Written by Harold Oster, MD. Essential oils, used for thousands of years in aromatherapy, have numerous health benefits. Essential oils are complex compounds produced by aromatic plants. They have been used for centuries in fragrances, cosmetics, and aromatherapy and...
Fish Oil & Evening Primrose Oil Supplementation Reduces Inflammatory Markers and Improves Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Levels in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy
Written by Taylor Woosley, Science Writer. 12-week supplementation of a combination of fish oil and evening primrose oil (1000 mg EPA + DHA and 251 mg GLA daily) improved fatty acid profiles, as well as the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio (p < 0.01), and significantly decreased...
Lavender Essential Oil and Its Components Improves Pain in Patients with Postherpetic Neuralgia
Written by Chrystal Moulton, Staff Writer. Aromatherapeutic treatment showed a significant reduction in sensory pain and total pain score in all three experimental groups compared to control (P< 0.05). Varicella zoster virus, which causes chicken pox and shingles,...
Combination of Lavender Oil and Music Therapy Reduces Anxiety in Subjects Undergoing MRI Scans
Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Results of the single-center, randomized, controlled, double-blind trial show that subjects in the aromatherapy plus music therapy group experienced a significantly greater ∆STAI-1 value (all p < 0.001) and ∆SAS (all p <...
Geranium (P. graveolens) Essential Oil Reduces Fatigue in ICU Nurses
Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Results of this double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial of 84 nurses working in critical care during COVID-19 shows that inhalation of P. graveolens essential oil significantly reduced fatigue scores in subjects...
Lavender, Chamomile, and Rosemary Aromatherapy Massage Reduces Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in Elderly Adults in Nursing Homes
Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 20-min aromatherapy massage sessions using lavender, chamomile, and rosemary oils three times per week for two three-week periods significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression in elderly subjects. The aging...
Black Seed Oil (Nigella sativa) Improves Vascular Function in Adults with Pre-Existing Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease
Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. 2-month supplementation of 500 mg N. sativa oil resulted in a significant increase in FMD and plasma NOx levels (2.97 ± 2.11% vs. 0.71 ± 3.19%, p < 0.001 for FMD and 4.73 ± 7.25 µmol/L vs. 0.99 ± 5.37 µmol/L, p = 0.036 for...
Tea Tree Oil-Based Hand Sanitizer Provides Robust Antimicrobial Properties
Written by Taylor Woosley, Staff Writer. Disinfectant treatment containing 10% tea tree oil provided comparable levels of antimicrobial properties to alcohol-based hand sanitizers, while also outperforming the efficacy of benzalkonium chloride treatment. Universally,...
Evening Primrose Oil for Psychological Symptoms of Menopause
Written by Jessica Patella, ND. This study found evening primrose oil to be safe and effective for treating the psychological symptoms associated with menopause in women. An estimated 1.3 million women in the United States enter menopause each year. Menopause is...
Peppermint Essential Oil Shows Antibacterial Activity Against Staphylococcus Aureas
Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Peppermint essential oil (PEO) demonstrated potent antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities against Staphlococcus aureus. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a major bacterial pathogen associated with foodborne illness...