Sarah's Maternal Instincts

03/08/2023

Rose oil…….wow…florals aren’t my fav……but hey if I had a daughter…..who needed this……send it…..

Dysmenorrhea is a Greek term for “painful monthly bleeding.” Primary dysmenorrhea involves lower abdominal pain that occurs during the menstrual cycle which is not associated with other conditions. Pain during menstruation is associated with Prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2) levels. PGF2 is released during endometrial shedding at the beginning of menstruation, which causes uterine contractions. The intensity of cramping is directly related to the amount of PGF2 released.

A randomized controlled clinical trial found that inhaling rose essential oil—10 mL of a 2% dilution added to a paper handkerchief for 15 minutes—reduced menstrual pain and the need for oral analgesics (diclofenac) in women with primary dysmenorrhea. To somewhat duplicate the trial, add a drop or two of rose oil to a cotton pad and inhale for 15 minutes at the first sign of cramping.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2210803323000155

03/06/2023

02/28/2023

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological condition characterized by a broad range of symptoms that impacts a person’s ability to socialize, communicate, learn, think, and problem solve. According to the DSM-5, there are three levels of ASD depending on how severe the disorder is and the requirement for support to function in daily life. Level 1 requires minimal support but expresses difficulty in social interactions, organization, and planning. Level 2 requires substantial support with social interactions limited to narrow special interests and repetitive behaviors. Level 3 has severe verbal and nonverbal social communication skills deficits and express great distress and difficulty changing actions or focus that requires very substantial support. ASD affects each person differently and there are nearly infinite spectrums experienced. One in forty-four children is currently diagnosed with ASD, which has increased from 1 in 150 since 2000.

A preclinical model of autism-like behaviors investigated the effects of inhaling ylang ylang essential oil—ten minutes exposure for seven days. What the researchers found was that lower amounts of ylang ylang oil significantly enhanced social interactions with strangers, while medium exposure to ylang ylang oil improved task performance and anxiety related to the task. Additionally, inhalation of the oil enhanced metabolism of serotonin and dopamine in the prefrontal cortex. The researchers concluded that ylang ylang inhalation alleviates anxiety and improves cognitive and social abilities, suggesting it may improve the quality of life of individuals with ASD.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095496423000067

02/07/2023

02/05/2023

A clinical study compared the effect of oral ginger herb with topical ginger essential oil in reducing pain and severity of primary dysmenorrhea—menstrual pain in the absence of pelvic disease. Seventy women with moderate to severe primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to receive 250 mg of powdered ginger herb or apply five drops of ginger oil to the lower abdomen without massage every six hours from two days before the start of menstruation through the first three days of menstruation. The intervention continued for three menstrual cycles. Both groups experienced reductions in pain severity and duration and need for oral pain relievers (mefenamic acid). The group that applied the essential oil reported greater reductions in pain severity and the same reduction in pain duration, but a slightly higher need for oral pain-relieving medication, when compared to oral ginger powder.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312196683_A_clinical_comparative_study_of_oral_and_topical_ginger_on_severity_and_duration_of_primary_dysmenorrhea

In my experience, herbal capsules and essential oils can be complementary. It would have been interesting to have an additional group that took both the supplement and applied the oil topically to determine if this provided even greater relief.

02/04/2023

Incredibly interesting….I have lots of basil folks…..it stayed on my list accidentally and …..sssh put on my feet before work…….now the diffuser is getting a switch to the morning routine as welllllllll

Some experts hypothesize that exposure to chronic stress and altered living conditions may be a contributing factor in the development and progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers compared the effectiveness of sweet basil CT linalool essential oil and fluoxetine in preventing neurodegenerative changes caused by chronic unpredictable mild stress in a preclinical model of stress and Alzheimer's disease. Fluoxetine was administered orally, and basil oil was inhaled for 15 minutes daily from a cotton ball for two weeks. Inhalation of the basil oil alleviated memory impairment, neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus, and depressed mood caused by chronic stress and also positively altered brain chemicals. Basil’s effects frequently exceeded that of fluoxetine.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29356981/

Based on these results, it may be beneficial to diffuse sweet basil as part of your care routine for your loved ones with Alzheimer's disease.

01/29/2023

01/28/2023

Hmmmm very interesting

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive fat build-up in the liver without a clear cause such as alcohol use. Scientists have linked obesity, high blood sugar, and diet (high red meat intake and low fiber) to NAFLD.

A preclinical model of NAFLD found that oral administration of anise essential oil reduced accumulation of fat in the liver, markers of liver injury and damage, total cholesterol, and LDL cholesterol. The preliminary findings are promising and warrant further study in clinical trials.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315175831_Pimpinella_anisum_L_fruit_Chemical_composition_and_effect_on_rat_model_of_nonalcoholic_fatty_liver_disease

01/25/2023

Anxiety….anyone? Here are some natural choices….

Anxiety disorders are occurring at far greater frequency in industrialized nations. A recent preclinical model of anxiety found that citral (a primary component of lemongrass, melissa, and lemon myrtle essential oils) reduces anxiety by interacting with both GABA and serotonin receptors in the brain.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00210-022-02317-0

To reduce nervousness, diffuse 5 drops of orange, 2 drops of lemongrass, and 1 drop of lavender essential oil in a diffuser.

12/31/2022

If a lavender bush and citrus tree had a love child, it would be Bergamot. This fantastic smelling oil boasts the calming properties of lavender and the mood boost of citrus oils. This “best of both worlds” quality is the precise reason that Dr. Danielle Daniel chose Bergamot for her thesis rese...

12/31/2022

Always

If a lavender bush and citrus tree had a love child, it would be Bergamot. This fantastic smelling oil boasts the calming properties of lavender and the mood boost of citrus oils. This “best of both worlds” quality is the precise reason that Dr. Danielle Daniel chose Bergamot for her thesis rese...