Aromatherapy That May Help Relieve Some PTSD Symptoms

[NutritionNerd]

For skeptics there is a lot of scientific "fact" that supports the use of aromatherapy.

For PTSD sufferers, certain smells may remind them of traumatic and be triggers. This is possible because when something significant to the survival of an organism occurs, the Amygdala records stuff (much of it primitive sensory data) and uses it to short circuit and gain control when it believes we're in danger again. So the fact that you smelt jasmine just before the lion attacked may or may not be relevant and makes no difference to it's strength as a trigger.

So it also makes sense that you can tell the Amygdala that you are safe now (when it has erroneously concluded you are not) by use of scents which say you're safe. It is entirely possible that some scents have default meanings. I notice tree scents are heavily recommended - perhaps being close to trees and cover represented safety to our ancestors. I bet there are many human phenotypes for whom the "safety" scents are different, so experimentation may be the key to finding one that helps you feel safe.

Skeptics can also take a deep sniff of an old school type eraser (might not work for newer ones). Who doesn't get images of classrooms and school from that smell??

Another interesting fact I came across is that olfactory nerves are regenerated as we get older. The sense of smell is so important to our survival that we come with the ability to regrow them.

 

[amethist]

This blend is a good one for a few different symptoms, and worked well yesterday on my husband who had his world rocked on Friday.

It could help with Anxiety, Depression and Grief, the Grief is why I used it for him yesterday.

Run your usual bath and into your perfume free bath gel add in 5 drops of Bergamot, 3 drops of Marjoram and 2 drops of Rose.

Relax in this for at least 20 minutes, with soft music playing, and candle light if you like, but remember to put the candles somewhere safe. Tea lights on saucers are safest. Also remember not to have the water too hot.

 

[heidi]

I really dislike any scents because they give me migraines. I like the smell of my stinky cat.. and there are a few others, but like sandlewood? I don't get it.

 

[NutritionNerd]

I came across this in an article I was reading to research binaural Beats.

Modulation of mood by means of odorants
Several studies with nonclinical subjects indicate that some odorants can have either a positive or negative effect on mood. For instance, brief exposure to lavender odor alleviates mood in young subjects regardless of whether their pre-test Beck Depression Inventory scores indicated a depressed or non-depressed state.

In a pre–post test comparison without a control odorant, lavender fragrance induced positive mood and lowered anxiety
levels in healthy adult subjects as measured by POMS and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), respectively . Lehner et al. showed that compared to the control condition of no odorant, women exposed to ambient orange odor had more positive mood and lower levels of state anxiety. A recent study reported that mood as measured by PANAS (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule) mood scale was significantly alleviated compared to baseline levels
by lemon oil exposure in male and female subjects but not by lavender oil or control treatment.

Vanillin, a pleasant odor, elevates mood, while hydrogen sulfide, an unpleasant one, affects mood in an opposite manner, paralleling the results of an earlier study comparing vanillin and dimethyl sulfide.

From:
Sensorimotor modulation of mood and depression: An integrative review
Behavioural Brain Research 207 (2010) 249–264

I think it's important to point out if it already hasn't been mentioned that you need to get the natural scents. Artificial scent ingredients do not have the same chemicals as natural ones and therefore you may get no benefit from them. The chemical is basically what is causing the mood change just like taking a drug. Also don't know how they tested hydrogen sulfide since it is very poisonous.

<Please write your full posts in the forum default style font. Amethist>

 

[amethist]

Hi NutitionNerd

[DLMURL]https://www.ptsdforum.org/c/threads/aromatherapy-that-may-help-relieve-some-ptsd-symptoms.13571/[/DLMURL]

If you read the post I have posted the link for I have posted about using the genuine pure essential oils and not the chemical substitutes.

Plus if you read this thread from the beginning there is the basic safety notes as well as other basic instruction about using essential oils, also a disclaimer, for my own safety.

You mention about the mood lifting effect of some essential oils, which there are many, but none of them will work on an individual, if they do not like the aroma of the particular oil in the first place. Take Lavender for one, I cannot use it on it's own, to help me relax, as it is too harsh, even when diluted at the lowest dilution to have an effect. But Rose or Ylang Ylang are wonderful, even when I use 2 drops, neat on a cloth close to my pillow.

Lemon is an uplifting oil and very good for use when grounding is needed, as is orange and lime. But again will not work if the person using them do not like the aroma.

Amethist

 

[Sandra]

I have to be very careful of what I put on my skin. Am I ever allergic to deet in insect repellants. I ended up buying a little machine that takes butane cartridges to keep the bugs away and it works good. Now I don't have to put the deet on myself.

Another item I am very allergic to is bubble bath.

 

[NutritionNerd]

Those were not my suggestions or experience. The above post was copied from a scientific research article and that was the findings of the research.

 

[KP the nut]

Lemon is an uplifting oil and very good for use when grounding is needed, as is orange and lime. But again will not work if the person using them do not like the aroma.

Lemon is my life line. I keep a bottle at work, in the car, in my handbag and next to my bed. If I feel overwhelmed or start a panic attack the zingy smell helps to bring me back.

I also use others thanks to the help of Amethist. I use Geranium but it took a while to become accustomed to the smell - not a favourite. I also bough Clary Sage, opened the bottle to smell it and haven't opened it since.

So as not to become immune to the affects I use oils near my pillow and they do help me to relax and sleep but I rotate what I use. Geranium, Bergamot, Lavender.

 

[Srain]

I am a big believer in aromatherapy and am excited for the opportunity to expand my 'kit'. I have been using the lavender but it tends to not mix so well with my chemistry, I had forgotten rose, though I had used it years ago when first getting sober, it was a staple.

I'm not sure why but the scent of carnation has always been a favorite of mine as well. Not that this has anything to do with anything. :inlove:

Thank you for the suggestions!

peace,
Rain

 

[amethist]

For forrest

The main ones that could help with your Lethargy/ Lack of energy are

Peppermint, Basil, Rosemary or Patchouli.

If you are going to use them in a bath, which would give you a longer effect. Then I would use a combination of Basil Patchouli, and add in either Lemon or Lemongrass. With a total of 10 drops in all, maybe 4 drops of Patchouli, 3 of Basil and 3 of lemon, in a slightly hotter bath then you would use if you wanted to relax.

Dont forget to mix them into a perfume free bath gel or full fat milk, before adding them to your bath.

 

[forrest]

Amethist, thank you so much i can hardly wait to try this.:)

 

[amethist]

This worked a treat last night for my husband.

It is a balancing blend for the bath. Soak for at least 20 mins in warm but not hot water.

4 drops each of Basil, Cedarwood and Geranium, mixed into a fragrance free bath gel.