A recent study shows that breathing the aroma of lavender oil can reduce the stress and pain caused by inserting needles into skin.
The study, reported in the September 17 edition of the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, tested 30 volunteers. Prior to use of lavender oil, all subjects demonstrated similar pain when needles were inserted into their skin. But the group that breathed lavender oil prior to the second half of the experiment showed decreased bispectral index values and less pain from insertion of needles. Bispectral index values assesses depth of anaesthesia using sophisticated monitoring technology. The conclusion of the researchers in the study was that lavender oil significantly aided patients with pain. Thus the use of lavender as a medicine of high value continues through time.
