Scientific name: Lavendula angustifolia
Lavender oil is traditionally used for promoting mental and physical relaxation. This oil is used for calming, meditation, and for bedtime preparation sometimes.
HISTORICAL REFERENCES
Lavender got its name from Romans. “To wash” is the meaning of the Latin root Lavera. It has a calming effect on the skin and mind and sets the mood; lavender may have earned its name through its frequent use in baths as a means of purifying the body and spirit. Lavender has been used for thousands of years; the Egyptians are the first people to be known to have used it for mummification. Greeks and Romans used it in a variety of ways, the most common being in cooking, bathing, perfume, wound healing, and insect repellent.
The oil is a complex mixture of over 50 monoterpenes (C10) and sesquiterpenes (C15), including α- and β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole (antioxidant), (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene, camphor (ketones), linalool (antioxidant), linalyl acetate, (E)-caryophyllene (sesquiterpene), terpinene-4-ol, lavandulyl acetate, lavandulol, α-terpineol, and borneol
MAIN CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF LAVENDER OIL: 25–45% Linalyl acetate, 20–47% Linalool, 0.3–10% Ocimene
Linayl actate, lavandulyl acetate (Monoterpene esters): anti-fungal, calming, soothing, balancing, relaxing, rejuvenates the skin, soothes the tissues
Linalool, lavandulol, α-terpineol, and borneol (Monoterpenol): stimulate the immune system, diuretic, uplifting, general tonic, anti-bacterial, antiseptic and anti-viral activities, stimulate the immune system
α- and β-pinene, myrcene, (Z)-β-ocimene, (E)-β-ocimene (Monoterpene alkenes): antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, inhibit the accumulation of toxins and help discharge existing toxins from the liver and kidneys.
Caryophyllene (sesquiterpene alkenes): antioxidant, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory
Camphor (ketones): stimulate cell regeneration, promote the formation of tissue, and liquefy mucous.
FAMILY: Lamiaceae
COLOUR: Pale yellow-green
AROMA: Rich, sweet-herbaceous, floral & woody
EXTRACTION OF OIL FROM: FLOWER
PERFUME NOTE: MIDDLE
Middle notes stay on the skin longer and do not evaporate as rapidly as top notes. It gives perfumes their main body, noticeable in a blend immediately after the top note evaporates. Soft rounded aromas are sometimes called heart notes because they make up most of the blend. They are typically warm, soft, mellow, balancing, harmonizing, rejuvenating and equalizers.
MEDICINAL PROPERTIES: Antiseptic, analgesic, anti-convulsant, anti-depressant, anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, bactericide, cytophylactic, carminative, cholagogue, cicatrisant, cordial, decongestant, deodorant, diuretic, emmenagogue, hypotensive, nervine, phylatic, rubefacient, sedative, sudorific and vulnerary
PHARMACOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF LAVENDER OIL
FOR THE MIND: Neuroprotective, antioxidant, alleviate stress, anxiety, depression, mood improvement, restlessness, and disturbed sleep, increases brain serotonin & dopamine (the feel-good hormone), alleviates symptoms such as depression, anger, eases agitation, and irritability also in Alzheimer patients
Weak cholinergic inhibition of Lavender: An essential component of lavender, “linalool,” modifies ion channel activity at the neuromuscular junction and suppresses the release of acetylcholine (Ach). It reduces attentiveness and cognitive abilities as a result of deficiencies in spatial memory brought on by cholinergic system malfunction.
Lavender: Lavender oil is traditionally used for promoting mental and physical relaxation. These oils are used for calming, meditation, and for bedtime preparation sometimes.
The anxiolytic and antidepressant-like effects attributed to Lavender are due to an antagonism on the NMDA (n-methyl-D-aspartate)-receptor. This exerts nerve-calming effects via modulating NMDA receptors.
- NMDA receptors are neurochemically classified as ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGLURs) and are involved in certain neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as epilepsy, sustained seizure damage, Parkinsonism, etc.
Lavender antidepressant property: Depression is associated with low levels of serotonin; lavender is used for the therapeutic management of depression. It prompts the brain to release serotonin and dopamine, feel-good happy hormones due to the roles they play in regulating mood and emotion.
Lavender improves sleep: Lavender boosts the production of dopamine and reduces the stress hormone known as cortisol as a result it calms brain function and induces sleep.
Lavender antioxidant property: lavender significantly increases the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) to fight free radicals & reduced the total glutathione (GSH) content and reduces lipid peroxidation (MDA level) to prevent cell damage.
According to research, one of the quickest ways to get psychological effects is by inhaling fragrances. Scents work as an emotional trigger by traveling straight to the brain through the olfactory system. The limbic system, which is made up of the hippocampus and amygdala, assesses sensory inputs and registers pleasure, pain, danger, or safety. This information then guides our emotional reactions, which include feelings of attraction, fear, and rage. The most fundamental smell triggers our basic emotions and hormonal balance. Aromas have a direct connection to memory and feeling. The limbic system influences both the peripheral nervous system and the endocrine system. The reduction of stress typically translates to a reduction in blood pressure.
AYURVEDIC PROPERTIES
Rasa (Taste) – Katu (Pungent)
Guna (Qualities) – Laghu (Light), Dry (Roksha), Tikshna (penetrating)
Virya (Potency) – Sheeta (Cooling)
Vipaka (Post digestive effect) – Katu (Pungent)
3 Biological humors (Vata, Pitta, Kapha): Bio-physical forces in our system
VATA, PITTA & KAPHA are present in every cell, tissue and organ in our body. When in balance, they create health. When out of balance, they are the cause of diseases.
Lavender effect on doshas (Humors)
VATA- Neutral
PITTA- Reduce
KAPHA- Reduce
SIDE EFFECTS
- Lavender if used in excess produces a significant decrement in the performance of working memory, short-term memory and impaired reaction times for both memory and attention-based tasks as it diminishes acetylcholine neurotransmitter in the brain hence diminishes cognitive skills.
- Gynecomastia, or the growth of breast tissue, has been linked to lavender in prepubescent males. This side effect usually goes away after lavender use is stopped. Experts advise against consuming too much lavender for males who have not yet reached puberty.
- Pregnant women should be careful while using Lavender due to its ability to mimic the estrogen hormone. It’s always best to consult your physician when pregnant or breastfeeding.
GLOSSARY FOR FEW TERMS
Dopamine: Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that helps working memory. Working memory is associated with dopamine in prefrontal neurons. It fuels our drive and motivation. It increases attention, improves cognitive skills & stimulates our creativity. It was found that dopamine levels gradually increase when one performs a working memory task. Positive mood is associated with increased brain dopamine levels.
Working memory: The prefrontal cortex plays an important role concerning working memory. Working memory is a process of the brain that allows for both the temporary storage and use of a limited amount of information for cognitive tasks. Working memory involves a central executive system that controls attention, manipulates visual images as well and stores and rehearses speech-based information.
Serotonin: Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (5-HT) that plays essential roles in the regulation of sleep and mood, and the serotonergic system is a promising therapeutic target for psychiatric disorders including anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
There are 7 families of its receptors (5-HT1-7). 5-HT5A is expressed in the brain areas such as the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, amygdala and hypothalamus, suggesting that it is potentially involved in stress reactivity and resilience.
Free radicals: ROS (Reactive oxygen species): A type of unstable molecule that contains oxygen and that easily reacts with other molecules in a cell. A build-up of reactive oxygen species in cells may cause damage to DNA, RNA, and proteins, and may cause cell death. Stress causes inflammation in the brain affecting free radicals, more stresses more the production of free radicals; antioxidants can reduce the harmful effects of inflammation.
The statements mentioned above are based on Lavender oil scientific analysis available online for limited educational purposes only. This data is not considered complete or accurate. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.