Rose Essential Oil and Brain Function: Effects on Stress and Anxiety
Rose essential oil inhalation may help reduce anxiety symptoms and stress by affecting brain function through inhibition of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, though evidence quality is generally low. 1
Mechanisms of Action
- Rose essential oil inhalation has been shown to inhibit stress-induced increases in plasma glucocorticoids (corticosterone in rats and cortisol in humans) and reduce neuronal activity in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), suggesting a direct effect on the brain's stress response system 1
- Continuous inhalation of rose essential oil (for one month) has been demonstrated to increase gray matter volume in the whole brain and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) subregion, indicating potential structural changes in the brain with prolonged exposure 2
- Rose oil appears to work through inhibiting the HPA axis, which is activated during stress and leads to increased cortisol production that can negatively impact both physical and mental health 1
Clinical Evidence for Anxiety Reduction
- A comprehensive review of clinical evidence for rose oil found it has physiological and psychological relaxation effects as well as anti-anxiety properties, though most studies had small sample sizes 3
- In patients with acute myocardial infarction, aromatherapy with rose essential oil significantly reduced anxiety scores compared to placebo (from 51.38 ± 7.21 to 44.16 ± 4.63, p=0.000), demonstrating its potential in clinical settings 4
- However, some studies show mixed results - a single-blind randomized clinical trial of 66 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery found that rose essential oil inhalation did not significantly reduce anxiety compared to control 5
Stress-Related Physiological Effects
- Rose essential oil inhalation has been shown to prevent stress-induced skin barrier disruption in both rats and humans by limiting the increase in transepidermal water loss (TEWL), which is an index of skin barrier function 1
- This protective effect on the skin barrier appears to be mediated through inhibition of the HPA axis, demonstrating a connection between brain function, stress response, and physical health outcomes 1
Application in Clinical Settings
- The Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO guideline (2023) recommends aromatherapy with essential oils like lavender for anxiety symptoms during cancer-related procedures, suggesting similar applications might be considered for rose oil 6
- Inhalation is the most common and effective delivery method for rose essential oil in clinical studies, typically using 3-4 drops of the oil for 10 minutes per session 5, 4
- For ongoing anxiety management, continuous exposure through methods like wearing the scent on clothing has shown promising results in affecting brain structure 2
Limitations and Considerations
- Most clinical studies on rose essential oil have small sample sizes and varying methodologies, making definitive conclusions difficult 3
- The quality of evidence for aromatherapy in general is considered low according to clinical guidelines, with recommendations typically being weak 6
- Individual responses to aromatherapy may vary, and some studies show no significant effect on anxiety measures 5
Practical Applications
- For acute anxiety situations, inhalation of 3 drops of rose essential oil three times daily has shown effectiveness in clinical settings 4
- Environmental enrichment approaches that include aromatherapy may provide a stress-free environment that facilitates multidimensional sensory experiences, potentially enhancing stress management 6
- The voluntary nature of aromatherapy as an environmental enrichment may give it advantages over mandatory stress management activities 6