Orange Essential Oil Could Help PTSD Analysis by Dr. Joseph Mercola for Mercola.com
STORY AT-A-GLANCE
- Experts suggest nearly 13 million adults in the U.S. suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition which historically has been difficult to treat
- Based on studies involving mice, scientists at George Washington University have suggested orange essential oil may offer a non-drug option for PTSD sufferers
- Lab mice inhaling orange essential oil were significantly less likely to exhibit fear-based freezing behavior when exposed to a traumatizing stimulus than mice receiving other treatments
Editor’s Note: This article is a reprint. It was originally published May 11, 2017.
Just like the name implies, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a trauma- and stress-related disorder. It may develop after exposure to any intense, frightening or stress-filled event or ordeal. PTSD is most often linked to a traumatic accident, act of violence, military-combat experience or disaster. Experts suggest nearly 13 million adults in the U.S. suffer from PTSD, a condition which historically has been difficult to treat.1
Antidepressants such as Effexor, Paxil, Prozac and Zoloft are the most commonly prescribed drugs for PTSD, but their effectiveness varies widely. As with all pharmaceutical drugs, these medications carry with them the potential for harmful side effects. Due to their dangers, as well as the reality that research has shown placebos to be as effective as some prescription drugs, I would like to draw your attention to research suggesting a potential natural treatment for PTSD.
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Specifically, scientists at George Washington University have suggested orange essential oil may offer a non-drug option for individuals with PTSD. A 2017 animal study has demonstrated the value of orange essential oil in the reduction of fear and stress associated with the disorder.2 Of course, similar studies involving humans would be needed to fully validate this body of work.
That said, this research marks a promising step forward in identifying potential natural remedies for PTSD that could be used alongside other non-drug interventions such as cognitive therapy, exposure therapy and EMDR (eye movement desensitization and reprocessing).
