The wonderful combination of bergamot, lavender and ylangylang essential oils have been found to lower high blood pressure and reduce anxiety.
The study The effects of the inhalation method using essential oils on blood pressure and stress responses of clients with essential hypertension was published in 2006 and looked at 52 people who were anxious and stressed, and had high blood pressure.
The participants were placed in an essential oil group, a placebo group, and a control group by random assignment.
The essential oil group used aromatherapy inhalation by blending lavender, ylangylang, and bergamot essential oils once a day for 4 weeks.
To evaluate the effects of aromatherapy, blood pressure and pulse were measured two times a week and serum cortisol levels, catecholamine levels, subjective stress, and state anxiety were measured before and after treatment in the three groups.
Here are the results of the study:
The blood pressure, pulse, subjective stress, state anxiety, and serum cortisol levels among the three groups were significantly statistically different.
The results suggest that the inhalation method using essential oils can be considered an effective nursing intervention that reduces psychological stress responses and serum cortisol levels, as well as the blood pressure of clients with essential hypertension.
They did not see any significant differences in catecholamine levels among the three groups but keep in mind this was only a 4-week study. And to see those other results in just 4 weeks is very encouraging! A simple intervention and yet very profound.
Dietary changes and amino acids and other nutrients are my go-to approach for anxiety but I’m finding more and more of my clients benefit with the addition of essential oils.
Essential oils are also very beneficial in the following instance where amino acids and other supplements can’t be taken or are not tolerated:
- Young children (inhalation aromatherapy and creams/lotions work well here)
- Older adults (creams/lotions work well when there is loss of smell with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease)
- Someone going through benzodiazepine withdrawal and is too sensitive for supplements or can only tolerate small amounts
I talk about this research and other essential oils for anxiety and stress in the upcoming Essential Oils Revolution 2 summit which runs August 22 to 29. I’m thrilled to be part of this event!
People all over the world are scrambling to find the answer to health problems like diabetes, pain, chronic fatigue, anxiety, estrogenic cancers and more. Millions are turning to natural solutions and many have experienced great success with essential oils. Learn if oils could be the missing ingredient for you and your family! What you will gain from this event:
- Why essential oils are truly nature’s best medicine
- How to use essential oils safely and effectively
- Tips for regaining control of your health
- Home recipes, guides, safety protocols and best practices
- And so much more!
More than 165,000 people joined the 2015 Essential Oils Revolution. This year, the experts in aromatherapy, medicine and research will deliver in-depth discussion, debunk common myths and help you learn about the possibility of regaining your health using essential oils.
I can’t wait to learn more and hope you’ll tune in too. Here is the registration link:
https://qt247.isrefer.com/go/EOR16reg/trudyscottcn/
Let’s get the conversation started now. Feel free to share which essential oils you use for anxiety and stress? And how do you use them?
Thanks once again Trudy for all of your good information. I truly appreciate everyone interested in affecting people’s health in a positive way. God bless you and your staff!
Thanks for your kind words Mary!
Im interested in learning more about boosting energy I have CF. I have really triied so many things
Ann
Chronic fatigue can have many underlying factors but if you’re looking for essential oil options here is a study where folks saw benefits: “a mixture of essential oils (peppermint, basil, and helichrysum) on mental exhaustion, or moderate burnout (ME/MB) using a personal inhaler” https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23140115
Thank you,Trudy! If I don’t have high blood pressure but, I have the other issues you mentioned, is this safe to use?
I am recovering from pneumonia and still have such tiredness. Would the mixture you mentioned to the above person (Ann) be good for me as well?
Joyce
I’m afraid can’t give you specific advice for your health conditions but can share that bergamot, lavender and ylangylang essential oils are beneficial for anxiety/stress whether or not you have high blood pressure.
All essential oils have antibacterial benefits so I suspect they would also be beneficial for someone recovering from pneumonia (or other illness), as would the peppermint, basil, and helichrysum combo mentioned above.
Dr Z, host of the upcoming essential oils summit, is the expert on essential oils and has this article on clove on his site. It discusses pneumonia http://drericz.com/medicinal-uses-of-clove-essential-oil/
I see infections will be covered on the summit so be sure to register and tune in to this one: Jan E. Patterson, MD, MS, RA – Practical Tips from an Infectious Disease Physician.
You can register here https://qt247.isrefer.com/go/EOR16reg/trudyscottcn/
Hi Trudy, I’ve been wanting to try essential oils with my autistic daughter who has a host of issues including high anxiety. She doesn’t have a strong sense of smell. I am looking out for trusted sources of essential oils, recipes, and effective ways to use them with her to reduce anxiety, improve digestion, sleep, and hormonal balance. Hope the summit has some answers for me. Thank you for bringing it to us!
Srimita
Dr Eric Z has gathered a wonderful group of essential oils experts and he is such an expert himself. I know you’ll find this summit to be very valuable for your daughter. I actually talk about not having a strong sense of smell in my interview on anxiety and how addressing low zinc may be helpful to improve this. Of course low zinc is a factor in anxiety too.
I also learned something new from Dr Z when he talked on essential oils on the recent Alzheimer’s and Dementia summit (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/essential-oils-for-dementia-agitation-anxiety/) – “One aspect that I find very interesting is the discussion about aromatherapy versus using essential oils in lotions with those with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The latter is more effective because of the loss of sense of smell with advanced dementia.”
Hi Strudy, Thank you very much for information you have provided to us. I am not diabetics yet but Diagnosed as pre diabetes. My Blood sugar recently high in the morning and getting worse now 135 to 140. Day time is fine. Please give some instruction how to lower blood sugar in the morning. Thank you.
Le
I don’t have a blog post on this topic and since it’s a BIG one here is a great article by Dr. Josh Axe https://draxe.com/normal-blood-sugar/ I agree with everything that he says.
I would also add that using targeted individual amino acids like GABA, tryptophan, glutamine, tyrosine and DPA is also very beneficial to help you quit the carbs and sugar so you don’t feel deprived and have to use willpower only.
Here is an example of someone who found GABA beneficial for cravings and her anxiety https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/gaba-for-ending-sugar-cravings-and-anxiety-and-insomnia/
GABA has also been shown to help with diabetes (and presumably pre-diabetes too) “its endocrine effects, exemplified by increasing islet hormonal secretion, suggest potential therapeutic benefits for diabetes.” https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/gaba-benefits-for-anxiety-diabetes/
Brian Mowll is a diabetes expert and hosts a summit each year – you can get access to 5 previous interviews here and purchase the series here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/diabetes-world-summit/
And since you’re asking this on this essential oils blog – lavender helps with hyperglycemia/high blood sugar https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24373672. Stress is a big factor with blood sugar issues so all of these oils in this post are going to be beneficial.
I use oils and take classes. Do you know how much of each is used for this? Always have definite number of drops for each oil we use. I’d like to use it but in correct proportions. I am already signed up for the summit.
Thanks,
Karole
Karile
The full paper is in Korean so I’ve emailed the study author to get the ratios used. I’ll swing back and post this once I have it. It will be a good starting point but do keep in mind that like nutrients/supps/diet there isn’t going to be a one-size-fits-all for essential oils either.
Enjoy the summit! Dr. Z is just wonderful!
In the meantime a similar study used these oils, lavender (Lavandula officinalis), ylang-ylang (Cananga odorata), marjoram (Origanum majorana), and neroli (Citrus aurantium), in these ratios 20 : 15 : 10 : 2 http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ecam/2012/984203/
I love neroli – the smell and how it makes me feel – so would use more of it. I use essential oils in the same way I cook i.e. a little of this, more of that, all depending on how I feel.
Dear Trudy, what a wonderful thing you are doing bringing all this information to people who are truly suffering. I have PMDD Pre Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (which can be a living nightmare), the homozygous mutation of the MTHFR gene alongside a number of issues with other genes including COMT all factors for effecting methylation as you probably know all about… I think homo means I’m methylation at around 30% of gen pop. I have had numerous traumas over my life time, some acute, some prolonged which include major familt difficulties (abandonment, rejection, issues with identity) so have a heady cocktail of nature and nurture which has given me these dis-eases which make life pretty difficult in terms of anxiety, mood, emotional regulation and now quite skewed perceptions after so long (am 40). I would love to hear of any advice you have as I have been working hard to overcome these issues for along time, with some progress! But often set back by unscrupulous and ineffectivery so called healers, practitioners etc. I have worked a little with nutrigenomics, I went to Peru for ayahuasca and San pedro (which helped purge SOME trauma and pmdd symptoms but they seem to be sneaking back. I meditate every day and funnily enough have been drawn to essential oils a lot recntly before having discovered your work. I always get lavender! I am still struggling somewhat however to live a balanced life, I am single and living with my mother at prese t in the process of working through the fall out of those years of severe ill health that left a but of work to do in terms of regaining independence etc. I ran a very successful food outlet last year and am gong in to busones now with a friend with big plans, so I really need to iron out these last issues so I can love the productive and fulfilled life ive always struggled for. Any help you can send my way will be received with a big smile and virtual hug from the UK. All the best.
Katy
I’m sorry to hear this. As with any health issue it’s a matter of finding the root cause. With PMDD I’d look into low serotonin, liver support, environmental toxins, low zinc, low B6, low iron and also low GABA and adrenal issues. With MTHFR all of the above could be factors so supporting methylation would be key.
This blog addresses some of this https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tryptophan-for-pms-premenstrual-dysphoria-mood-swings-tension-irritability/)
Meditation and essential oils are great but I’d also look at diet, blood sugar control, gluten and the gut, plus sleep and stress.
Thank you so much for taking he time to reply. it is greatly appreciated. I am working with a nutrigenomics chap on methylation/diet etc.
I do wonder though if there’s anyone you know of in the UK particularly specialised in this with reference to women?
All the very best. Katy
Trudy,
Would the oils be a good choice for a 15 year old who is a worrier and has a nervous stomach or would GABA calm be better?
Joyce
I feel the oils are wonderful for all ages. I see such great results with the amino acids that I would consider both approaches. When I hear worrier and nervous stomach I think more low serotonin than low GABA (which is more physical anxiety). I’d suggest having her do the amino acid questionnaire (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/) and a trial of tryptophan if low serotonin and GABA if low GABA (https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/). It’s not uncommon for both to be low.
I’d love to hear how these approaches work out for you.
I assume she is gluten-free and caffeine-free too? And is eating real whole food, quality protein and especially having animal protein at breakfast for blood sugar control?
Hi Trudy,
Which type of GABA do you recommend and also the dose or tryptophan you typically start patients out on. I have low serotonin and GABA. Thank you
Cary
Here are the products I use with my clients https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-pyroluria-supplements/. I find GABA Calm to be very effective (if there are not issues with tyrosine or the flavors, sugar alcohols) – https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/source-natural-gaba-calm-anxiety/
The starting dose for tryptophan is 500mg (less for sensitive individuals) and I only ever recommend Lidtke brand.
With all amino acids it’s individualized and we do a trial https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/how-to-do-an-amino-acid-trial-for-anxiety/
Hi you said the three lavender , bergot an yang yang do you put it in of do you put in diffuser or cup your hands I have all that thanks
Tina
You can use them in a diffuser or topically via a carrier oil such as coconut oil
I learned so much from the essential oils summit and I’m trying to continue learning so I can use the best oils for what I need. I find lavender does help my insomnia and I’m going to add bergamot and ylangylang now since I have the finances to buy them.
Question: What can I use to raise cortisol when I need it raised? I see these are used to reduce cortisol, which is what I need at nightm but other times I need more cortisol. My adrenals do not cycle as they are supposed to. 🙁
Thank you for all your great information!