As we navigate through the journey of life, there are times (especially now) that can take a toll on our mental health. Whether it is experiencing a bad moment, loneliness, family dynamics, or feeling overwhelmed by current events. We all have times of feeling anxious or stressed.
However, for many Americans, it goes beyond a temporary moment, they suffer from an anxiety disorder. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), 40 million adults or 18.1% of the population have an anxiety disorder.
It also states that people with this disorder are three to five times more likely to go to the doctor and six times more likely to be hospitalized for psychiatric disorders.
While there are many levels of feeling anxious, there are some tips a person can participate in to help ease the anxiousness
The ADAA lists the following coping strategies for anxiousness:
- Take time out to clear your head. This can include yoga, music, or practicing relaxation
techniques. - Eat well balanced meals, limit alcohol and caffeine, get enough sleep, exercise daily.
- Take deep breaths, count to 10 slowly, do your best (do not aim for perfection), accept that you cannot control everything, welcome humor, maintain a positive attitude.
- Learn what triggers your anxiety, and talk to someone (either friends, family, or a professional physician or therapist).
Aromatherapy as a possible coping strategy
Aromatherapy is the use and application of pure essential oils to promote physical, psychological, and emotional balance. Essential oils that are concentrated, hydrophobic liquids (liquids that are incapable of combining with or dissolving in water), containing aroma compounds extracted from plants.
Each essential oil has a unique effect such as helping with anxiousness, soothing queasiness, rejuvenating, calming, etc.
How aromatherapy can positively affect emotions
The limbic system is a complex system of nerves and networks in the brain that controls basic emotions, behavior, long-term memory, and smell.
When we smell something it’s our limbic system that stores and then interprets the emotional significance of an aroma. Therefore, an essential oil can instantly trigger a behavioral response in our body and why certain aromas put us on guard while others calm us down.
Many hospitals and healthcare systems are embracing and promoting clinical aromatherapy as an adjunct treatment.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has a webpage, “Aromatherapy Does It Really Work?,” which explains how essential oil quality and purity play an important part in its effectiveness, as well as having a reputable company which distributes the essential oils.
Hackensack Meridian Health posted the article “How to Use Aromatherapy to Help Ease Anxiety” on their website, which states that aromatherapy is one tool for your toolbox and can be used in conjunction with other interventions.
Clinical studies prove that aromatherapy can help with mental health
One study looked at the effects of essential oil inhalation for depression, anxiety, and stress in older adults. The experimental group was asked to inhale lavender and chamomile for 30 nights while the controlled group inhaled distilled water. The result was a statistically significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and stress immediately and 30 days afterwards compared to the controlled group.
Another monitored the effects of lavender oil with fibromyalgia patients to monitor quality of life (including but not limited to mental health, mental role, social functioning, vitality). Quality of Life baseline scores were compared to 4-weeks of use of lavender oil. It found the scores were statistically significant compared to the baseline.
A randomized clinical trial looked at the effect of the of Lavender aromatherapy with postmenopausal women for depression and anxiety and there was evidence that using lavender is an effective noninvasive treatment during postmenopausal stage to help decrease depression and anxiety.
Another group conducted a study offering aromatherapy to C-section patients with postpartum blues, it was suggested that using aromatherapy for women with C-section within the 3rd to 5th day to overcome postpartum blues.
A thesis paper written by a student going for her Masters of Science in Social Work, "The Benefits of using Alternative Therapies on Adult Mental Health" summarized her research combining yoga, recreational therapy, and aromatherapy, shared that these types of therapies can help people with anxiousness, depression, and PTSD.
A Malaysian study used five finger hypnosis combined with aromatherapy which resulted in significant difference of anxiety scores between a controlled group versus the intervention group. Dr. Judson Brewer or “Dr. Jud” shares a video on how to use the five-finger relaxation method.
Aromatherapy that's effective and easy to use wherever you happen to be
Aromatherapy can be easy to diffuse in your home to help relax or calm. However, anxiousness can also happen outside of the home.
Elequil aromatabs® have a unique delivery system that stays within one’s own personal space. It is a self-adhesive tab for hands-free aromatherapy that is discreet.
Elequil aromatabs® were used in a clinical presentation to determine if aromatherapy can reduce stress-related feelings, especially with nursing staff. and concluded there was a statistically significant difference demonstrated in how nursing staff perceive less stress at work when using Elequil®.
Other clinical studies using Elequil aromatabs® have shown a statistically significant reduction of anxiousness:
- A Randomized Controlled Trial Provides Evidence to Support Aromatherapy to Minimize Anxiety in Women Undergoing Breast Biopsy
- The Efficacy of Lavender Aromatherapy in Reducing Preoperative
Anxiety in Ambulatory Surgery Patients Undergoing Procedures in General Otolaryngology - Aromatherapy for Procedural Anxiety in Pain Management and Interventional Spine Procedures: A Randomized Trial
About Elequil aromatabs®
Each Elequil aromatab uses 100% pure essential oils which last for 8 hours or more:- Lavender-Peppermint promotes relaxation during pain, helps comfort and calm anxiousness, and soothes queasiness
- Lavender and Lavender-Sandalwood promote relaxation during pain and help comfort and calm anxiousness
- Orange-Peppermint uplifts and can soothe queasiness
To learn more about Elequil® and the use of aromatherapy in the clinical setting, or to request materials for a trial evaluation at your facility, contact your Elequil Account Manager at 1.800.233.5539 or info@beekley.com.
To purchase Elequil aromatabs® for personal use, visit the consumer shop on elequil.com.
