Investigating the Calming Effects of Lavender Smell

Background on Anxiety Disorders

A recent study conducted in Japan aimed to scientifically validate the calming effects attributed to the scent of lavender. Anxiety disorders represent the most prevalent category of mental health issues, with approximately 18.2% of adults in the U.S. experiencing at least one anxiety disorder diagnosis in the past year. This highlights the urgent demand for effective therapies and therapeutic tools to address anxiety, which remains a significant concern in mental health research.

The Need for New Anxiety Treatments

Despite numerous medications developed to manage anxiety, many are linked to undesirable and potentially severe side effects. These adverse effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, sexual dysfunction, and dependency on medication. Consequently, there is a critical need for new therapeutic options that provide relief without these troubling side effects.

Anecdotal Evidence of Lavender’s Effects

For years, lavender has been believed to reduce stress levels, with many individuals relying on it based on anecdotal evidence rooted in folk medicine. However, the calming properties of lavender and its possible effects through the olfactory system have not been extensively studied.

Scientific Investigation of Lavender’s Calming Properties

Study Overview

In a groundbreaking study published in Frontiers in Behavioural Neuroscience, researchers in Japan sought to establish that a vaporized lavender compound known as linalool must be inhaled to trigger its calming effects.

Methodology and Findings

To assess the calming effects of lavender, scientists conducted classical anxiety tests on mice exposed to linalool vapor from lavender. The findings revealed that the scent of linalool did indeed produce a calming effect in the mice without impairing motor functions, such as muscle strength or balance. Notably, no calming effects were observed in mice with a reduced ability to perceive odors, indicating that the calming response in normal mice was triggered by olfactory signals from the linalool scent.

Furthermore, the calming effects of linalool were inhibited when the mice were pre-treated with flumazenil, a drug that blocks benzodiazepine-responsive GABAA receptors, further confirming the role of olfactory signals in this process.

Implications for Future Treatments

Potential for Clinical Applications

The results of this study offer promising insights for potential future treatments for anxiety. It has been demonstrated that linalool odor can induce a calming effect without hindering movement, functioning through its interaction with benzodiazepine-responsive GABAA receptors via the olfactory system.

Further research is essential to explore the safety and efficacy of linalool, paving the way for future human clinical trials.

Author Information

Written by Jade Marie Evans, MPharm, Medical Writer.

References

Eurekalert. 2018. The smell of lavender is relaxing, science confirms. [Online]. [9 November 2018]. Available from: https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-10/f-tso101518.php
Harada, H et al. 2018. Linalool Odor-Induced Anxiolytic Effects in Mice. [Online]. [9 November 2018]. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00241/full