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Review
. 2022 May;14(2):663-690.
doi: 10.1111/aphw.12310. Epub 2021 Oct 5.

Lavender aromatherapy: A systematic review from essential oil quality and administration methods to cognitive enhancing effects

Eleonora Malloggi  1 , Danilo Menicucci  1 , Valentina Cesari  1 , Sergio Frumento  1 , Angelo Gemignani  1 , Alessandra Bertoli  2
Affiliations
Review

Lavender aromatherapy: A systematic review from essential oil quality and administration methods to cognitive enhancing effects

Eleonora Malloggi et al. Appl Psychol Health Well Being. 2022 May.

Abstract

Modern society is reviving the practice of aromatherapy, and lavender is reported being the most worldwide purchased plant for essential oil (EO) extraction. Since recent studies reported cognitive enhancing effects of lavender besides the hypno-inducing effects, a literature review is needed. Considering EO quality and diffusion devices, we conducted a systematic review on the effects of lavender EO inhalation on arousal, attention and memory in healthy subjects. Starting from this new multidisciplinary perspective, cognitive effects were reviewed to link outcomes to effective and reproducible protocols. A systematic search on MEDLINE, ERIC, PsycInfo, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases using Cognitive Atlas and plant-related keywords was conducted. Among the 1,203 articles yielded, 11 met eligibility criteria. Subjects administered with lavender EO displayed arousal decrease and sustained attention increase. Controversial results emerged regarding memory. Lack of EO quality assessment and protocols heterogeneity did not allow assessing whether different EO composition differentially modulates cognition and whether placebo effect can be discerned from EO effect itself. However, GABAergic pathway modulation exerted by linalool, a major lavender EO constituent, might explain cognitive functions empowerment. We speculate aromatherapy could be a burgeoning cognition enhancing tool, although further investigation is required to reach robust conclusions.

Keywords: arousal; attention; cognitive functions; inhalation; lavender; memory.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow chart of the selected studies
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Flow diagram illustrating the quality assessment of the inhaled sample: EO composition and administration systems evaluation as a preliminary step leading to cognitive effects assessment
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Graphical representation of the systematic review process [Color figure can be viewed at wileyonlinelibrary.com]
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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