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essential oil
highly concentrated oils extracted from flowers, fruits, seeds, & plants
Classification:
- citrus
- lemon
- citronella
- floral
- jasmine
- lavender
- rose
- herb
- chamomile
- eucalyptus
- tea tree
- camphor
- camphor
- eucalyptus
- laurel leaf
- mint
- spearmint
- wintergreen
- peppermint
- spice
- basil
- cinnamon
- ginger
Uses:
- memory enhancement:
- overnight exposure to essential oils improved memory in older adults
- memory improvement accompanied by MRI diffusivity changes in the left uncinate fasciculus* [2]
- aromatherapy
- massage therapy
- lavender or peppermint applied to temples to relieve headaches, migraine
- relief from common cold: eucalyptus & peppermint to open up sinuses
- ginger & peppermint oil to relieve nausea
- insect repellant: spraying citronella oil onto clothes
- household cleaner:
- lemon oil or tea tree oil as a natural alternative to chemical-based household cleaners
* The uncinate fasciculus has been found to be modified by dance [2]
Contraindications:
allergy to any component
never apply undiluted oils directly to skin
when mixing a carrier oil (lotion, cream, butter, shampoo ...) with an essential oil, avoid using dilutions above 5% for adults & 2% for children
Cautions
- use in well-ventilated spaces
- do not ingest
- avoid contact of oils with pets
Adverse effects:
- allergic contact dermatitis
General
pharmaceutical herb; medicinal herb; herbal supplement; botanical
References
- Kaiser Permanente
Essential oils: Are they safe to use?
https://thrive.kaiserpermanente.org/thrive-together/live-well/essential-oils-are-they-safe
- Swift Yasgur B
Inhaling Pleasant Scents During Sleep Tied to a Dramatic Boost in Cognition.
Medscape. August 8, 2023
https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/995295
- Woo CC, Miranda B, Sathishkumar M et al
Overnight olfactory enrichment using an odorant diffuser improves memory
and modifies the uncinate fasciculus in older adults.
Front. Neurosci., 24 July 2023, Sec. Translational Neuroscience. Volume 17
PMID: 37554295 PMCID: PMC10405466 Free PMC article
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2023.1200448/full