Lemon Balm and Lavender herbal essential oils: Old and new ways to treat emotional disorders?

SummaryNature is the best chemist. Novel therapeutics derived from natural sources is clearly a worthwhile strategy and has long historic pedigree. Anxiety, depression and psychotic disorders lack ideal medications based on a limited understanding of the underlying causes of these complaints. Many of the current therapeutics display lack of efficacy and/or multiple side effects. There is growing evidence that essential oils derived from plants have useful properties in relieving emotional disorders, particularly those seen in neurodegenerative diseases. This review focuses on two essential oils derived form Melissa and Lavender plants, both of which have useful anti-agitation properties in humans, the former having an additional beneficial property of maintaining attention in patients suffering from dementias.