February 27, 2025
Caregiver burden, in particular for parents of children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities, is associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression as well as increased time spent on caregiving tasks relative to parents of children with typically developing trajectories. Chronic stress can cause surges in pro-inflammatory cytokines and promote inflammation.
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment based on essential oils that contain volatile plant extracts, often distilled or cold-pressed, for healing and improving overall health, mood, and state of mind. Aromatherapy can help to relieve. anxiety, depression, and stress . The smell of essential oils can cause changes in the brain by the nerve cell receptors in the nasal epithelium where it is sent to the brain.
This mechanism may explain aromatherapy's potential to reduce stress. Inhaling aromatherapy essential oil blends like Lemon and Lemongrass have shown promising anti-stress effects. Activating multiple brain regions involved in mood and stress regulation leads to an association between essential oil volatiles and the relative perceived physiological reaction. Aromatherapy provides an alternative or supplementary treatment to help people cope with multiple problems related to their physiological and psychological wellbeing. Due to the blending of these two essential oils, the antidepressant effect may be closer to synergistic associations. Even when small amounts of an active ingredient from one essential oil are added, this effect might still be significant. Essential oils have also played a role in traditional medicine systems of cultures worldwide. Essential oils have been used orally, inhaled, and applied topically, though rarely ingested. For example, lavender, peppermint, and chamomile are well known anxiety-calming essential oils. Lemon and Lemongrass essential oils too, have been known to help reduce stress. One of the reasons that essential oils are thought to help with health issues is their complexity. Each essential oil is a distillate of hundreds or thousands of chemical compounds and organic constituents, such as terpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, ketones, and phenols. For example, Lemon essential oil's dominant chemical is a monoterpene called limonene. It is well-recognized for its refreshing, energizing effects and as a natural antidepressant.
A clinical trial evaluated the benefits of inhaling lemon and lemongrass (C. citratus) essential oil among parents of children with intellectual disabilities. Study participants were divided into four groups that inhaled lemon, lemongrass, a blend of the two essential oils, or a placebo (sweet almond oil) three times daily for eight weeks. All three aromatherapy groups experienced reduced stress, better sleep, and improved emotions when compared to the placebo group. Heart rate and systolic blood pressure also diminished in all three essential oil groups. This study recommends that parent of children with intellectual disabilities use Lemongrass and Lemon essential oils to reduce stress and improve systolic blood pressure and heart rate since it is natural, safe, cost-effective, and readily available.
https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ebnr/article/view/285443