No one hangs themselves after smelling lavender: SSRI's and suicide

CONCERN
The supreme court is currently considering a case against the drug manufacturer Wyeth regarding product liability. At risk is the a consumer's ability to sue the makers of faulty goods or dangerous medication. The pharmaceutical industry has been notorious for its after-market cover-ups of clinical data which revealed that their products were ineffective at best, and dangerous at worst. While this is not what the particular court case is about, it does bring up an important point about pharmaceutical products and just how safe they are.

Products such as Vioxx and Celebrex come to mind, the block buster arthritis medicines that turned out to increase the risk of heart attacks. In the case of anti-depressants, these medications are being used in children in increasing numbers, despite the risk of suicide and mania.

RESPONSE
Medical aromatherapy, the clinical use of plant essential oils, offers hope for people struggling with minor depression or occasional mood swings. Forget whatever comes to mind when you hear the term aromatherapy, such as candles and bath salts. Medical aromatherapy uses REAL essential oils, not synthetic fragrance oils, to cure body, mind and soul.

Essential oils work in three ways:

1) The smell (olfactory) nerve in the nose connects directly to the deep part of the brain that controls all hormones (hypothalamus) and emotions (limbic system), instantaneously affecting everything from stress levels, to memory, to attention.

2) By inhaling the essential oils, they go through the lungs like gas anesthesia and enter the blood stream

3) Through the skin they enter the blood stream and affect cellular activity

4) By ingesting them, they enter the blood stream and effect cellular activity

EVIDENCE
For example, a number of clinical trials from around the world have shown that essential oils, and tincture extracts of plants (containing essential oils) are effective for depression when compared against standard pharmaceutical treatments (double-blind placebo control trials) with almost no side effects: lavender essential oil massage, citrus essential oils, lavender tincture, saffron tincture.

PRACTICAL SOLUTION
I find that a combination of medical quality essential oils is the most effective way to keep your mood up and treat mild depression. Internal usage of essential oils can be safe and effective when used under the guidance of a trained medical aromatherapist, or when using prediluted essential oils. In general, 1 drop of pure essential oils per day is more than enough for mild depression and can work in a short as 3-4 days. As with any medical condition, discuss it with your health care practitioner first and do not stop any current treatments abruptly. Depression lasting more than 6 weeks, or affecting your ability to work is more serious and can be treated with essential oils under the close supervision of a medical aromatherapist.

MORE INFORMATION
95% of serotonin is made in the gut, and 90% is used there for digestion, which is why many people with depression have digestive troubles--over-eating or under-eating. When serotonin levels are low in the brain, the gut sends some up to the brain in platelets to help it out. Lavender is a very good anti-depressant which also reduces stress levels and stress hormones without being sedating. It helps increase serotonin levels for the brain by reducing the use of serotonin in the gut.

Holy Basil, also known as Tulsi, is also very good and works by focusing the mind while relaxing the body. Holy basil seems to increase nor epinephrine levels.

Grapefruit gives a feeling of brightness and motivation while also increasing dopamine and nor epinephrine levels.

Clary sage is a good support for depression because it supports the adrenal gland to deal with stress and balances the nerves and hormones to bring stress levels down a notch.

Sweet Basil is also effective, but its strong after taste can be difficult to tolerate unless using a capsule. Even then, it should be diluted with olive oil and taken between meals.

CONCLUSION
No one ever hung themselves after smelling or ingesting lavender, unlike SSRI anti-depressants. For mild depression in children and adults, medical quality essential oils, inhaled, massaged or ingested can be effective with little to no side effects.