Four essential oils studies you should read

We’re on a mission to spread the word on essential oils. But not just any old information. We’ve scoured the internet for the most reliable research, to make sure you can use them to their full potential. In this month’s blog, we’re sharing a quick breakdown of five studies that demonstrate the unique properties of essential oils. We know your busy, so we’ve given a quick analysis to save you time (but if you’re that way inclined, we’ve linked to the original research too!) 

Superhuman wound healing

First up, researchers in Indiana have identified a chemical compound in essential oils, which can speed up the wound healing process. The compound in question, beta-carophyllene, stimulated an increase in cell growth and cell mitigation, which are vital stages in the healing process. 

So which oils contain this compound? Lavender, rosemary, ylang ylang, and black pepper, basil, cinnamon, and more.  Further investigation is needed, but the results also suggest these oils could reduce scarring too. It’s important to note that it’s the compound within the essential oil that aids healing - and the quantity and quality of this component depends on harvest, distillation and oil quality too. 

Mediterranean herbs and the ageing mind

For years, Alzheimers patients have been encouraged to consume herbs in their diet because they’re rich in antioxidants, which help the brain deal with free radicals that cause oxidative damage. Now, research suggests the inhalation and topical application of these herbs in essential oil form could support neurological function. 

The oils in question are basil, peppermint, oregano, sage, and other typically mediterranean herbs. It was discovered that the inhalation of these essential oils, alongside the consumption of the powdered herb could improve memory performance. 

Student test performance

But it’s not just the ageing mind that could benefit from aromatherapy. Students in Ukraine were split into two groups before having their memory tested. In one group, rosemary oil was sprayed, and these students showed increased image memory and were better able to memorise numbers too. 

The students were not aware that the oil had been sprayed, and still had noticeably better visual and numerical memory than the control group. The conclusion? If you’re pulling an all-nighter to help with the maths homework, a few drops of rosemary oil in the diffuser won’t go amiss. 

Uplifted by bergamot

Bergamot essential oil is frequently featured in uplifting essential oil blends, but are these positive energy attributes all they’re cracked up to be? At a mental health facility in Utah, patients who were exposed to bergamot essential oil in the waiting room reported significantly higher positive feelings - around 17% higher than the control group. 

So what does this tell us? As a preliminary study, it’s clear that bergamot essential oil could be effective in aromatherapy for improving mood. But it would be interesting to see how long these results last, whether they can be maintained over an extended period, and whether any other essential oils demonstrate these effects too. 

Which study did you find most interesting? We love hearing about what our customers are reading too, so please do share your suggestions with our followers on Facebook and Instagram!

Is there something you’d like to read about next month? Send us an email, we can’t wait to hear from you.