Nurture Meditation - Penny Price Aromatherapy
Transcription
Nurture Meditation - Penny Price Aromatherapy
Nurture Meditation Ingredients Botanical Name Frankincense Boswellia carterii Rosemary Rosemarinus officinalis Basil Ocimum basilicum Properties Frankincense has been highly valued for centuries. It was burnt as incense in Egyptian temples as an offering to the gods and even for fumigating the sick to banish evil spirits. It was, however, most commonly used as a tool to aid meditation (Sellar, 1992). Using behavioural models, it was found that incensole acetate exerted anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects, as well as a sedative effect; these findings were corroborated by an immunohistochemical mapping of mice brains following incensole acetate administration. Incensole acetate activated the TRPV3 channel in several in-vitro assays. Incensole acetate was assessed for its behavioural effects on TRPV3 gene knockout mice, and found that it exhibited no effect in the assays used to assess anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects, while retaining its sedative effect. This suggests that incensole acetate exerts anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects via TRPV3 channels, a distinct pathway compared to anxiolytic and antidepressant drugs currently in use (Moussaieff and Mechoulam, 2009). The possible anxiolytic and antidepressant properties may therefore aid in calming and lifting the mood which may be useful in meditation. Research has also shown that frankincense is an immunostimulant, as it is able to induce the growth and reproduction of white blood cells (Mikhaeil et al., 2003), so may be promote physical wellbeing also. Rosemary was regarded as a sacred plant and a symbol of regeneration by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, who used it around graves to bring peace to the dead and give comfort to the living (Sellar, 1992). In aromatherapy rosemary is used as an antidepressant and mental stimulant to ‘clear the mind’, which is supported by a small trial showing that aroma of rosemary oil significantly increased alertness and quality of memory as well as contentedness in a small group of healthy adults (Moss et al., 2003). Basil was very highly regarded in the past, and even regarded as a ‘King among plants’ (Davis, 1990). Like rosemary, it was thought to relieve stress and clear the mind, for instance, some Indian tribes chewed basil leaves for inspiration (Sellar, 1992). Basil is comprised of up to 55% linalool (Price and Price, 2011). Research has shown linalool to exert a relaxant effect on the central nervous system in a mouse model (de Fatima et al., 2012). In another mouse study, the anxiolytic effect of inhalation of 1% and 3% linalool was studied by observing the time spent in a light compartment compared to a dark compartment. Linalool significantly increased time spent in the light compartment compared to controls of inhalation of 80% Tween, suggesting reduced anxiety. This was corroborated with observing social interactions with unfamiliar mice. 1% linalool significantly increased social behaviour such as grooming and decreased aggressive behaviour, giving further Lavender Lavandula angustifolia support for linalool’s anxiolytic effect (Linck, 2010). Furthermore, basil’s anxiolytic effect in humans was supported by a small trial of 24 volunteers, using physiological parameters of heart rate, blood pressure, electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol (Hofel, Christ and Buchbauer, 2006). Eugenol, which constitutes up to 16% of basil oil, is shown to inhibit monoamine oxidase, an enzyme present in the synapses of neurones. Inhibiting monoamine oxidase prevents the breakdown of serotonin and dopamine in the synapses, extending their effects. This is a target for many antidepressant therapies, and is likely the mechanism of action of eugenol’s antidepressant effects (Tao et al., 2005). Lavender has been documented as a therapeutic agent as far back as the ancient Greeks and Romans. Both the dried foliage and essential oil have remained continuously popular as both therapeutic and cosmetic agents to the present day (Cavanagh and Wikinson, 2002). The plant is commonly purported to have antidepressant, anxiolytic and sedative properties, thus its essential oil has been used often for relaxation. A meta-analysis of 15 randomised controlled trials into the anxiolytic effect of on humans concluded that the evidence was promising but more long-term trials may be needed to fully evaluate the significance of its anxiolytic effect (Perry et al., 2012). However, both acute and chronic inhalation of lavender oil was found to have a significant anxiolytic effect on Mongolian gerbils and brought about a similar behavioural profile to treatment with diazepam (Bradley et al., 2007).Linalool constitutes up to 26-49% lavender (Price and Price, 2011). Research has shown linalool to exert a relaxant effect on the central nervous system in a mouse model (de Fatima et al., 2012) and an anxiolytic effect in a small trial of 24 human subjects using physiological parameters of heart rate, blood pressure, electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol (Hofel, Christ and Buchbauer, 2006), so may be implicated in lavenders supposed anxiolytic effects.