Lavender as a Treatment for Stress and Anxiety
The American Psychological Association reports that in the past 5 years 44% Americans have reported that their stress levels have increased. Not only is short-term stress on the rise for Americans, but chronic stress is as well (Clay, 2011). When under stress, the body produces extra cortisol, a hormone produced in the adrenal glands. Almost all cells within our bodies have cortisol receptors and an increase in production of this hormone can lead to a large variety of physiological13 symptoms we associate with stress (Cortisol, 2017). Stress can lead to anxiety disorders, which are the most common mental illness in the United States, impacting 18.1% of the population every year (Facts and Statistics, n.d.). Figure 1 shows this relationship between stress, chronic stress, and anxiety. Anxiety impacts Americans of all ages and can be caused by a variety of factors including home life, work life, and school life. Combined, stress and anxiety create conditions that put additional strain on the body and increase inflammatory hormones. The increase in inflammatory hormones can in turn increases the risk for cardiovascular events and cancer risk (Mohney, 2018).Lavender as a Treatment for Stress and Anxiety
With rates of stress and anxiety on the rise, and the long-term impacts of stress becoming more well-known, people across the globe have begun investigating a solution to these conditions. One pharmacological12 solution are anxiolytic3 drugs such as benzodiazepine. Benzodiazepines are a class of prescription medications that work by modulating9 the endogenous6 neurotransmitter Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that works to slow down functions within the body (Reconnexion). However, drugs like benzodiazepine can come with side effects such as sedation, headache, and ataxia (Lippa). Additionally, research has shown that some anti-anxiety medications can cause dependency (Tyrer, 1999). Fear of side effects or dependency may cause some anxiety sufferers leave their symptoms untreated.
Recently there has been a surge in the popularity of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM), which utilizes non-pharmaceutical treatment methods such as aromatherapy and essential oils. One possible reason for the surge in CAM popularity, specifically aromatherapy, is its non-invasive nature with little to no known side effects (Perry, 2016). Aromatherapy using lavender, peppermint, clary sage, and bergamot essential oils has been found in several studies to decrease cortisol levels within the body (Myung-Haeng et. al. 2014) decreasing the symptoms that we associate with stress. Due to evidence showing lavender’s many benefits including analgesic2, carminative4, anti-depressive, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic 3 properties, it has become a highly researched essential oil in aromatherapy, specifically in research on stress and anxiety (Babaheydari & Soureshjani, 2014).
