The various studies considered in the Forrester et al. (2014) meta-analysis looked at both inhaled and topically applied essential oils of Melissa (Melissa officinalis) and lavender (Lavandula angustifolia). There were positive effects for reducing agitation found in the two trials included in this data set.
Several studies have used lavender and other essential oils as inhalants. Lin et al. (2007) found that inhaling lavender reduced agitation in dementia patients with no side effects. A small 2009 study used diffusers with patients with various forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s, and found diffused essential oils to have some positive effects, with potential to improve cognitive function in patients with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (Jimbo et al., 2009). Diffusers ran for two hours every morning and every evening. In the mornings, the diffusers emitted a blend of lemon and rosemary, and in the evenings the blend was a combination of lavender and orange. Li et al. (2017) showed that diffused lavender has the potential to ease agitation in those suffering from dementia. Mitchell (1993) found a decrease in difficult behavior when patients were exposed to lavender and Melissa aromas over a period of time.
Snow et al. (2004) recommend that essential oil dilutions should be applied topically, as dementia is often accompanied by a decrease in olfactory function. While it is true that anosmia, the inability to smell, does not prevent essential oils from having effects through inhalation (Chioca et al., 2013), aromatherapeutic massage can help people additionally through the touch aspect of the massage (Smallwood et al., 2001).
Massage alone can be helpful as well as massage with lavender and/or other essential oils incorporated into the blend. Bowles et al. (2002) looked at the effects of massage with a cream containing lavender, sweet marjoram, vetiver, and patchouli on dementia patients in a residential care facility. They saw a decrease in “dementia-related behaviors.” The intervention, massage with the cream, was performed five times per day, so this intervention required quite a bit of caregiver time. Ballard et al. (2002) used fewer applications of a cream containing Melissa in their study, which demonstrated a decrease in agitation behaviors in their clients with severe dementia.
Common Essential Oils Used With Alzheimer’s and Dementia…
The essential oils that appear in the research literature the most are Melissa (Melissa officinalis), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and sweet orange (Citrus sinensis). These oils may help with improving sleep, decreasing anxiety and agitation, and improving some cognitive function, but other oils may also help, even though they have yet to be considered for formal medical research looking specifically at neurodegenerative diseases. Some essential oils may also remind people of prior events in their lives, supporting quality of life in other ways, making them appropriate for the specific individual for whom they are intended.
Some researchers recommend considering Maslow’s hierarchy of needs when selecting an essential oil for a specific need. In this holistic philosophy, the whole person is considered, and needs everywhere from sleep disturbances, to anxiety, to confusion, to self-esteem can be addressed.
To Use Or Not To Use Essential Oils For Alzheimer’s and Dementia….
There are many pitfalls and stumbling blocks on the path to formal scientific study of essential oils, but some researchers are working hard to look at these special extracts with their unique ways of interacting with the human body. For now, there is some support for the use of essential oils with those suffering from neurodegenerative disorders, but there is still no clear protocol for their effective use.
If you wish to use essential oils with a loved one, keep things simple, look for aromas your loved one likes, and try essential oils that are known for their calming, uplifting, and stress-reducing effects (Perry & Perry, 2006), such as Melissa, lavender, and sweet orange. Combine the essential oils with the power of loving touch, and you may yet find a new way to connect with your loved one.
As a Massage Therapist, I use essential oils in my practice. I also offer the Raindrop Technique Massage at Feel The Freedom. Using therapeutic grade essential oils at home and in my practice is a daily routine. I love being able to offer this service to my clients for the health and wellness of their body.
Recommended Resources
- Complementary Nursing in End of Life Care: Integrative Care in Palliative Care, by Madeleine Kerkhof-Knapp Hayes.
- DIY Rosemary Memory Elixir, by Meagan Visser, The Herbal Academy Blog.
