An Evidence Based Review of the Top Three Essential Oils Used In Complementary Healthcare: Lavender, Peppermint, and Citrus

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There are many claims made in the essential oil industry, and not all of them are backed up by a sufficient amount of peer-reviewed research. Thus, the purpose of this thesis project was to sort through the claims made in…

There are many claims made in the essential oil industry, and not all of them are backed up by a sufficient amount of peer-reviewed research. Thus, the purpose of this thesis project was to sort through the claims made in the essential oil industry and present an evidence-supported review of the health benefits of lavender, peppermint, and citrus essential oils. Interviews were conducted to compare the literature findings to the knowledge and experiences of individuals using essential oils in their daily lives. Lavender essential oil was shown to improve agitated behavior, fatigue, cardiovascular parameters, sleep quality, anxiety, PONV, and quality of life. Peppermint essential oil was shown to improve cognitive performance, reduce mental fatigue, and reduce PONV and antiemetic drug requirements. Finally, Citrus aurantium can improve anxiety, mental symptoms of PMS, and quality of life, and Citrus sinensis can reduce postoperative abdominal pain. All of these results were achieved in medical settings with low costs, little to no reported side effects, and generally high participant satisfaction with each intervention. By comparing the literature findings to the information collected from interviews with current essential oil users, it can safely be assumed that essential oil practice and research align in many relevant cases. Most notably, lavender essential oil aids in sleep quality and anxiety disorders and peppermint essential oil aids with cognitive function and gastrointestinal concerns.
Date Created
2022-05
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Queer Chinese Diaspora, Danmei Fandom, and (Re)Connection

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This paper explores the ways in which diasporic Chinese fans find spaces for reconnection with queer and diasporic identities in fandoms of Chinese slash fiction webnovels, otherwise known as danmei. Specifically, I examine the influence of participation in Western-based, English-speaking…

This paper explores the ways in which diasporic Chinese fans find spaces for reconnection with queer and diasporic identities in fandoms of Chinese slash fiction webnovels, otherwise known as danmei. Specifically, I examine the influence of participation in Western-based, English-speaking danmei fandom on queer and transnational home identies among queer Chinese diaspora. Given existing literature regarding the substantial influence of ethnic media in construction of diasporic identity (Shi 2005, Oh 2013) alongside literature regarding the importance of ethnic queer spaces in negotiating queer diasporic identity (Atay 2015, Tam 2017, Huang 2016), it follows that participation in danmei fandom influences transnational identity for diasporic Chinese fans. Additionally, danmei fandom has already been observed to create queer spaces for fans (Yang & Xu 2016, Martin 2012, Feng 2013). Such existing literature, however, focuses on Chinese fans based in China; I aim to examine how danmei fandom may do the same for diasporic Chinese fans outside of China. Using a grounded theory approach, this paper examines collected survey responses from queer diasporic Chinese danmei fans to reveal that danmei fandom creates a unique space that allows queer diasporic Chinese individuals to reconnect with transnational home identities, reaffirm Chinese identities alongside queer identities, and negotiate the points of conflict between the two -- impacts largely resultant from visibility of queer Chinese diaspora within danmei fandom (following the conclusions drawn from Atay 2015). In addition, I examine the underlying tensions in danmei fandom and limitations of danmei fandom as a space for consolidation of identity, as expressed by a substantial portion of survey participants. For queer diasporic Chinese danmei fans, participation in Western danmei fandom ultimately does allow for reconnection with Chinese identity and reaffirmation of Chinese and queer identities, though such experiences are not necessarily exempt from internal tensions or fandom politics.

Date Created
2022-05
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