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Psychological aspects The individuals perception of the pleasantness of an odour The individuals past association with an odour Neurochemical effects Inhibition of glutamate binding GABA augmentation Acetylcholine receptor binding

The present study reports an inhibitory effect of Linalool on Glutamate binding in rat cortex. It is suggested that this neurochemical effect might be underlining Linalool psychopharmacological effects. These findings provide a rational basis for many of the traditional medical use of Linalool producing plant species.

. Some extracts displayed differential displacement at nicotinic and muscarinic acetylcholine receptors, with M. officinalis 0033 having the highest [3H]-(N)-nicotine displacement value and Salvia elegans with the highest [3H]-(N)-scopolamine displacement value. There was also considerable variation in cholinoreceptor interactions between different accessions of a single plant species. Although most plant extracts screened showed some nicotinic and muscarinic activity, only some showed dosedependent receptor activity typical of materials with genuine cholinergic activity.

The physiological response to seven odors (birch tar, galbanum, heliotropine, jasmine, lavender, lemon and peppermint) was assessed by EEG recordings from 19 scalp loci from 16 young adult females.All odors affected the EEG in at least some subjects, and all subjects responded to at least some odors. Widespread increase in theta occurred in most subjects during stimulation with such odors as birch tar, jasmine, lavender and lemon

Two studies were conducted to examine the nature of the verbal labels that describe emotional effects elicited by odors. In Study 1, a list of terms selected for their relevance to describe affective feelings induced by odors was assessed while participants were exposed to a set of odorant samples. The goal of Study 2 was to replicate the findings of Study 1 with a larger sample of odorant samples and participants and to validate the preliminary model obtained in Study 1 by using confirmatory factor analysis. These findings suggest that the subjective affective experiences or feelings induced by odors are structured around a small group of dimensions that reflect the role of olfaction in well-being, social interaction, danger prevention, arousal or relaxation sensations, and conscious recollection of emotional memories.

: Seventy-two people residing in National Health Service (U.K.) care facilities who had clinically significant agitation in the context of severe dementia were randomly assigned to aromatherapy with Melissa essential oil (N = 36) or placebo (sunflower oil) (N = 36). The finding that aromatherapy with essential balm oil is a safe and effective treatment for clinically significant agitation in people with severe dementia, with additional benefits for key quality of life parameters, indicates the need for further controlled trials.

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DESIGN: A placebo controlled trial with blinded observer rater PATIENTS: Fifteen patients meeting ICD-10 diagnostic criteria for severe dementia and suffering from agitated behaviour defined as a minimum score of three points on the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS). INTERVENTION: A 2% lavender oil aromatherapy stream was administered on the ward for a two hour period alternated with placebo (water) every other day for a total of ten treatment sessions. ASSESSMENTS: For each subject 10 total PAS scores were obtained. Five during treatment and five during placebo periods. CONCLUSIONS: Lavender oil administered in an aroma stream shows modest efficacy in the treatment of agitated behaviour in patients with severe dementia.

A random controlled trial of the relaxing effects of an aromatherapy massage on disordered behaviour in dementia was conducted. Twenty-one patients were randomly allocated into one of three conditions, aromatherapy and massage (AM), conversation and aromatherapy (CA) and massage only (M). AM showed the greatest reduction in the frequency of excessive motor behaviour of all three conditions. This provides preliminary evidence of a measurable sedative effect of aromatherapy massage on dementia within a robust scientific paradigm. Further research is recommended with an expanded sample size.

Thirteen older persons in residential care participated as subjects in this study. All participants had histories of confusion due to dementia and were identified by staff as being consistently resistant to medication administration as indicated by vocal outbursts, moving away, or physical combativeness. Subjects were exposed to four aroma interventions during medication administration: 1) lavender vera; 2) sweet orange 3) tea tree and 4) no aroma (control). Results showed no statistically significant differences across all aroma conditions for either resistive behavior or duration of administration. Also, there were no statistically significant differences based on gender. This study indicates that aromatherapy does not reduce combative, resistive behaviors in individuals with dementia. Research with a larger sample in future studies may yield other results

: The study design was within-subjects ABCBA (A = lavender oil, B = thyme oil, C = unscented grapeseed oil): 4 weeks of baseline measurement, 2 weeks for each of the five treatment conditions (10-week total intervention time), and 2 weeks of postintervention measurement. There is significant evidence in the neurologic and neuropsychologic literature that persons with dementia have impaired olfactory abilities. Concordant with this literature, this study found no support for the use of a purely olfactory form of aromatherapy to decrease agitation in severely demented patients. Cutaneous application of the essential oil may be necessary to achieve the effects reported in previous controlled studies

During the period of oil application, both groups showed a significant decrease in the average frequency and severity of dementia-related behaviours occurring at times other than during nursing care, compared to during the baseline and the no oil periods. Resistance to nursing care procedures increased, however, for participants in one of the groups during the essential oil application period, which may reflect increased mental alertness and awareness caused by the oils. A possible increase in mental alertness and cognitive function was also suggested by a small but significant improvement in Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores after the essential oil treatment period for the seven residents who scored above 0 on the MMSE

Aroma therapy is the use of pure essential oils from fragrant plants (such as Peppermint, Sweet Marjoram, and Rose) to help relieve health problems and improve the quality of life in general. The healing properties of aroma therapy are claimed to include promotion of relaxation and sleep, relief of pain, and reduction of depressive symptoms. Hence, aroma therapy has been used to reduce disturbed behaviour, to promote sleep and to stimulate motivational behaviour of people with dementia. Of the four randomized controlled trials found only one had useable data. The analysis of this one small trial showed a significant effect in favour of aroma therapy on measures of agitation and neuropsychiatric symptoms. More large-scale randomized controlled trials are needed before firm conclusions can be reached about the effectiveness of aroma therapy.

Antenatal anxiety has been linked to maternal hypothalamicpituitary adrenal axis changes which can affect fetal development and may have lasting effects on the childs psychological development. Treatments for anxiety have hitherto focused on psychotherapy techniques or antidepressant drugs but these do not always effect long term improvement. Aromatherapy and massage have successfully been used to produce significantly greater improvement in reduction of anxiety. Midwives may highlight anxiety in some of the mothers in their care and can incorporate the holistic approach of aromatherapy and massage into their practice. However, further research is required to establish the efficacy and cost effectiveness of aromatherapy and massage in the antenatal period.

Research suggests that aromatherapy massage (AM) is increasingly being used by cancer patients, especially in the palliative care setting, although few studies have assessed its effectiveness. Eight patients were recruited to the study The results from HADS did not show any psychological benefit from AM. However, there was a statistically significant reduction in all four physical parameters, which suggests that AM affects the autonomic nervous system, inducing relaxation. This finding was supported by the patients themselves, all of whom stated during interview that they felt 'relaxed' after AM. Since these patients are faced with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis, this intervention appears to be a good way of offering support and improving quality of life.

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PATIENTS: 66 women waiting for surgical abortions. DESIGN: A double blind, randomized trial. INTERVENTION: Ten minutes spent sniffing a numbered container with either a mixture of the essential oils vetivert, bergamot, and geranium (treatment arm) or a hair conditioner(placebo) RESULTS: The anxiety score was reduced by 1.0 point (5.0 to 4.0) in the aromatherapy group and by 1.1 points (6.1 to 5.0) in the placebo group (P = 0.71). The 95% CI on the 0.1 greater decrease in anxiety for the placebo group extends from 0.55 less (favors aromatherapy) to 0.75 greater (favors placebo). CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy involving essential oils is no more effective than having patients sniff other pleasant odors in reducing preprocedure anxiety.

Thirty two subjects suffering from depression and/or anxiety were recruited from both inpatient and predominantly outpatient clients of the hospital. Half were randomly assigned to a control group and the other half to the aromatherapy test group. The test group received six, fortnightly massages lasting for 40 min. The essential oils were selected according to physical and psychological symptoms, e.g. anxiety, depression, headaches and sleep problems. The control group received massage with grape seed carrier oil without the essential oils in an identical environment to the test group. Both groups were monitored by their key worker in one-to-one sessions using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) or the Tyrer Brief Anxiety Scale (TBAS) on a monthly basis until week 12. The clients also completed a Hospital Depression Anxiety Scale (HADS) at the same time intervals. . Statistical analysis of the results indicated a significant difference between aromatherapy and control groups. The test group showed a marked improvement in the results of the three questionnaires.