A recent study on the use of essential oils entitled:

“The effect of aroma inhalation method on stress responses of nursing students.”

done by Park MK, Lee ES in the Department of Nursing, Nambu University, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju city, Korea reported in April 2004 has provided more valuable evidence into the efficacy of essential oils in helping to manage stress.

The study was a “quasi-experimental research using a non-equivalent pre-post design” with 77 nursing students who were divided into two groups, experimental and comparison control group.

The level of anxiety in each participant was measured before and after the test by assessing “body symptoms” and “perceived level of stress”.

Members of the experimental group were allowed to inhale lavender, peppermint, rosemary and Clary-Sage Essential Oils from an aroma lamp (form of essential oil diffuser) while the control group received no intervention of any kind.

They reported the following results:

“As a result of administering aroma inhalation to nursing students, their physical symptoms decreased, their anxiety scores were low, and their perceived stress scores were low, showing that aroma inhalation could be a very effective stress management method.”

Their conclusions were:

“Nursing educators should play an important role in contributing to college students’ physical and psychological health by helping enhance their recognition of stress management and effectively relieving their stress using essential oils.”

As I have personally used many Therapeutic Grade essential oils for the last 10 years, I can attest to the wonderful improvements that I have seen in my ability to manage and stress levels with them. In particular I have found peppermint and lavender essential oils extremely refreshing, invigorating and calming at the same time.

What is important to recognize however is that not all essential oils are “cut from the same cloth”.

A category called “Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils” attempts to maintain the integrity of the original composition of the plant oil by avoiding degradation of its many constituents, through the avoidance of the addition of synthetic oils (like those produced in the laboratory) or other agents that may in fact may be toxic.

I am glad to see that the many personal benefits that I have had over the last 10 years with essential oils are now becoming supported scientifically.

Reference:

Park MK, Lee ES., Taehan Kanho Hakhoe Chi. 2004 Apr;34(2):344-51.

Nick Arrizza M.D. is trained in medicine, psychiatry, is an international healer and life coach, an author, researcher and internationally sought after speaker. He is also the developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process(TM) MRP.

Young Living Essential Oils Web Site: http://www.youngliving.org/arrizza

MRP Web Site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

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My first remarkable experience with Clove Essential Oil was last year when I developed a rather nasty sore throat from a bug I picked up on a plane on my way to a conference presentation. My throat became so parched and sore that simply swallowing was painful. Luckily, as I always do, I had my repertoire of essential oils with me. I often carry Peppermint, Clove, Lemon, Lavender, Frankincense and a number of very powerful Oil Blends. Their uses and their aromas are extraordinary.

In this particular case realized that I simply could not endure a 3 hour presentation with the painful throat I was experiencing. So I reached for one of my oils called Thieves which is a combination of Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary and other oils and I used one drop of this powerful blend. I simply swallowed the oil and about an hour later my throat was completely better. I continued to use the oil blend a few more times that day ever few hours and by the next day my sore throat had completely disappeared.

Now as a physician who in my early days as a GP used to prescribe antibiotics for my patients this was truly a remarkable experience to have. As many of you already know antibiotics are fraught with problems, the most significant of which is the development of resistant strains of bacteria that can literally be life threatening. Many of these “super bacteria” are now found in many hospital settings where antibiotics have been and continue to be extensively used.

What’s interesting is that many of these strains are likely susceptible to the very oils I used for my sore throat. Unfortunately modern medicine has yet to awaken to the power of essential oils.

As a skeptical physician I too for many years doled out what later I learned was not only ineffective but in the long term dangerous forms of treatments.

I am glad to have been open enough to awaken to the power of therapeutic grade essential oils that are currently available.

Nick Arrizza M.D. is trained in medicine and psychiatry. He is an international speaker, healer and coach. He is also the developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP)
Young Living Web Site: http://www.youngliving.org/arrizza
Business Web Site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/IntroConsult.htm

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In a recent and significant laboratory study on the efficacy of Essential Oils entitled:

“Inhibition by the essential oils of peppermint and spearmint of the growth of pathogenic bacteria”***

done by Imai H, Osawa K, Yasuda H, Hamashima H, Arai T, Sasatsu M. from the Functional Foods Section, Central Laboratory, Lotte Company Ltd, Urawa, Saitama, Japan and reported in 2001 they looked at the effects of the major constituents of the essential oils of peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), spearmint Mentha spicata L.) and Japanese mint (Mentha, arvensis L. on the profilferation of the following bacteria:

Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive Staphylococccus aureus (MSSA)

Helicobacter pylori has been implicated as one of the common causes of stomach ulcers in the last several years and which has been treated with antibiotics.

Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7 are bacteria normally and commonly associated with gastroenteritis or commonly known as “stomach flu”.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin sensitive Staphylococccus aureus (MSSA) are common antibiotic resistant strains that are challenging the current armametarium of antibiotics that can lead to potentially more drug resistance.

Their results showed:

“The essential oils and the various constituents inhibited the proliferation of each strain in liquid culture in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, they exhibited bactericidal activity in phosphate-buffered saline. The antibacterial activities varied among the bacterial species tested but were almost the same against antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic-sensitive strains of Helicobacter pylori and S. aureus”

Their final conclusions were as follows:

“The essential oils and their constituents may be useful as potential antibacterial agents for inhibition of the growth of pathogens.”

This is intself is, in my view a dramatic finding which holds promise in the management and possible treatment of common and antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria that are a significant threat to individuals around the world.

Reference:

*** Imai H, Osawa K, Yasuda H, Hamashima H, Arai T, Sasatsu M. , Microbios. 2001;106 Suppl 1:31-9.

Nick Arrizza M.D is trained in medicine, psychiatry, is an international healer and life coach, an author, researcher, speaker, and developer of the powerful Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP).

Young Living Essential Olis Web Site: http://www.youngliving.org/arrizza

MRP Web Site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com

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