Families of the elderly live in fear of an accidental fall
of their loved one, which often means a broken hip and the beginning of the
slide downhill to death. As people age,
they encounter risk factors like “physical weakness, gait and balance
instability, sedating and psychotropic medications, and cognitive impairment”.1
Thus, falls are a major health
problem in the elderly.
Researchers at the Tohoku University Graduate School of
Medicine in Sendai, Japan,
tested the effects of lavender olfactory stimulation intervention on the
incidence of falls in elderly nursing home residents.
Three nursing homes were randomly selected in northern Japan,
where 145 residents over the age of 65 were tested. The residents received
either a lavender patch for continuous olfactory stimulation or a placebo
unscented patch.
Before we get into this Japanese study, we need to take an
in-depth look at the idea of lavender as an olfactory stimulation. Lavender is
known to be calming and sedating. 2, 3 The fact that it can also be
a stimulant is confusing, unless you realize that lavender is an adaptogen. It
adapts to what the body is most in need of and then supplies it.
Several studies demonstrate lavender’s energizing and
stimulating effects. In research conducted by Yamanashi
Prefectural University,
also in Japan,
researchers analyzed three groups during a recess from work sessions: a placebo
group not exposed to aroma, a group exposed to jasmine aroma, and a group exposed
to lavender aroma. Not surprisingly, it was found that concentration was lowest
in the afternoon period, when afternoon drowsiness is strongest. The lavender
group had significantly higher concentration levels during this drowsy time
period than the control group. No effect was found for the jasmine group. The
study concludes, “Although lavender is a sedative-type aroma, use during recess
periods after accumulation of fatigue seems to prevent deterioration of
performance in subsequent work sessions.” 4
Now back to the study mentioned in the beginning of this
article that used lavender aromatherapy for the elderly in nursing homes. One
hundred forty-five patients 65 years of age and older were either given an
unscented placebo patch or a lavender-scented patch. The primary outcome
measured was resident falls. 5
There were fewer falls in the lavender group and a lower
incidence rate of falls in this group as well.
Conclusion? “Lavender olfactory stimulation may reduce falls
in elderly nursing home residents: further research is necessary to confirm
these findings.”6
References
- “Lavender Aromatherapy Reduces Falls in Elderly Nursing Home Residents”. Herb Clip, November 30, 2012.
- Sayorwan W, et al. “The effects of lavender oil inhalation on emotional states, autonomic nervous system, and brain electrical activity”. J Med Assoc Thai. 2012 Apr;95(4):598-606.
- Hongratanaworakit T. “Aroma-therapeutic effects of massage blended essential oils,” Nat Prod Commun. 2011 Aug6(8):1199-204.
- Sakamoto R, et al. “Effectiveness of aroma on work efficiency: lavender aroma during recesses prevents deterioration of work performance”, Chem Senses. 2005 Oct;30(8):683-91.
- Sakamoto Y, et al. “Fall prevention using olfactory stimulation with lavender odor in elderly nursing home residents: a randomized controlled study,” J Amer Geriatr Soc. 2012Jun;60(6):1005-11.
- Ibid.
(from The Essential Edge News, Volume 3.2 Feb. 2013)
