1. No category

Nurture Meditation
Ingredients
Botanical Name
Frankincense
Boswellia carterii
Rosemary
Rosemarinus
officinalis
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Properties
Frankincense has been highly valued for centuries. It was burnt as
incense in Egyptian temples as an offering to the gods and even for
fumigating the sick to banish evil spirits. It was, however, most
commonly used as a tool to aid meditation (Sellar, 1992). Using
behavioural models, it was found that incensole acetate exerted
anxiolytic and anti-depressive effects, as well as a sedative effect;
these findings were corroborated by an immunohistochemical
mapping of mice brains following incensole acetate administration.
Incensole acetate activated the TRPV3 channel in several in-vitro
assays. Incensole acetate was assessed for its behavioural effects
on TRPV3 gene knockout mice, and found that it exhibited no
effect in the assays used to assess anti-depressive and anxiolytic
effects, while retaining its sedative effect. This suggests that
incensole acetate exerts anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects via
TRPV3 channels, a distinct pathway compared to anxiolytic and
antidepressant drugs currently in use (Moussaieff and Mechoulam,
2009). The possible anxiolytic and antidepressant properties may
therefore aid in calming and lifting the mood which may be useful
in meditation. Research has also shown that frankincense is an
immunostimulant, as it is able to induce the growth and
reproduction of white blood cells (Mikhaeil et al., 2003), so may be
promote physical wellbeing also.
Rosemary was regarded as a sacred plant and a symbol of
regeneration by the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians, who
used it around graves to bring peace to the dead and give comfort
to the living (Sellar, 1992). In aromatherapy rosemary is used as an
antidepressant and mental stimulant to ‘clear the mind’, which is
supported by a small trial showing that aroma of rosemary oil
significantly increased alertness and quality of memory as well as
contentedness in a small group of healthy adults (Moss et al.,
2003).
Basil was very highly regarded in the past, and even regarded as a
‘King among plants’ (Davis, 1990). Like rosemary, it was thought to
relieve stress and clear the mind, for instance, some Indian tribes
chewed basil leaves for inspiration (Sellar, 1992). Basil is comprised
of up to 55% linalool (Price and Price, 2011). Research has shown
linalool to exert a relaxant effect on the central nervous system in
a mouse model (de Fatima et al., 2012). In another mouse study,
the anxiolytic effect of inhalation of 1% and 3% linalool was
studied by observing the time spent in a light compartment
compared to a dark compartment. Linalool significantly increased
time spent in the light compartment compared to controls of
inhalation of 80% Tween, suggesting reduced anxiety. This was
corroborated with observing social interactions with unfamiliar
mice. 1% linalool significantly increased social behaviour such as
grooming and decreased aggressive behaviour, giving further
Lavender
Lavandula
angustifolia
support for linalool’s anxiolytic effect (Linck, 2010). Furthermore,
basil’s anxiolytic effect in humans was supported by a small trial of
24 volunteers, using physiological parameters of heart rate, blood
pressure, electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol (Hofel, Christ
and Buchbauer, 2006). Eugenol, which constitutes up to 16% of
basil oil, is shown to inhibit monoamine oxidase, an enzyme
present in the synapses of neurones. Inhibiting monoamine
oxidase prevents the breakdown of serotonin and dopamine in the
synapses, extending their effects. This is a target for many
antidepressant therapies, and is likely the mechanism of action of
eugenol’s antidepressant effects (Tao et al., 2005).
Lavender has been documented as a therapeutic agent as far back
as the ancient Greeks and Romans. Both the dried foliage and
essential oil have remained continuously popular as both
therapeutic and cosmetic agents to the present day (Cavanagh and
Wikinson, 2002). The plant is commonly purported to have antidepressant, anxiolytic and sedative properties, thus its essential oil
has been used often for relaxation. A meta-analysis of 15
randomised controlled trials into the anxiolytic effect of on
humans concluded that the evidence was promising but more
long-term trials may be needed to fully evaluate the significance of
its anxiolytic effect (Perry et al., 2012). However, both acute and
chronic inhalation of lavender oil was found to have a significant
anxiolytic effect on Mongolian gerbils and brought about a similar
behavioural profile to treatment with diazepam (Bradley et al.,
2007).Linalool constitutes up to 26-49% lavender (Price and Price,
2011). Research has shown linalool to exert a relaxant effect on
the central nervous system in a mouse model (de Fatima et al.,
2012) and an anxiolytic effect in a small trial of 24 human subjects
using physiological parameters of heart rate, blood pressure,
electrodermal activity and salivary cortisol (Hofel, Christ and
Buchbauer, 2006), so may be implicated in lavenders supposed
anxiolytic effects.