For centuries, people have used aromatherapy for therapeutic benefits such as emotional regulation. Research is currently underway to see how it can be used to address certain mental health issues such as depression and anxiety.
For example, a 2022 study published in a medical journal Frontiers of neuroscience They looked at the relationship between a person’s sense of smell and their likelihood of developing depressive traits. Researchers found that people who lost their sense of smell were more likely to develop clinical depression within five to 10 years than those who did not, and that the severity of sensory loss actually influenced the final severity of depression. It is pointed out that there is a possibility that it can be predicted.
Based on these findings, the research team proposed that enhancing the sense of smell may help improve symptoms of depression. Enhancing the sense of smell in the form of aromatherapy “changes brain structure and improves cognitive and emotional states,” the researchers wrote.
If you want to improve your own mental health with aromatherapy, here are four specific scents that researchers recommend to reduce symptoms of depression.
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New research published last month JAMA Open Network This suggests that familiar scents may improve symptoms in patients with depression. That’s because people who suffer from depression are known to have more difficulty recalling certain autobiographical memories. However, smelling familiar scents helped study subjects recall more memories.
kimberly youngAssociate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pittsburgh and co-author of the study suggested this during an interview. NBC News With a little training, people with depression may be able to use scent to evoke positive memories and reduce their symptoms.
And apparently any scent that you personally remember is fine. Scents used in the study included orange, vanilla extract, cumin, whiskey, red wine, cough syrup, disinfectant, and shoe polish.
Many of us associate lavender with tranquility, and consistent with previous research findings, that association may possibly enhance lavender’s ability to improve depression and anxiety. However, research suggests that there are other mechanisms behind lavender’s antidepressant and anxiolytic effects.
A 2023 study cited the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain and stated, “Through the inhibitory effects of GABA, this plant exerts healing effects on many diseases such as anxiety and depression.” There is. Researchers also note that lavender has anti-inflammatory properties and helps regulate serotonin levels.
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Bergamot orange is a citrus fruit that is too bitter on its own. However, bergamot oil is often used in perfumery and aromatherapy, and is touted for its mood-enhancing effects.
A 2017 study published in the same journal stated that “taking bergamot essential oil for 15 minutes improved (17 percent higher) positive emotions in participants compared to a control group.” Phytotherapy research. The study authors note that bergamot is characterized by high levels of limonene, linalool, and linalyl acetate (three compounds associated with antidepressant and antianxiety drug effects).
Ultimately, they concluded that “Bergamot essential oil aromatherapy can be an effective adjunct therapy for improving an individual’s mental health and well-being.”
2021 research published in International Journal of Molecular Science Chamomile has been found to be another scent that can improve mental health when used as aromatherapy. This study notes that inhaling chamomile oil can help reduce depression, anxiety, and stress levels in older adults.
“Our results suggest that the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects may be associated with suppression of sympathetic nervous system activity,” the researchers noted.
2022 Research Published in the Journal explore We found that inhaling chamomile and lavender can have long-lasting antidepressant effects. These researchers found that “the lavender and chamomile groups showed statistically significant improvements in depression, anxiety, and stress levels immediately after the intervention and one month after the intervention compared to the control group.” ” says the study.
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