Ongoing research in laboratories around the world is revealing important medical applications of essential oils. Results are published in peer-reviewed journals, and summaries of these papers are available on the internet though the website of the publication, or through Pub Med, a resource for searching all these journal-published abstracts at once. Type in ‘essential oils’ and you’ll find thousands of results, many just appearing in the last month. At Ananda Aromatherapy, we follow these developments to pass on to our customers and blog readers in hopes they may help you get the most of of your aromatherapy practice!

Many essential oils are used to help folks focus, to think a little more clearly and be more effective in their jobs and as students. The action of these oils tend to correspond to their aromas: bright, high-note oils tend to clarify and uplift the awareness (where soft floral aromas gently sedate, and earthy aromas are grounding and calming). Research has shown significant improvements in mental acuity by the inhalation of these oils, and now the physiological means through which they act in our brains is being revealed.

In the first study, perfomed at the Institute for Environmental Sciences at the University of Shizuoka Japan, Tarragon, Inula, Lavender and Holy Basil were tested for their ability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. In other words, their ability to prevent the breakdown of acetylcholine, the primary information-handling neurotransmitter. Supplements with this action are becoming more and more popular with regular folks trying to increase their smarts, and are used to treat dementia (Alzheimer’s) by increasing the amount of acetylcholine in the brain.

Essential oil of the herb Tarragon had the most significant effect in inhibiting the acetylcholinesterase enzyme from breaking down acetylcholine, and all oils showed some affect. (Note that this is a natural, critical process — neurotransmitters are recycled all the time. Preventing a small amount of this breakdown can be useful for some individuals, while others can feel over-stimulated if their acetylcholine is already at optimal levels). The most common individual chemical constituents of the oils were then measured for their inhibition of the enzyme as well, and again, several showed this action. Most interestingly, the inhibition of acetylcholine breakdown was most strong by a major component of Rosemary essential oil – also found in Tarragon – called ‘cineol’. Rosemary, along with Lemon, has long been one of the primary oils used for raising mental energy.

Further, the additive effect of the essential oil components was noted: a complete essential oil with all its constituents in their natural balance was more effective than could be accounted for by the action of the individual chemicals. This is a cornerstone of therapeutic aromatherapy; that all the natural constituents of an oil synergize to make a more medicinal compound than any of the single chemicals involved ever could be in real-world natural applications.

We also see in aromatherapy that the scents of single aromatic molecules isolated in a lab don’t really smell very interesting. The balance all those molecules found in an oil in very tiny amounts (less than 5% to fractions of 1%) make the difference between an ‘ok’ essential oil and a highly-therapeutic, world class essential oil. These oils are just an absolute pleasure to inhale, and oftentimes one can smell them again and again and keep finding new wonderful notes.

The second study is closely related to the first in its investigation of the potential of essential oils to have a deeply healing effect on the brain. At the Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, Japanese researchers showed that Lemon essential oil has two important actions for both preventing and treating dementia. The cold-pressed essential oil from lemon peels prevented memory lost from exposure to toxic chemicals. At the same time, it prevented the breakdown of acetylcholine in the same manner as the oils had in the first study — through the inhibition of the AChE enzyme. It’s wonderful to find modern science proving the great health benefits of simple Lemon essential oil — it has the ability to both prevent dementia and maintain important neurotransmitter levels in our nervous systems.

What is the novice aromatherapy practitioner to do with this information? How can one safely put it to use? Thankfully, the tools and practices have already been used by aromatherapists for some time. Some effect will occur just though the inhalation or topical application of these oils — anytime you’re smelling an aroma, some of it is being absorbed in your body. If its applied topically, its also being absorbed in your body. The important thing is to take care adjusting your overall intake while listening to your own response to the oil’s aroma. We find diffusing a little of an oil with a high cineol content to be brightening and uplifting. The finer the grade of the oil, the more of it we’ll want (or tolerate) before deciding to turn it off for awhile. The break lets our nose forget about the oil so it can enjoy it again, and our internal systems can reap the benefits while the oil cycles through us. Essential oils are metabolized fairly rapidly, and many diffuser timer systems cycle on again every hour or so — this is about the time it takes for the majority of the oil to leave our system, and interestingly, our nose will tell us when the oil is again a good thing to inhale.