Lavender oil being clinically tested for behavior control!

[Guest guest]

Imagine the implications for other ages, conditions (autism), locations

(schools, jails) if this is effective!! It looks like western world is

starting to notice the benefits of ayurveda " the science of life " !

" Increasingly more attention is being paid to alternative interventions that are

associated with fewer risks than pharmacology "

Kathy from our group who is a parent of apraxic children and an award winning

kindergarten teacher wrote on my fb wall about this:

" In the ER where my sister works, lavendar is used with hospice patients,

confused patients, etc. It is usually massaged on their arms or hands.

Eucalyptus oils are also used to calm even the staff. Everyone benefits from

the stress relief properties. In my classroom, I have a little tabletop water

fountain and I add either lavendar or eucalyptus oil to the water...can barely

smell anything but am hopeful that if any of my kinders are stressed it may

help..... "

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The study protocol of a blinded randomised-controlled cross-over trial of

lavender oil as a treatment of behavioural symptoms in dementia

The agitated behaviours that accompany dementia (e.g. pacing, aggression,

calling out) are stressful to both nursing home residents and their carers and

are difficult to treat.

Increasingly more attention is being paid to alternative interventions that are

associated with fewer risks than pharmacology. Lavandula angustifolia (lavender)

has been thought, for centuries, to have soothing properties, but the existing

evidence is limited and shows mixed results.

The aim of the current study is to test the effectiveness of topically applied

pure lavender oil in reducing actual counts of challenging behaviours in nursing

home residents.Methods/ DesignWe will use a blinded repeated measures design

with random cross-over between lavender oil and placebo oil. Persons with

moderate to severe dementia and associated behavioural problems living in aged

care facilities will be included in the study.

Consented, willing participants will be assigned in random order to lavender or

placebo blocks for one week then switched tothe other condition for the

following week. In each week the oils will be applied on three days with at

least a two-day wash out period between conditions.

Trained observers will note presence of target behaviours and predominant type

of affect displayed during the 30 minutes before and the 60 minutes after

application of the oil. Nursing staff will apply 1ml of 30% high strength

essential lavender oil to reduce the risk of missing a true effect through

under-dosing.

The placebo will comprise of jojoba oil only. The oils will be identical in

appearance and texture, but can easily be identified by smell.

For blinding purposes, all staff involved in applying the oil or observing the

resident will apply a masking cream containing a mixture of lavender and other

essential oils to their upper lip. In addition, nursing staff will wear a nose

clip during the few minutes it takes to massage the oil to the resident's

forearms.DiscussionIf our results show that the use of lavender oil is effective

in reducing challenging behaviours in individuals with dementia, it will

potentially provide a safer intervention rather than reliance on pharmacology

alone.

The study's findings will translate easily to other countries and cultures.Trial

Registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry - ACTRN

12609000569202

Author: Eva van der PloegBarbara Eppingstall O'Connor

Credits/Source: BMC Geriatrics 2010, 10:49

http://7thspace.com/headlines/351727/the_study_protocol_of_a_blinded_randomised_\

controlled_cross_over_trial_of_lavender_oil_as_a_treatment_of_behavioural_sympto\

ms_in_dementia.html

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