March 20, 2022
Since therapeutic effects of essential oils has been widely investigated, recent studies show that application of essential oils for anxiety and pain relief is very successful especially when they are used in combination with conventional treatment. Essential Oils can be administered through oral consumption, direct skin contact, or inhalation. Among all different administration routes, inhalation is the most commonly adopted method. Moreover, Essential oils from different plant extracts demonstrate different effects. For instance, lavender and bergamot essential oils are widely used in either single use or mixed use for relaxation. It has been shown that the different positive effects were linked to specific constituents in essential oils. Therefore, application of essential oils in combined form maximizes their therapeutic effect due their different molecular compounds.
According to previous studies, the potential of lavender essential oil for prevention and even treatment of depression and anxiety symptoms was demonstrated. The inhalation of lavender and chamomile essential oils decreases levels of depression, anxiety, and stress in older adults. Therefore, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in this case could be associated with the suppression of the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. Also, evidence shows that various types of essential oils have a wide range of health benefits. The favorable outcomes may be due to multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of monoamine level, the induction of neurotrophic factor expression, the regulation of the endocrine system and the promotion of neurogenesis. The molecules of essential oils may reach the brain and exert an effect through two distinctive pathways, namely, the olfactory system and the respiratory system. After inhalation, the molecules of the essential oils would either act directly on the olfactory mucosa or pass into the respiratory tract. These two delivery pathways suggest different underlying mechanisms of action. Exploration of the underlying mechanisms may provide insight into the future therapeutic use of essential oils components treatment of psychiatric and physical symptoms.