News Release
Turns out Lavender’s Scent Might Calm Anxiety as Well as Valium.
In the study, which was published on October 23 2018 in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience and republished by PREVENTION Magazine. (excerpts) ----------------------------------------------
Author Hideki Kashiwadani, a physiologist and neuroscientist at Kagoshima University in Japan, said in an email to the New York Times. “…among the stories
(re the linalool in lavender), … are true based on science.
”Kashiwadani says that linalool’s calming effect is the result of the activation of specific neurotransmitter receptors in the brain via the specialized sensory cells called olfactory neurons.
The most amazing thing about it is scientists found that inhaling lavender had a similar effect on the brain as taking benzodiazepines such as Valium. While this type of drugs can cause dizziness or light headedness, mice that inhaled lavender suffered no side effects.While more studies need to be conducted (ideally on humans), he believes that lavender will be used clinically in the near future. For example, it can be used before surgery to help alleviate preoperative stress.
Until that time comes, there's no reason not to infuse a little lavender into your life. Kashiwadani suggests:
1. Buy Lavender essential oil is budget-friendly and just a dab on your wrist can keep you in relaxation mode all day long. You can also use an essential oil diffuser to infuse the scent throughout your home. (High Altitude, farms over 5000 ft in elevation like (added) Pine Creek Lavender Farm produces a Lavender Essential Oil with higher concentrations of linalool than lower elevation farms.)
2. Add it to your bath Lavender oil, salts or bubble bath are an easy way to add a little relaxation to your bath time routine.
3. Try a lavender-infused cleaning product (Pine Creek Lavender Farm) has an entire collection of lavender-infused household cleaners, ranging from multi-purpose cleaners to laundry detergent to bathroom and toilet sprays
4. (Eat and Drink Lavender) Make lavender lemonade or tea. Prepare a lavender syrup by heating Provence or Royal Velvet Culinary lavender buds and sugar together in a small saucepan. Allow the sugar to dissolve and form into a syrup. Remove it from the heat. Using a sieve, filter out the lavender buds. Add a tablespoon of the lavender syrup to your iced tea with some fresh lemon for a cooling and relaxing beverage. You can also brew some lavender tea by brewing lavender buds in a sachet or tea ball. Just make sure to inhale before every sip! added: (Pine Creek Lavender Farm has Lavender Salts, Cooking Spices, Lavender Cocoa, Lavender Sugar, Fresh Lavender Varietal Herbs, Lavender Infused honey and more.)
5. Stash lavender sachets everywhere. Lavender sachets–bags filled with lavender leaves—are easy to make and inexpensive. Put them next to your bed, in your underwear drawers or even in your purse, and enjoy the relaxing benefits of linalool wherever you are. The bonus? Lavender repels moths, so they can also help keep your clothes hole-free.
Check out all these and more at pinelavenderfarm.com or please come and visit our farm store located at 4223 Pine Creek canyon Road in Pine Arizona