researchers concluded that the smell was what helped the mice relax.
They believe that more studies need to be done to examine how lavender affects animals. They plan on conducting human studies in the future. The researchers are hoping that linolool will be used in clinical settings to treat anxiety.
Anti-anxiety drugs are often given to help patients calm down before they get surgery. This makes it easier to administer general anesthesia to the patient. Vaporized linalool can be a viable alternative to anti-anxiety drugs.
There are some patients who are not good candidates for anti-anxiety drugs. For example, infants may not be good candidates for anti-anxiety drugs. It can also be difficult to administer anti-anxiety drugs to confused elders.
There have been other studies done to confirm that lavender has health benefits. Some studies suggest that lavender oil can help treat depression, insomnia and restlessness. It can also be used to treat bug bites. However, the Food and Drug Administration has stated that lavender oil should not be used in the place of over-the-counter or prescription medication.
