The Research-Supported Benefits of Inahling Lemon Oil

May 3, 2011 on 10:52 pm | In Essential Oil Science | No Comments

Perhaps because Lemon essential oil is found the world-over, it has been an especially popular oil for research on the affects of “aroma” therapy. It appears to have an incredibly wide-range of benefits, with just this single oil alone in your diffuser.

Lemon oil is pressed from the peels of the fruit...

Effects on Stress and Pain Perception

A study published in Behavioral Brain Research, performed at Yamaguchi University in Japan, examined the anti-stress neurochemistry of lemon oil — the researchers actually evaluated rose, lavender AND lemon, and found lemon to be the most potent anxiety reducer.

The Japanese researchers discovered that the anti-stress action involved enhancement of the serotinergic (serotonin-related) pathways in the brain. Or, as described technically: “lemon oil significantly accelerated the metabolic turnover of DA in the hippocampus and of 5-HT in the prefrontal cortex and striatum. These results suggest that lemon oil possesses anxiolytic, antidepressant-like effects via the suppression of DA activity related to enhanced 5-HTnergic neurons.”

A study performed at the University of Siena, Italy, published in the journal of Brain Research, evaluated the continuous inhalation of Lemon oil for two weeks. Subjects had significantly reduced stress-related hormone levels, and significantly lessened perception of pain (seemingly more effective for females).

Effects of Mood Enhancement

A study published in the journal of Psychoneuroendocrinology, performed at Ohio State University, examine the effects of Lemon, Lavender, and plain water mist on mood. Researchers concluded: “Self-report and unobtrusive mood measures provided robust evidence that lemon oil reliably enhances positive mood compared to water and lavender regardless of expectancies or previous use of aromatherapy.”

Getting Smarter With Lemon Oil

In one study, Japanese office workers were exposed to Lemon essential oil from a diffuser, and 54% fewer errors were made in the tasks being performed. The scientific validity of this can be related to its proven ability to reduce the activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme. This enzyme is responsible for breaking down acetylcholine, the primary information-processing neurotransmitter. This results in a higher amount of this chemical being available in our brains. In separate research, student’s test scores improved significantly when exposed to lemon oil vapor. It is suggested that inhaling lemon during study time might significantly improve test scores as well.

Just simple lemon in your diffuser can do wonders in the daytime. It has many other therapeutic uses too, which you check out on our Lemon Oil page…Enjoy!

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