Monday
20Apr2009
Jasmine Essential Oil for Depression
“Does jasmine essential oil really help with depression?”
It’s one of the most common themes in all of aromatherapy—using jasmine oil for depression. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence for it is scant, at best.
I think every do-it-yourself aromatherapy book I’ve ever read recommended jasmine oil for mild to moderate depression and much of that use seems to be based on a long history of folk use. But when I began to examine the scientific evidence for a client, I was surprised (and quite disappointed) to find that jasmine oil really hasn’t been studied for depression or much of anything else.
As far as I know, only one peer-reviewed study has looked at jasmine for depression. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a study of clinical depression but a study of depression related to menopause. And the study used jasmine in combination with other oils. And, it used them not as aromatherapy oils but in massage.
While the women in this study did report significantly fewer symptoms, it was impossible for researchers to say whether the effect was related to the oils or the massage itself. And, of course, since they studied the oils in combination, there’s no way to tell how “effective” the jasmine was.
Speaking from a strictly personal opinion, I am more than a little uncomfortable with people using aromatherapy as a first-line approach to depression. What evidence there is is scant—at best—and there are just far too many “natural” antidepressants that are proven. (And, of course, there’s the whole issue of people self-medicating in the absence of legitimate medical supervision.)
Now, you know what comes next: Only your doctor can give you medical advice. To get the facts you need to separate the folklore from the legitimate advice about using jasmine oil for depression, talk to your doctor.
Reference:
Hur, M, et al. (2008). Aromatherapy massage affects menopausal symptoms in korean climacteric women: a pilot-controlled clinical trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
It’s one of the most common themes in all of aromatherapy—using jasmine oil for depression. Unfortunately, the scientific evidence for it is scant, at best.
As far as I know, only one peer-reviewed study has looked at jasmine for depression. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a study of clinical depression but a study of depression related to menopause. And the study used jasmine in combination with other oils. And, it used them not as aromatherapy oils but in massage.
While the women in this study did report significantly fewer symptoms, it was impossible for researchers to say whether the effect was related to the oils or the massage itself. And, of course, since they studied the oils in combination, there’s no way to tell how “effective” the jasmine was.
Speaking from a strictly personal opinion, I am more than a little uncomfortable with people using aromatherapy as a first-line approach to depression. What evidence there is is scant—at best—and there are just far too many “natural” antidepressants that are proven. (And, of course, there’s the whole issue of people self-medicating in the absence of legitimate medical supervision.)
Now, you know what comes next: Only your doctor can give you medical advice. To get the facts you need to separate the folklore from the legitimate advice about using jasmine oil for depression, talk to your doctor.
Reference:
Hur, M, et al. (2008). Aromatherapy massage affects menopausal symptoms in korean climacteric women: a pilot-controlled clinical trial. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Mon, April 20, 2009
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