Subjective Effects of Lemon Seed, Rose and Lavender Essential Oils on Humans: A Case Study from Two Different Age Groups

Abstract

Plant volatile oils have been used for different purposes for years, especially in the scientific and commercial areas. Among the major areas of their uses were the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries, and the aroma/phyto therapeutic applications. The lemon seed, rose and lavender oils were the most commonly used oils and their effects on humans also differed individually. In this study, effects of these essential (volatile) oils on two age groups, 17-24 and 25-40 were thus investigated. The study was conducted on 80 people for one hour and the effects were evaluated using questionnaires. We used SPSS method for statics. In 17-25 age group, lavender oil caused drowsiness and weakness in 60% and 50% of respondents respectively, and also some mild giddiness, nausea, headache and dizziness. In 25-40 age group it caused giddiness and weakness in 40% respondents, and also gave mild vigor and tranquility. Lemon seed oil caused drowsiness in 85%, weakness and headache in 50%, and clear sensation in 55% of the respondents from 17-24 age group, while in 25-40 age group it caused clear sensation in 80% of respondents, and gave the mood of tranquility in 70% and happiness in 60%. However, rose oil demonstrated more intense effects on people, causing drowsiness and nausea in 55%, weakness and headache in 50%, and also giddiness, face flush and palpitation in 17-24 age-group-respondents. In 25-40 age group it caused drowsiness and nausea in 40% while it gave happiness and tranquility in 60% of respondents. Study results indicated that effects of different types of volatile oils on humans vary based on the age groups. So, the preference of essential oils in our daily lives is implied to have great importance. Therefore, further studies on the subject should be conducted to better emphasize the choice and use of these oils based on the age groups.

Keywords

• Lemon seed oil
• Rose oil
• Lavender oil
• Subjective
• Human

Subjective Effects of Lemon Seed, Rose and Lavender Essential Oils on Humans: A Case Study from Two Different Age Groups

Abstract

Plant volatile oils have been used for different purposes for years, especially in the scientific and commercial areas. Among the major areas of their uses were the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries, and the aroma/phyto therapeutic applications. The lemon seed, rose and lavender oils were the most commonly used oils and their effects on humans also differed individually. In this study, effects of these essential (volatile) oils on two age groups, 17-24 and 25-40 were thus investigated. The study was conducted on 80 people for one hour and the effects were evaluated using questionnaires. We used SPSS method for statics. In 17-25 age group, lavender oil caused drowsiness and weakness in 60% and 50% of respondents respectively, and also some mild giddiness, nausea, headache and dizziness. In 25-40 age group it caused giddiness and weakness in 40% respondents, and also gave mild vigor and tranquility. Lemon seed oil caused drowsiness in 85%, weakness and headache in 50%, and clear sensation in 55% of the respondents from 17-24 age group, while in 25-40 age group it caused clear sensation in 80% of respondents, and gave the mood of tranquility in 70% and happiness in 60%. However, rose oil demonstrated more intense effects on people, causing drowsiness and nausea in 55%, weakness and headache in 50%, and also giddiness, face flush and palpitation in 17-24 age-group-respondents. In 25-40 age group it caused drowsiness and nausea in 40% while it gave happiness and tranquility in 60% of respondents.  Study results indicated that effects of different types of volatile oils on humans vary based on the age groups. So, the preference of essential oils in our daily lives is implied to have great importance. Therefore, further studies on the subject should be conducted to better emphasize the choice and use of these oils based on the age groups.

Keywords

• Lemon seed oil
• Rose oil
• Lavender oil
• Subjective
• Human

References

1. Umezu, T. (2000). Behavioral effects of plant-derived essential oils in the Geller type conflict test in mice. Jpn J Pharmacol, 83, 150-153
2. Lis-Balchin, M. (1998). Essential oils and ‘aromatherapy’: their modern role in healing. J R Soc Health; 118, 126.
3. Hobbs, L. (2001). The Best Labor Possible? 1th. Edition, Edinburgh: Elsevier Science Limited, 60-102.
4. Simkin, P., & Boldig, A. (2004). Update on nonpharmacologic approaches to relieve labor pain and prevent suffering. J Midwifery Womens Health, 49, 489-504.
5. Cooke B., & Ernest E. (2000). Aromatherapy: a systematic review. Br J Gen Pract, 50, 493-496.
6. Imanishi, J., Kuriyama, H., Shigemori, I., Watanabe, S., Aihara, Y., Kita M, Sawai, K., Nakajima, H., Yoshida, N., Kunisawa, M., Kawase, M., Fukui, K. (2009). Anxiolytic effect of aromatherapy massage in patients with breast cancer. eCAM, 6, 123-128.
7. Kuriyama, H., Watanabe, S., Nakaya, T., Shigemori, I., Kita, M., Yoshida, N., Masaki, D., Tadai, T., Ozasa, K., Fukui, K., Imanishi, J. (2005). Immunological and psychological benefits of aromatherapy massage. eCAM, 2, 179-184.
8. Toroğlu, S., & Çenet, M. (2006). KSÜ Fen ve Mühendislik Dergisi, 9(2), 12-20.

9. Carvalho-Freitas, M. I., & Costa, M. (2002). Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus urantium L.. Biol Pharm Bull, 25, 1629-1633.
10. Komori, T., Fujiwara, R., Tanida, & M, Nomura, J. (1995). Potential antidepressant effects of lemon odor in rats. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol, 5, 477-480.
11. Diego, M. A., Jones, N.A, Field T, & et al. (1998). Aromatherapy positively affects mood. EEG patterns of alertness and math computations. Int J Neurosci, 96, 217-224.
12. Oh, M. S., Huh, Y., Bae, H., Ahn, D. K., & Park, S. K. (2005). The multi-herbal formula Guibi- tang enhances memory and increases cell proliferation in the rat hippocampus. Neurosci Lett, 379, 205-208.
13. Howes, M. J., Houghton, P.I. (2003). Plants used in Chinese and Indian tradational medicine for improvement of memory and cognitive function. Pharmacol, Biochem Behav, 75, 513-527.
14. Savic, I., Berglund, H., Gulyas, B.,& Roland, P. (2001). Smelling of Odorous Sex Hormone-like Compounds Causes Sex- ifferantiated Hypothalamic Activations in Humans. Neuron, 31, 661- 668.
15. Kurkcuoğlu, M. (1995). Turk Gul Yağı, Konkreti ve Absolusunun Uretimi ve Ozellikleri. Doktora Tezi, Eskisehir: Anadolu Universitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Enstitusu, Farmakognozi AD.
16. Basim, E., & Basim, H. (2003). Antibacterial activity of Rosa damascena essential oil. Fitoterapia, 74, 394-396.
17. Demir, F., & Ozcan, M. (2001). Chemical and technological properties of rose (Rosa Canina L.) fruits grown wild in Turkey. J Food Eng, 47, 333-336.
18. Morton, J. (1987). Lemon. In: Fruits of warm climates. Ed. JF Morton. Miami, FL, pp. 160- 68.
19. Tanker, N., Şarer, E. & Başaran, V.(1977). Lavandula stoechas L. Bitkisinin Uçucu Yağı Üzerinde Farmakognozik Araştırmalar. Ankara Üniversitesi Eczacılık Fakültesi Mecmuası, 7, 61-66.