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Is lavender an anxiolytic drug? A systematic review of randomised clinical trials
... These essential oils are believed to have medicinal effects and affect the brain, mind, and body (Inoue, Hayashi, & Craker, 2019). Among the active ingredients of this plant are linalool and linalyl acetate, which act as a sedative by acting on gamma-amino butyric acid receptors in the central nervous system (Farshbaf-Khalili, Kamalifard, & Namadian, 2018;Perry, Terry, Watson, & Ernst, 2012;Re et al., 2000). In a study, Tanida et al. performed experiments on rats and showed that the scent of lavender and the component linalool inhibits the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (Tanida, Niijima, Shen, Nakamura, & Nagai, 2006). ...
... It should be noted that the mechanism at the cellular level is not well proven. However, several studies have suggested that this plant has a similar function to benzodiazepines and increases gamma (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the amygdala (de Sousa, 2012;Perry et al., 2012). However, this research also has limitations. ...
... These essential oils are believed to have medicinal effects and affect the brain, mind, and body (Inoue, Hayashi, & Craker, 2019). Among the active ingredients of this plant are linalool and linalyl acetate, which act as a sedative by acting on gamma-amino butyric acid receptors in the central nervous system (Farshbaf-Khalili, Kamalifard, & Namadian, 2018;Perry, Terry, Watson, & Ernst, 2012;Re et al., 2000). In a study, Tanida et al. performed experiments on rats and showed that the scent of lavender and the component linalool inhibits the activity of the sympathetic nervous system and increases the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system (Tanida, Niijima, Shen, Nakamura, & Nagai, 2006). ...
... It should be noted that the mechanism at the cellular level is not well proven. However, several studies have suggested that this plant has a similar function to benzodiazepines and increases gamma (gamma aminobutyric acid) in the amygdala (de Sousa, 2012;Perry et al., 2012). However, this research also has limitations. ...
Abstract: (164 Views)
Background: Sleep disorders in the Covid-19 pandemic and student life are among the issues of interest to researchers, especially when the student is an athlete. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of binaural beat and lavender scent on mood and sleep quality in female student-athletes.
Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 48 female student-athletes with low sleep quality were selected by convenience sampling and randomly divided into 4 groups: binaural beat (BB); binaural beat + lavender (BL); binaural beat + placebo (BP) and control. Over a 21-day period, the BB group listened to the binaural sounds generated by beta, alpha, and delta waves at 6 Hz for 28 minutes at 225 Hz for the left ear and 231 Hz for the right ear. Lavender scent groups inhaled two drops of lavender scent with a cotton ball every night for 7 nights before sleeping and the placebo group consumed water instead. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Social Mood Questionnaire were used to measure sleep quality and mood, respectively. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance with Bonferroni post hoc test using SPSS24 software at the significance level of 0.05.
Results: The results showed that the mean sleep quality of the BB and BL groups were significantly improved compared to the control group (p≤0.05). In addition, the mood status of the BB, BL, and BP groups were significantly improved compared to the control group (p≤0.05).
Conclusion: Based on the findings, it seems that binaural beats with the inhaling the scent of lavender can improve sleep quality.
... The active ingredients linalool and linalyl acetate act as sedatives by affecting the amino acid butyric acid receptors in the central nervous system, calming the brain and reducing anxiety. 21 In summary, music therapy and aromatherapy are practical, effective, cost-effective and appropriate methods of dental treatment in pediatric patients who may have anxiety and fear. ...
... 33 Because lavender oil, the active substances linalool and linalyl acetate, act as a sedative by affecting the aminobutyric acid receptors in the central nervous system, calming the brain and reducing anxiety. 21 Lavender essential oil improves mood, and reduces anxiety because it depresses the parasympathetic nervous system, which is the autonomic nervous system. 34 It is believed that the effect of breathing begins with the absorption of volatile odor molecules. ...
Background/purpose
Dental anxiety and fear in children are major public health concerns. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of music therapy combined with aromatherapy, in reducing the children's dental anxiety and fear.
Materials and methods
A total of 128 school-age children aged 10–12 years were randomly allocated into 4 groups: a control group with 32 volunteers, an experimental group that received music therapy, with 33 volunteers, an aromatherapy experimental group with 31 volunteers, and 32 volunteers in an experimental group with music therapy combined with aromatherapy.
Results
The results found that within-group comparisons before and after the experiment revealed the outcomes with a statistically significant change at the 0.05 level of each group as follows. The control group had increased heart rate. The music therapy group showed decreased dental anxiety and fear and systolic blood pressure. The aromatherapy experimental group exhibited increased oxygen saturation. The experimental group receiving music therapy combined with aromatherapy showed decreased dental anxiety and fear, heart rate, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure as well as increased oxygen saturation values. In addition, it was found that music therapy combined with aromatherapy had a co-influence on dental anxiety and fear (F = 22.22, P < 0.001) and oxygen saturation (F = 17.40, P < 0.001), and the two main treatments also significantly influenced these outcomes at the 0.05 level.
Conclusion
The results showed that music therapy in combination with aromatherapy reduced children's anxiety and fear of dental services better than a single treatment.
... Chez l'humain comme chez le rongeur, les odeurs présentes dans les huiles essentielles agiraient sur le système nerveux central pour influencer l'humeur, le bien-être et les états émotionnels (Perry et al., 2012;Tsang and Ho, 2010). Par exemple, une étude a testé l'effet de la diffusion d'odeurs dans un contexte stressant tel qu'un cabinet dentaire (Lehrner et al., 2005). ...
... Maintenant que nous avons établi une preuve de principe de l'efficacité de l'enrichissement tout au long de la vie chez la souris, nous pourrons développer une validation expérimentale de cette stratégie chez l'humain pour en confirmer la valeur translationnelle. Un certain nombre d'études chez l'humain a déjà démontré des effets bénéfiques des odeurs en dehors de la sphère olfactive, en particulier sur l'état émotionnel (Baron and Thomley, 1994;Lehrner et al., 2005;Perry et al., 2012). De plus, un enrichissement olfactif de quelques semaines a déjà démontré des bénéfices olfactifs chez les personnes âgées et en dehors de la sphère olfactive en améliorant le bien-être mais aussi la fluence verbale (Birte-Antina et al., 2018). ...
Le vieillissement normal s’accompagne de déficits cognitifs et sensoriels, notamment olfactifs qui affectent la qualité de vie et la santé des individus âgés. Cependant, le vieillissement normal (indépendamment de toute pathologie dégénérative) reste peu étudié et les changements de la structure et du fonctionnement cérébraux qui sous-tendent ces déficits sont encore largement méconnus. Ce manque de connaissances limite la prise en charge des sujets âgés ainsi que le développement de stratégies de remédiation pour lutter contre le vieillissement olfactif et cognitif. Les objectifs de cette thèse étaient premièrement d’avancer dans la compréhension du vieillissement olfactif et des mécanismes neuronaux qui sous-tendent ces déficits chez la souris, puis dans un second temps, d’améliorer le fonctionnement du cerveau vieillissant. Dans une première étude, nous avons utilisé le modèle de l’apprentissage olfactif perceptif pour identifier des mécanismes cellulaires sous-tendant le vieillissement olfactif en conditions basales et dans des conditions sollicitant la plasticité. Cet apprentissage permet l’amélioration de la discrimination de deux odorants proches d’un point de vue perceptif, après une exposition répétée à ceux-ci. Chez le rongeur, il nécessite l'apport de nouveaux neurones dans le bulbe olfactif adulte. Nous avons étudié finement la cinétique d’apparition des déficits d’apprentissage olfactif perceptif au cours de la vie de la souris (de 2 à 18 mois) et révélé que la rétention à long terme de l’apprentissage olfactif perceptif est altérée dès l’âge de 12 mois, avant la perte totale des capacités d’apprentissage à 18 mois. Ces déficits de rétention sont associés à une altération de la plasticité structurale des nouveaux neurones granulaires du bulbe olfactif. Dans une deuxième étude, nous avons développé une stratégie de remédiation du vieillissement olfactif et cognitif, basée sur une stimulation olfactive avec une nouvelle odeur chaque jour (enrichissement). Des sessions d'enrichissement olfactif ont été répétées tout au long de la vie de l'animal afin de permettre la constitution d’une réserve cognitive. Ce concept est associé chez l’humain à un niveau de stimulation cognitive élevé et à une résistance face aux effets délétères du vieillissement sur les performances cognitives et pourrait constituer une stratégie efficace pour promouvoir le bien-vieillir. Les souris soumises à un tel enrichissement olfactif présentent de meilleures performances de discrimination olfactive à un âge avancé, ainsi que de mémoire spatiale et de flexibilité cognitive, indiquant que les bénéfices d'un enrichissement olfactif tout au long de la vie s’étendent au-delà de la sphère olfactive et incluent des bénéfices cognitifs plus larges. Au niveau cellulaire, nous n’avons pas observé de modifications de la neurogenèse adulte bulbaire, un mécanisme connu pour sous-tendre l’apprentissage et la mémoire olfactifs dans le bulbe olfactif jeune adulte. En revanche, nous révélons une augmentation de l’innervation noradrénergique qui corrèle avec les performances comportementales. Enfin, nous mettons en évidence des remaniements des réseaux cérébraux mis en jeu par les tâches comportementales, qui pourraient sous-tendre l’amélioration des performances cognitives chez les souris âgées soumises à l’enrichissement olfactif tout au long de la vie. Dans l’ensemble, nos données contribuent à approfondir notre connaissance des altérations des mécanismes de plasticité cérébrale liées au vieillissement et leur implication dans les déficits d’apprentissage et de mémoire. De plus, ce travail propose l’enrichissement olfactif répété tout au long de la vie comme une stratégie efficace de lutte contre le vieillissement non seulement olfactif, mais cognitif en général, induisant des remaniements structuraux et fonctionnels dans le cerveau des souris âgées.
... 8 However, benzodiazepines as anxiolysis may cause adverse effects and physical dependence, especially in the elderly. 9 Adjuvant therapy such as music, 10 acupuncture, 11 massage with essential oils 12 and aromatherapy are taking precedence to eliminate the need for pharmacologic agents to reduce anxiety. Aromatherapy has been shown to be a promising alternative in managing anxiety as it is inexpensive, convenient and has a low side effect profiling. ...
Background & objective: Preoperative anxiety is a natural human psychology, and the physicians usually prescribe tranquillizers to allay the anxiety of their anxiety. Various other means have also been employed for this purpose. We aimed to investigate the impact of lavender aromatherapy on preoperative anxiety and propofol requirement at induction of anesthesia. Methodology: A total of 108 female patients were enrolled in the study, and their anxiety levels were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) at three different time points. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. Group A (Lavender Group) patients were given lavender aromatherapy via a cotton strip infused with two drops of 100% pure lavender essential oil, while the patients in Group B (Control Group) had no aromatherapy. Results: The results showed that the lavender aromatherapy significantly reduced anxiety in Group A (P < 0.001) compared to Group B, and the mean differences of VAS scores for all anxiety assessments were also significantly reduced in Group A (P < 0.000). In addition, the mean total amount of propofol required was significantly less in Group A than in Group B (118.46 ± 40.01 vs 140.38 ± 35.29 mg; P = 0.003), while the mean duration to reach loss of consciousness was similar in both groups. Conclusion: The findings of our study suggest that lavender aromatherapy can be a simple, safe, and cost-effective way to reduce preoperative anxiety and decrease the amount of propofol required for the induction of anesthesia. Therefore, the use of lavender aromatherapy may be a valuable addition to the preoperative care of patients undergoing elective surgeries. Abbreviations: APAIS- Amsterdam Preoperative and Information Scale; LOC- Loss of Consciousness; OT- Operation Theatre; OR- Operating Room; STAI- State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; VAS- Visual Analogue Scale Key words: Aromatherapy; Benzodiazepines; Lavender; Anxiety, Preoperative; Propofol; Anxiety / therapy; Anxiety Disorders Citation: Rahman RA, Vasu Dewan MM, Sayed Masri SNN, Mokhtar MN, Abdullah FH, Md Nor N. Lavender aromatherapy: Its effect on preoperative anxiety and propofol requirement for anesthesia. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2024;28(1):20−25; DOI: 10.35975/apic.v28i1.2376 Received: April 26, 2023; Reviewed: November 22, 2023; Accepted: November 22, 2023
... Its therapeutic attributes encompass addressing mood disturbances such as restlessness or insomnia, as well as alleviating symptoms of nervous stomach irritation and intestinal discomfort. These properties contribute to enhancing the resilience of the nervous system, ultimately aiding in mitigation of depression and nervous exhaustion [68]. Lavender displays antidepressant activity with a reduced incidence of side effects compared to fluoxetine [69]. ...
Depression is a global mental health challenge with significant social and economic burdens. While conventional pharmacological treatments have been the cornerstone in depression management, there is a growing interest in exploring alternative and complementary herbal therapies. Herbal interventions have emerged as promising therapeutic approaches for depression treatment. Both clinical and preclinical research has shown that individuals with depression often experience simultaneous activation of neuro-inflammatory response within immune system and heightened activity in hypothalamus pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of neuroendocrine system. These two systems interact with each other bidirectionally through neural, immunological and humoral mechanisms. This review article provides an outline of the current progress of research on herbal interventions, emphasizing their potential as emerging therapeutics for depression. It discusses the mechanisms of action, safety profiles, and evidence from clinical studies supporting the use of various herbal remedies. Herbal interventions and traditional Chinese formulations hold promise as a valuable adjunct or alternative to conventional treatments, offering new avenues for the comprehensive care of individuals with depression.
... Pemberian dengan cara inhalasi lebih banyak digunakan oleh beberapa artikel karena lebih mudah dan lebih simpel dalam pelaksanaannya tidak memerlukan partisipasi aktif pasien, peralatan tambahan, maupun keahlian khusus, bahkan tidak memerlukan banyak tenaga untuk dilakukan implementasi (Perry et al., 2012). Pemberian terapi dengan inhalasi akan lebih cepat memberikan efek penurunan kecemasan, disebabkan oleh molekul aromaterapi yang dihirup mempengaruhi pikiran, tubuh, dan jiwa (Farrar & Farrar, 2020). ...
Pendahuluan: Periode pre operasi dikenal sebagai pencetus kecemasan dan masih menjadi masalah besar. Aromaterapi dipilih sebagai terapi alternatif terhadap penurunan kecemasan pasien pre operasi bedah mayor karena merupakan metode terapi sederhana, non-invasif, aman dan efektif. Tujuan literature review ini untuk mengetahui efektifitas aromaterapi dalam menurunkan tingkat kecemasan pada pasien preoperasi. Metode: Penelitian ini merupakan literature review dengan metode pencarian artikel menggunakan PICOC question pada database Google Scholar, PubMed, ProQuest dan Science Direct. Penelusuran dibatasi pada artikel teks lengkap, berbahasa Indonesia dan Inggris, yang diterbitkan pada tahun 2016-2020 didapatkan 10 artikel yang terpilih, kemudian dilakukan identifikasi dan screening. Hasil: Hasil Analisis dari 10 artikel menunjukkan 60% mengalami penurunan tingkat kecemasan setelah pemberian aromaterapi pada pasien pre operasi. Sebanyak 80% artikel menunjukkna bahwa pemberian aroma terapi dilakukan selama 10-20 menit dan 80 % menggunakaan sediaan inhaler (hirup). artikel menunjukkan hasil analisis statistic 100% nilai sigifikansi p<0.05. Kesimpulan: Berdasarkan 10 artikel yang di review membutikan pemberian aromaterapi efektif menurunkan tingkat kecemasan pada pasien pre operasi yang dibuktikan secara uji statistic melalui alat ukur tingkat kecemasan sebelum dan sesudah terapi.
... This review may be useful in increasing our knowledge of lavender's pharmacological effects and improving our future experimental and clinical research plans. Although lavender may have a significant clinical potential either alone or as adjuvant therapy in different disorders, due to some issues, such as methodological inadequacies, small sample sizes, short duration of lavender application, lack of information regarding appropriate dose, variation between efficacy and effectiveness in trials, variability of administration methods, the absence of a placebo comparator, or the lack of control groups in the conducted studies, more standard experiments and studies are needed to confirm the beneficial effect of lavender on the neurological disorders [154]. Methodological and oil identification problems have also hampered the evaluation of the therapeutic significance of some research on lavender. ...
Neurological diseases affect the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, cranial nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular junctions, and muscles. Herbal medicine has long been used to cure these diseases. One of these plants is lavender, which is composed of various compounds, including terpenes, such as linalool, limonene, triterpenes, linalyl acetate, alcohols, ketones, polyphenols, coumarins, cineole, and flavonoids. In this review, the literature was searched using scientific search engines and databases (Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, and PubMed) for papers published between 1982 and 2020 via keywords, including review, lavender, and neurological disorders. This plant exerts its healing effect on many diseases, such as anxiety and depression through an inhibitory effect on GABA. The anti-inflammatory effects of this plant have also been documented. It improves depression by regulating glutamate receptors and inhibiting calcium channels and serotonergic factors, such as SERT. Its antiepileptic mechanism is due to an increase in the inhibitory effect of GABA and potassium current and a decrease in sodium current. Therefore, many vegetable oils are also used in herbal medicine. In this review, the healing effect of lavender on several neurological disorders, including epilepsy, depression, anxiety, migraine, and Alzheimer's disease was investigated. All findings strongly support the traditional uses of lavender. More clinical studies are needed to investigate the effect of the plants' pharmacological active constituents on the treatment of life-threatening diseases in humans. The limitations of this study are the low quality and the limited number of clinical studies. Different administration methods of lavender are one of the limitations of this review.
... In Japan, footbaths to stimulate labor are used in combination with clary sage and lavender oils in some clinical settings. Lavender oil is suggested to lessen stress [18], which is very important as stress during breastfeeding suppresses oxytocin release [19]. Therefore, the combination of clary sage and lavender oils may increase the oxytocin level by inhibiting the stress-induced suppression of oxytocin release. ...
Background:
Aromatherapy is usually used to stimulate labor. However, its specific physiological effects have been scarcely examined. We evaluated whether an aromatherapy footbath increases oxytocin levels in term pregnant women.
Methods:
In this quasi-experimental study, low-risk term pregnant women in Japan underwent aromatherapy using a footbath (1) infused with clary sage and lavender essential oils, (2) infused with jasmine oil, or (3) with no infused oils (control group). The primary outcome was the salivary oxytocin level. The secondary outcomes were uterine contractions and cortisol levels.
Results:
In the clary sage and lavender group (n = 28), the oxytocin level increased significantly after the footbath (p = 0.035). The jasmine group (n = 27) and control group (n = 27) exhibited trends toward a respective increase and decrease in the oxytocin level; however, the changes in the oxytocin levels between the clary sage and lavender group and the control group showed no significance difference. There were no significant differences in the changes in the uterine contractions and cortisol levels between the experiment and control groups.
Conclusions:
The changes in the oxytocin levels in the clary sage and lavender group did not differ significantly with those in the control group, possibly because of the small sample size. Further studies are required to examine the effects of repeated aromatherapy footbaths to stimulate labor.
... Lavender essential oil aids in treating gastrointestinal problems by regulating bowel motions and the bile duct, as well as preventing flatulence. Inhalation of lavender oil has been proven in rats to stimulate bile production and reestablish the normal activity of oxidative enzymes responsible for catabolism [91,92]. The lavender essential oil was discovered to be a calm muscle relaxant in the guinea pig, suppressing the contractile reaction of histamine and acetylcholine. ...
Natural remedies from a range of sources, including plants, animals, microorganisms, and marine life, have made a significant contribution to the treatment of many ailments. Lavender is a Mediterranean shrub from the Lamiaceae family. Lavender flowers (Lavandula flores) include active ingredients (3%), anthocyanins, sugars, phytosterols, minerals, and tannins and are majorly used for herbal applications. Lavender essential oil's descriptive and analytical composition varies depending on genotype, growing region, climatic circumstances, propagation, and morphological characteristics. There are around 300 chemical components in essential oil. Linalool, terpinen-4-ol, linalyl acetate, ocimene, acetate lavandulol, and cineole are the most prominent constituents. Lavender oil has antibacterial and antioxidant properties. The lavender extract helps to prevent dementia and may slow cancer cell growth, while lavender oil is used to treat skin problems. This review will cover the recent medical, economic and regional advancements in levander propagation and how the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research Indian Institute of Integrative (CSIR IIIM) aroma mission is actively acting as a bridge between farmers and their economic improvement by attracting them to the field of medicinal plant cultivation.
... Although some reviews state that the lack of standard methodologies, such as the absence of a placebo comparator and control groups with a small number of participants, complicate the mid-to longterm safety evaluation of therapeutic practices (Perry et al., 2012;Koulivand et al., 2013), promising results can be found for a variety of applications of EO such as lavender, tea tree, and rosemary. For example, clinical studies showed that lavender is an excellent natural remedy for insomnia and anxiety, improving the feeling of well-being and overall sleep quality (Liu et al., 2012;Koulivand et al., 2013). ...
The suitability of Laponite (Lap) for essential oils (EO) capture is investigated in this work by directly mixing both components (Lap–EO samples). This simple and green approach avoids the use of solvents and heat, which would otherwise compromise the EO's physical-chemical properties. Lavender, tea tree, and rosemary oils were used for this purpose, and the samples were produced with an initial 1:2 mass ratio of Lap to EO. Thermal stability of EO and absorption efficiency of Lap–EO composites were determined using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), revealing a rapid degradation of the pure EO which was significantly diminished when molecules were incorporated into the Lap matrix. The EO absorption was quantified, and the results showed that all the samples had absorptions greater than 240 mg∙g−1. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) experiments were carried out in order to study the structure formed by the Lap–EO composites. The results showed an increase in the Lap interlayer d-spacing, indicating that molecules were successfully intercalated, conserving Lap's structure integrity, and forming larger grain aggregates. Even further, SAXS/WAXS data allowed for the determination of the specific surface area and porosity, important parameters for characterizing porous materials. For Lap−EO samples, there was a 160% increase in surface area and a 120% increase in porosity; this information allowed for the development of a geometric model of the Lap layers, in good agreement with experimental data.
... Lavender essential oil (lavandula angustifolia) is widely recognised for its relaxing and sedative properties and is frequently used in the treatment of stress and anxiety in clinical settings [22,33,[53][54][55]. In this current review lavender accounts for 42% of the clinical trials and in a further 14% of studies, lavender was chosen with another essential oil for comparison purposes in 3-or 4-armed trials [52,[56][57][58][59]. ...
Objective:
The purpose of this systematic review is to ascertain the impact of inhalation aromatherapy on stress and anxiety in clinical settings.
Methods:
A search strategy was developed using various databases. Randomised Controlled Trials (RCTs) as well as single and double-blind pilot clinical studies (non-RCT) using inhalation aromatherapy with an essential oil blend or a single essential oil were examined. All studies included a control intervention and use of a validated measurement tool. The time period under review was years 2000-2021. Due to the high level of heterogeneity and element of bias, a narrative synthesis was conducted.
Results:
The search strategy initially retrieved 628 studies and through application of the selection criteria and the removal of duplicates, 76 studies were selected for review with a total of 6539 patients. In 42% of the RCTs, physiological measures including vital signs and/or salivary cortisol were used in addition to questionnaires. Over 70% of the studies reported a positive effect on anxiety levels in the aromatherapy intervention groups compared with the control. However, in many cases this is limited by the absence of safety data, imprecise reporting of plant species and dosage of essential oil.
Conclusion:
Inhalation aromatherapy has the potential to reduce stress and anxiety with data emerging to further support this result across a wide modality of clinical treatments. However, there is a clear need for the development of standard protocols for research in this area, generating measurable results which will create the opportunity for more rigorous evidence-based outcomes.
... When expecting the aroma to relax them, participants relaxed more and vice versa. Thus, biases in their responses are seen directly from their expectancy [117]. To eliminate these influences participants were unaware of the true aims of the current study. ...
ssential oils of pure lavender and lavender blends have been employed as
potential anxiolytic aromas in aromatherapy, but a direct comparison of their
effectiveness is lacking. The current study investigated the effects of aroma on
induced anxiety in non-clinical adults, comparing pure lavender, a commercially
available blend and a no aroma control. An experimental, quantitative,
mixed factorial design with an opportunity sample of 60 participants was employed.
Participants were randomly allocated to three equal groups, one
tested in a room infused with lavender aroma, the second with the doTerra
Peace® blend, and the third free from any aroma. Participants’ state anxiety
scores were measured before and after a novel video-based anxiety induction
procedure. Data analysis revealed that the anxiety induction was successful
and that both aromas delivered small to medium-sized buffering effects
compared to no aroma. The findings add to a small body of research in an
area where the practice is global yet has limited scientific evaluation. Future
studies utilising brain imaging and blood serum analysis to investigate the
anxiolytic mechanism of aromas would be beneficial to further our understanding.
... Lavender oil consists of linalool, linalyl acetate, cineol, lavender, geraniol tannin, and flavonoids and has antifungal, antimicrobial, antibiotic, and antidepressant properties (26). The main constituents of the essential oil of lavender are linalool and linalyl acetate, which have antianxiety, calming, and soothing properties (27). Lavender oil has analgesic effects, and by local absorption, it can relieve smooth muscle spasms (such as uterine muscles), increase local blood flow, and reduce muscle tone (26). ...
... [8] When essential oils being inhaled, the odorant molecules enter the limbic system through the cavities in the olfactory mucosa and they influence the hypothalamus, the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine system and lead to improvement of peripheral blood circulation, respiratory rate, heart rate, and blood pressure. [9,10] Lavender is commonly known as Lavandula angustifolia and Lavandula stoechas, and it is from the Labiatae family. [11] The most important compounds of lavender include linalool and linalyl, which bind to glucuronic acid, and after 15 min of inhalation, its effects are shown not only on the blood but also on the brain and act as a sedative in the body. ...
BACKGROUND
People experience extreme anxiety in testing situations, so it considers as a psychological condition and can actually impair learning and hurt test performance. People experience some degree of stress and anxiety before and during examinations. This study aimed to investigate the effect of blended aromatherapy using lavender and damask rose oils on the test anxiety of nursing students.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present study was a single-blinded clinical trial study. Seventy nursing students were selected and randomly assigned to two experimental and sham groups. For the experimental group, seven droplets of lavender, 10%, and three droplets of damask rose oil, 10%, and for the sham group, ten droplets of sesame oil were poured on a nonabsorbent pad which was placed within a 20-cm distance from the students’ noses on their chairs’ handles. The data were collected by using a two-part questionnaire including demographic information and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 1, before, 15 min after the intervention, and immediately at the end of the test. Data were analyzed using descriptive (frequency, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential (independent t-test, ANOVA with repeated measure, Fisher's exact test, and least significant difference post hoc test) statistics.
RESULTS
It was found that no significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, the number of credits, Semester Grade Point Average and, gender, place of residence and marital status and the two groups were almost identical in regard of the above variables (P > 0.05). State anxiety mean scores of the experimental group were lower than the mean scores of the sham group, 15 min after the intervention and at the end of the test, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Blended aromatherapy is effective in improving the test anxiety of nursing students. Therefore, it can be used as a therapeutic approach to reduce test anxiety.
... 27,29 It has been reported that linalool and linalool acetate have an inhibitory effect on the limbic system and autonomic neurotransmission, and this systemic effect increases effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid in the amygdala, thus playing an important role in reducing the level of pain and anxiety. 25,31 In addition, since these 2 components stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, they have also been found to have analgesic, antiseptic, antidepressant, antispasmodic, antiviral, and diuretic properties. 29 Studies have shown that aromatherapy can be used in addition to existing methods for pain management due to its significant efficacy in reducing anxiety and benefits in mild to moderate sleep disorders. ...
p> Background: Pain, anxiety, and sleep disorders are common side effects of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. Although pharmacological agents are currently used in the treatment of these problems, in addition to their undesirable side effects, they increase healthcare costs, and their inadequate control leads to morbidities, prolonged hospital stay and increased burden of care. Therefore, supportive interventions are needed. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of lavender oil inhalation on the pain intensity, anxiety and sleep quality of patients that underwent CABG surgery.
Methods: This study was planned as a prospective randomized controlled trial. Participants meeting the inclusion criteria will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups. During the hospitalization period after CABG surgery, 2% lavender oil ( Lavandula angustifolia ) inhalation will be applied to the intervention group three times a day, while the control group will only receive routine care. The pain intensity of the groups will be evaluated with the numeric rating scale, anxiety levels with the state-trait anxiety inventory, and sleep quality with the Richards-Campbell sleep questionnaire.
Conclusions: There is a need for new approaches to improve the physiological and psychological health of patients after CABG surgery and help them return to their daily life activities and social lives in a shorter time. This trial will allow for the assessment of the effects of this intervention and provide valuable evidence to guide clinical practice.
Trial registration: This trial was registered in May, 2022 (NCT05377983).</p
... F. Chen et al., 2019;Smith et al., 2011). Other systematic reviews indicated that aromatherapy of specific essential oils shows anxiolytic effects in nonlaboring subjects (Perry et al., 2012) and effectively relieves depression symptoms in a wide variety of subjects (S anchez-Vidaña et al., 2017). In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of aromatherapy on emotional symptoms occurring during and after labor. ...
Aim:
Perinatal negative emotions are common in parturient women, but the problems are often ignored. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy for intrapartum anxiety (IPA) and postpartum emotional symptoms (PES).
Methods:
We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify suitable RCTs for analysis, and the study was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
Results:
Nine RCTs were included. The meta-analysis showed aromatherapy reduced IPA during the early to active phase (standardized mean difference [SMD]: -1.56 [-2.55, -0.61]) and during the transition phase (SMD: -3.30 [-4.97, -1.63]) when compared with controls. For the postpartum period, the meta-analyses showed a reduction of postpartum depression (PPD) at week 2 (SMD: -0.43 [-0.82, -0.03]), and a non-significant trend toward the reduction of PPD at weeks 4-6 (SMD: -0.70 [-1.40, 0.01]).
Conclusion:
Our study found some evidence supporting the effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing intrapartum anxiety and PES. We recommend the optional use of aromatherapy for intrapartum and postpartum care.
... [17] Inhalation of pleasant scents such as essential oils improves mood as well as has a beneficial anxiolytic effect. [18] Studies have shown it to be more efficient in managing moderate rather than severe anxiety. [19] In healthy individuals, inhalation of lavender has been shown to significantly reduce the levels of salivary cortisol, salivary chromogranin, and serum cortisol. ...
... It has produced anxiolytic effects in mice and when taken orally in humans in a preparation that had a 36% linalool component. There were reductions in the participants' anxiety scores (128)(129)(130). ...
Cannabis and cannabinoids are increasingly being accessed and used by patients with advanced cancer for various symptoms and general quality of life. Specific symptoms of pain, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite and cachexia, anxiety, sleep disturbance, and medical trauma are among those that have prompted patients with cancer to use cannabis. This conference report from the National Cancer Institute’s “Cannabis, Cannabinoid and Cancer Research Symposium” on the topic of “Cancer Symptom/Treatment Side Effect Management” is an expert perspective of cannabis intervention for cancer and cancer treatment-related symptoms. The purpose of the symposium was to identify research gaps, describe the need for high-quality randomized prospective studies of medical cannabis for palliative care in patients with cancer, and evaluate the impact of medical cannabis on cancer survivors’ quality of life. Further, education of clinicians and affiliated health-care providers in guiding cancer patients in using cannabis for cancer care would benefit patients. Together, these steps will further aid in refining the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for symptom palliation and improve safety and efficacy for patients.
... Linalool acetate and linalool are the active lavender ingredient and linalool actions as a gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors sedative in the central nervous system (CNS). 15 Inhaling lavender scent calms the patient and improves physiological indicators by reducing the adrenal gland cortisol secretion, reducing the activity of the sympathetic system, and increasing the activity of the parasympathetic system. Lavender inhibits acetylcholine release, and linalool acetate can relax the smooth muscles of the arteries. ...
Background:
Sleep disorders occur in the first days after heart surgery. One of the major causes of sleep disorders after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is subsequent changes in physiological indicators, such as systolic blood pressure (BP), respiratory rate (RR), saturation of oxygen (O2), and heart rate (RR). This study is aimed to determine the effect of lavender aromatherapy on patients' sleep quality and physiological indicators after CABG.
Materials and methods:
This study was a randomized clinical trial. Patients after CABG surgery were randomly allocated into the lavender and distilled water groups. Patients in the intervention group inhaled lavender while those in the control group inhaled distilled water for 10 hours. Sleep quality and physiological postoperative data were collected for 3 days. Data were analyzed using repeated measurement test, sample t-test, and Chi-square test.
Results:
Repeated measurement test showed no significant difference between the lavender and distilled water groups in terms of systolic BP, RR, O2 saturation, HR, and body temperature after matching the effect of time and its interactive effect with the intervention (p > 0.05). This test revealed a significant difference between the lavender and distilled water groups in terms of sleep quality (p < 0.001), such that the sleep quality was higher in the lavender group.
Conclusion:
Lavender aromatherapy can increase patients' sleep quality after CABG surgery. However, it cannot completely treat sleep disorders in such patients. Furthermore, aromatherapy with lavender does not affect the physiological parameters, such as HR, BP, RR, and O2 saturation.
How to cite this article:
Davari H, Ebrahimian A, Rezayei S, Tourdeh M. Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Sleep Quality and Physiological Indicators in Patients after CABG Surgery: A Clinical Trial Study. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(4):429-434.
... Investigation of effects of inhalation of lavender oil aroma in sleep needs more in-detail surveys (Fismer & Pilkington, 2012). Some studies have shown the effiency of oral lavender supplements, but independent replications are needed to draw conclusions (Perry et al., 2012). In the "open field" method, addition of lavender and lemon balm perorally with food significantly decreased motor activity of animals, compared with the control group (high-fat diet). ...
Plant food additives are becoming more and more popular and broadly applied products, though the information on risks they poses to the organism is limited and contradictive. Obesity and overeating are some of the commonest health issues around the world, and people are increasingly consuming workability-enhancing preparations as a simple and fast method of weight control. The plant-based preparations are considered less harmful than the synthetic chemical ones. Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Melissa officinalis L. and Vitex angus-castus L. are broadly used as food additives and medicinal plants, despite the fact that their complex physiological assessment on model animals in the conditions of obesity has not yet been performed. We carried out a 30-day experiment on white male rats. All the animals were given high-fat diet, and the experimental animals, in addition to this diet, received 5% crumbled dry herbs of L. angustifolia, M. officinalis or V. angus-castus. Taking into account the overall amount of consumed food, the mean daily gain in body weight; at the end of the experiment, we determined the index of the weight of the internal organs, biochemical and morphological blood parameters. At the beginning and the end of the experiment, the rats were examined for motor and orienting activities, and emotional status. Rats on high-fat diet gained up to 112% body weight by the end of the experiment, while rats that had received V. angus-castus gained up to 119%, M. officinalis – 135%, L. angustifolia – 139%, compared with the initial body weight. Addition of medicinal plants to the diet led to increase in average daily weight increment, significantly and reliably after consuming lavender and lemon balm, less significantly and unreliably after eating Vitex. L. angustifolia and M. officinalis reduced the relative brain weight, and ingestion of L. angustifolia and M. officinalis caused notable decrease in the relative mass of the thymus (down to 58% and 47% of the relative weight of thymus in animals of the control group respectively). Also, these plants decreased the motor and orienting activities of the rats by the end of the experiment. As for the biochemical parameters of blood, the activity of alkaline phosphatase significantly increased to 406% following consumption of Melissa, to 350% after consuming lavender, and to 406% after Vitex, compared to the control group. Furthermore, all the groups were observed to have increased AST and ALT activities. Intake of lavender led to increases in cholesterol (to 125%) and LDL cholesterol (to 228%), whereas the groups that consumed lemon balm were observed to have decreases in urea nitrogen (to 79%), totalbilirubin (to 63%) and triglycerides (to 63%). Addition of Vitex led to increase in the index of aterogenecity against the background of notable fall in HDL cholesterol (to 52% of the control group). The medicinal plants also contributed to the normalization of the glucose level. Morphological analysis of blood revealed no significant changes, except heightened content of monocytes in blood, which is characteristic of all groups, including the control. Effects of L. angustifolia, M. officinalis and V. angus-castus on the organism of rats on excessive-fat diet require additional histological, histochemical and immunological surveys.
... Most of the EOs have been proven to be anxiolytic in clinical trials as well as in animals through the most reliable behavioral models, such as open field (OF) test [112], elevated plus maze (EPM) test [113], social interaction (SI) test [114], light and dark box (LDB) test [115], marble-burying (MB) test [116], etc., and pharmacological approaches to induce anxiety in mice or rats [117]. Among all the studies reported, Lavandula angustifolia (the most used species of lavender) is widely studied also for its anxiolytic effects [118]. The exposure to lavender smell showed an anxiolytic profile similar to diazepam, mostly in female gerbils [119]. ...
Essential oils are being studied for more than 60 years, but a growing interest has emerged in the recent decades due to a desire for a rediscovery of natural remedies. Essential oils are known for millennia and, already in prehistoric times, they were used for medicinal and ritual purposes due to their therapeutic properties. Using a variety of methods refined over the centuries, essential oils are extracted from plant raw materials: the choice of the extraction method is decisive, since it determines the type, quantity, and stereochemical structure of the essential oil molecules. To these components belong all properties that make essential oils so interesting for pharmaceutical uses; the most investigated ones are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, wound-healing, and anxiolytic activities. However, the main limitations to their use are their hydrophobicity, instability, high volatility, and risk of toxicity. A successful strategy to overcome these limitations is the encapsulation within delivery systems, which enable the increase of essential oils bioavailability and improve their chemical stability, while reducing their volatility and toxicity. Among all the suitable platforms, our review focused on the lipid-based ones, in particular micro- and nanoemulsions, liposomes, solid lipid nanoparticles, and nanostructured lipid carriers.
... Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential, aromatic oils, usually combined with therapeutic massage and excitation of the olfactory system, thus inducing relaxation and alleviates certain anxiety symptoms [4]. The history of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) as a medicinal plant and its properties such as anxiolysis, sedative and calming properties goes back to the era of ayurvedic medicine in ancient India [5]. Flowers of several species of lavender are known for their wide therapeutic use for centuries. ...
... Certainly, aromatherapy may be beneficial for postpartum physiological and psychological states [23]. For example, linalool, one of the main components of lavender, may have anxiolytic effects [24] through modulation of acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction [25]. Thus, medical care providers involved in NBS should be careful in handling Guthrie cards to prevent false-positive results due to contamination of essential oils. ...
Newborn screening is a public health care program worldwide to prevent patients from critical illness or conditions. Tandem mass spectrometry allows multiplex, inexpensive, and rapid newborn screening. However, mass spectrometry used for newborn screening to date is not able to separate peaks of compounds with similar m/z, which could lead to false-positive results without additional second-tier tests, such as fragmentation. We experienced three neonatal cases with high levels of markers, octanoylcarnitine and octanoylcarnitine/dec-anoylcarnitine ratio used to pick up possible cases of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency. The babies were born consecutively in a maternity hospital. Their second acylcarnitine profiles were normal, and the genetic tests for ACADM were negative. Analysis of samples extracted from their first Guthrie cards where blood was not stained also showed peaks equivalent to octanoylcarnitine and decanoylcarnitine, indicating contamination. Environmental surveillance in the maternity ward suggested that essential oils used there might contain the contaminated compound. LC-HRMS/MS and in silico analysis revealed that false-positive results might be due to contamination with the essential oils in Guthrie cards, and causal agents were sphinganine (d17:0) and 2-[2-hydroxyethyl(pentadecyl)amino]ethanol. Thus, health care providers should be cautioned about use of essential oils when collecting blood samples on Guthrie cards. False-positive results can waste costly social resources and cause a physical and psychological burden for children and parents.
... Lawenda często określana jest jako "matka" olejków eterycznych [85]. W jej skład wchodzi ponad 100 składników, z których najważniejsze to terpeny (linalol, limonen), triterpeny, octan linalilu, alkohole (w tym alkohol perillylowy), ketony (kamfora), polifenole, garbniki oraz kumaryny, cyneol i flawonoidy w różnych proporcjach [16]. ...
Phytoremediation as a technology whereby plants and microorganisms living in their rhizosphere are used to remediate contaminated soil, water and/or air, taking advantage of research methods of plant biology – e.g. botany, physiology and biochemistry – as well molecular biology, including genetic engineering. Phytotechnologies use mainly naturally occurring plant species which demonstrate the capability for effective removal of organic pollutants such as crude oil, herbicides, organic chlorine compounds or explosive substances and nonorganic ones including heavy metals, metalloids and radionuclides. Among popular plant species demonstrating a high phytoremediation potential are mustard, poplar, willow, sunflower and many others. Depending on a phytoremediation technique used, plants with a natural ability to accumulate pollutants have to be found – plants with an ability to build pollutants into their biomass (phytoextraction) or to immobilize xenobiotics in soil by their absorption and precipitation in the rhizosphere or to accumulate contaminants in root cells, thus lowering their bioavailability (phytostabilisation). Research on plant systems of pollutant enzymatic degradation (phytodegradation) or the ability of plants to release into the atmosphere volatile pollutants taken up from soil (phytovolatilisation) as well as to filtrate polluted water (rhizofiltration) has been conducted for many years. To increase the efficiency of phytoremediation processes, successful attempts to produce genetically modified (GM) plants boasting an enhanced ability to tolerate, accumulate or degrade pollutants have been also undertaken. The application of phytoremediation, for example to build parks or buffer shoreline in order to recover degraded land requires specialized knowledge of plants supported by laboratory and field investigations.
... A romatherapy uses essential oils extracted from herbs and plants, to promote psychological and physical wellbeing (Fayazi et al, 2011) with different aromas thought to possess different therapeutic properties (Cooper et al, 2011). Lavender oil is thought to possess calming and anxiolytic effects in humans (Perry et al, 2012), which can help to reduce anxiety. ...
The aim of this study was to assess whether lavender oil is effective in reducing stress in felines.
Aromatherapy is a medical practice that uses aromatic compounds or essential oils to influence mood and health. Essential oils used in aromatherapy are created from a wide variety of medicinal plants, flowers, herbs, roots, and trees that are found all over the world and have significant, well-documented benefits on enhancing physical, emotional, and spiritual wellbeing.
This book is a comprehensive reference on aromatic compounds present in essential oils and their therapeutic use. Starting from fundamentals of essential oil biosynthesis the book guides the reader through their basic biochemistry, toxicology, profiling, blending and clinical applications. The concluding chapters also present focused information about the therapeutic effects of essential oils on specific physiological systems, plant sources, skin treatment and cancer therapeutics.
The combination of basic and applied knowledge will provide readers with all the necessary information for understanding how to develop preclinical formulations and standard clinical therapies with essential oils. This is an essential reference for anyone interested in aromatherapy and the science of essential oils.
ackground: Bronchoscopy is a relatively safe diagnostic and therapeutic procedure, but it is often reported as an uncomfortable experience and causes acute procedural anxiety that affects the procedure and the patient and operator's comfort. Anti-anxiety drugs have the risk of causing mild to severe side effects. Therefore, we need premedication with potent anxiolytics with minimal side effects, such as the use of aromatherapy. This study aims to analyze the effectiveness of aromatherapy as an additional premedication to reduce anxiety, respiratory rate, pulse rate, and pain in patients undergoing bronchoscopy. Method: A clinical study with experimental quasi pre-post test control group design using consecutive sampling was performed in pulmonary patients undergoing bronchoscopy in dr. Moewardi Hospital from February to March 2020. The study subjects were randomized into three groups: lavender aromatherapy, orange aromatherapy, and control. Hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) score, respiratory rate, pulse, and visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score were measured before and after bronchoscopy. Results: A total of 45 subjects of lung patients undergoing bronchoscopy participated in this study. Post hoc test differences in the HADS anxiety score of lavender and orange groups showed a significant decrease (P=0.011); (P=0.083), respectively. The decrease in the control group was not significant (P=0.622). There was a significant decrease in the respiratory rate of lavender (P≤0.0001), and orange groups (P=0.001), while the control group did not decrease (P=0.515). There was a significant decrease in pulse rate in the lavender (P=0.004) and orange (P=0.011) groups. The decrease in the control group was not significant (P=0.900). There was a significant decrease in VAS pain scores in the lavender and orange groups with each (P<0.001), whereas, in the control group, there was an increase in VAS pain scores. Conclusion: Aromatherapy effectively controls anxiety, respiration rate, pulse, and pain in bronchoscopy patients.
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of aromatherapy as a low-cost, non-invasive intervention for reducing exam anxiety in college students and improving their academic performance. Methods: A randomized clinical trial was conducted among 270 pharmacy students from different academic years, who were divided into three distinct groups. Exam anxiety was assessed using the Sarason questionnaire at baseline and after 15 minutes of aromatherapy. Results: There was no significant difference in the severity of anxiety at baseline (P = 0.07). However, following orange aromatherapy, there was a significant decrease in baseline-exam anxiety score (mean difference 1.32, P < 0.001), while lavender aromatherapy did not show a significant effect (P = 0.27). Aromatherapy had a significant impact on academic performance, specifically in the bio-pharmacy exam. Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that aromatherapy may have an effect on exam anxiety. Orange essential oil aromatherapy, without the adverse reactions associated with pharmacological therapies, was found to be an effective strategy for reducing exam anxiety and enhancing academic performance among pharmacy students. The implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Introduction
Aromatherapy and decoctions of lavender have been traditionally used for their anxiolytic harboring-soothing effects without proper evidence. This study aims to systematically identify and appraise systematic reviews on the anxiolytic effects of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender).
Methods
The study protocol was published in PROSPERO (CRD42021279573). ISI Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and PROSPERO were searched up to August 2022 without any limitation for systematic reviews studying the anxiolytic effects of lavender in humans. The report from each study as whether or not lavender was anxiolytic was considered the primary outcome. The AMSTAR II was utilized for the quality assessment.
Results
Thirty systematic reviews met the inclusion criteria, fifteen of which conducted meta-analyses. All studies were published after 2010 and reported promising effects through different methods of lavender administration—namely: inhalation, massage, and oral routes—on anxiety relief. Oral doses of 80 mg and 160 mg were both effective, the higher dose being more efficient. The studies were conducted on various subjects, including preoperative patients, cardiovascular patients, hemodialysis patients, cancer patients, dental patients, and women in pre-labor. When assessed by AMSTAR II, four studies were of high quality, one had medium quality, and the rest were of low or critically low quality. No major adverse event was reported.
Conclusions
Lavender has shown promising potential for anxiety in various settings. Lavender was effective when inhaled, used as a massage oil, or taken orally. The oral route was the preferred long-term option and inhalation was recommended for the short term.
The objective of the work was to obtain materials with aromatherapeutic and antibacterial properties by applying emulsions based on peppermint essential oil (PEO) onto cotton fabric. For this purpose, some emulsions based on PEO incorporated in various matrices (chitosan + gelatin + beeswax; chitosan + beeswax; gelatin + beeswax and gelatin + chitosan) were prepared. Tween 80 was used as a synthetic emulsifier. The influence of the nature of matrices and of the concentration of Tween 80 on the stability of the emulsions was evaluated by the creaming indices. The materials treated with the stable emulsions were analyzed in terms of sensory activity, of the comfort characteristics, and of the gradual release of the PEO in the artificial perspiration solution. The sum of volatile components retained by samples after exposure to air was determined by GC-MS. The results regarding antibacterial activity showed that materials treated with emulsions have a good inhibitory effect on S. aureus (diameters of the inhibition zones between 53.6 and 64.0 mm) and on E. coli (diameters of the inhibition zones between 38.3 and 64.0 mm). Our data suggest that by applying peppermint-oil-based emulsions on a cotton support, aromatherapeutic patches, bandages and dressings with antibacterial properties can be obtained.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of chemical compounds generated as a result of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels or wood. PAHs are known for their negative effect on living organisms, including teratogenic, carcinogenic and mutagenic activity. The objective of this study is to determine the contamination of three popular herbal species showing pro-health properties, i.e., lavender, parsley and mint, with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, collected from three different backyard gardens in Poland. The concentration of PAHs in plant material was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FL). The concentration of eleven PAHs in plant material was determined with high-pressure liquid chromatography after extraction using the QuEChERS purification technique. Mint collected within an area of a mining and energy production complex (the city of Konin) was characterized by the highest Σ of 11 PAHs, equaled to 902.35 µg/g FW, with anthracene being the most abundant compound. However, it contained the lowest sum of PAHs, among all tested plants, with high carcinogenicity. Parsley from the city of Poznań showed the highest content of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), showing the strongest carcinogenicity, while the highest value of BaP equivalent was calculated for mint collected in Konin. The obtained results suggest that the level and profile of plant contamination with PAHs depend on the species and the location of herb cultivation. In particular, mining and energy industry facilities are sources of PAHs, which contaminate plant material for further direct use or as bioactive herbal extracts.
Background:
Nociceptive and inflammatory orofacial pain is highly prevalent in the population, which justifies the search for safer analgesics. There is increasing evidence of the analgesic and anxiolytic potential of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil (LAV EO), which may represent, when administered through inhalation, may represent a safer alternative for pain treatment.
Objective:
to evaluate whether LAV EO has antinociceptive effect in the formalin test, and anti-hyperalgesic and anxiolytic-like effects in rats subjected to a model of orofacial postoperative pain.
Methodology:
Female Wistar rats were exposed to LAV EO (5%) by inhalation for 30 minutes. After exposure, animals were injected with formalin (2.5%, 50 μL) or saline into the hind paw or upper lip and the number of flinches or facial grooming time, respectively, were evaluated. Likewise, on day 3 after intraoral mucosa incision, the animals were exposed to LAV EO and facial mechanical, and heat hyperalgesia were assessed. The influence of LAV EO inhalation on anxiety-like behavior was assessed in operated rats by testing them on the open field (OF) and elevated plus maze (EPM).
Results:
LAV EO reduced the phase II of the paw formalin test and both phases of the orofacial formalin test. On day three post-incision, LAV EO reduced heat and mechanical hyperalgesia, from 30 minutes up to three hours, and reduced the anxiety-like behavior in operated rats without causing locomotor deficit.
Conclusion:
LAV EO inhalation results in antinociceptive and anxiolytic-like effects in orofacial pain models, which encourages further studies on LAV EO indications and effectiveness on orofacial pain conditions.
Most alternative treatments are to be taken by mouth; less often they must be applied externally as creams. These modalities include, for instance, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, or herbal medicines. In this chapter, I discuss prominent examples from these categories. As there are many more, I focus on those that are best-known.
Acknowledging the importance of medicinal compounds, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in plants and human health; understanding the best time to harvest the plant to get the most biological activity that can be therapeutic, and predicting and controlling the quality of medicinal plants are very useful. The rich chemical composition of medicinal lavender, as well as its antioxidant activity, has led to its wide application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. In the current research, seasonal differences in phenolic content, the main constituents of essential oil, essential oil yield and antioxidant activity, and flavonoid content were evaluated. In this investigation, for all the factors, three replications were considered as completely randomized designs. The predominant natural components were α‐pinene, camphene, 1,8‐cineole, limonene, camphor, borneol, cryptone, isobornyl formate, cumin aldehyde, carvone, caryophyllene oxide, and epi‐α‐cadinol. The highest rate of 1,8‐cineole was seen in summer, while camphor and borneol showed their highest percentages in the cold season. Some of the compounds such as caryophyllene oxide, isobornyl formate, and cumin aldehyde showed their highest amounts in the spring with the activation of some important plant enzymes such as peroxidase. The total content of flavonoids and some phenolic compounds (coumarin and p‐coumaric acid) increased when plants received sunlight for a longer time than in the colder to warmer seasons. On the other hand, increases in chlorogenic acid and vanillin were observed in spring. Also, the highest antioxidant activity was observed in lavender, which was accompanied by an increase in the important phenolic composition of rosmarinic acid in the cold season. Generally, this investigation provides beneficial evidence about the most appropriate harvest time for lavender to produce the most favorable constituents for optimization in food, pharmaceutical, and herbal products.
Introduction:
Menopause is a critical period of the woman life, characterized by a peculiar modification in estrogens concentration and accompanied by different signs and symptoms. To prevent and contrast unfavorable consequences of menopause, different therapeutic approach could be evaluated. The hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most known, but it has several contraindications. The increasing interest in phytotherapy introduces the necessity for endocrinologist involved in menopause to suggest different therapeutic approach, considering the state of health of patient and the real efficacy of the drug. We aim to outline the main phytotherapy treatments to choose in menopause.
Evidence acquisition:
Phytotherapy involves the use of plants or plant extracts for the treatment of diseases thanks to the activities of their compounds and metabolites. In particular, many of them have an estrogen-like activity and are identified as phytoestrogens, because thanks to their chemical structure are able to bind the estrogen receptors and carry out biological estrogenic or anti-estrogenic activities. The supplementing diet with these compounds can ensure an advantage on various aspects of the climacteric syndrome and some of them also have a beneficial impact on cardiovascular risk, bone health and sleep complaint. These substances can be used with safety due to their good tolerability and low rate of side effects. There are no known serious adverse events associated with their consumption, but as a precaution, its use is not recommended during pregnancy and in association with hormonal therapies or in women with hormone responsive-cancers.
Conclusions:
Phytotherapy has to be considered an interesting tool in the treatment of sign and symptoms in selected menopause woman.
Fertility is a bio-psycho-social issue and one deeply embedded in psychological and emotional processes. The mind and emotions affect the body and vice versa. We live in a society which profoundly regulates and markets the body and its processes, and places high expectations on individuals to “perform” health and wellbeing (in the same way it places high expectations on people to “perform” pregnancy and parenthood). Similarly, mental wellbeing is marketed as something that is the individual’s responsibility and falsely touted as fixable if one simply engages in specific (often cost-associated) acts of self-care. The stress and challenge of family planning, particularly if there are issues with fertility, can greatly add to the mental load which can result in stress and suboptimal emotional wellbeing. The lack of centralized communal belief systems and a secularization of culture and thought in the West may add to this.
Fertility in our society is powerfully embedded in social identities and expectations, particularly of women. Those experiencing infertility and fertility treatments will encounter a range of emotional effects. Fertility should be understood from a holistic perspective, with reference to its impact on identity, self, and spirituality. This chapter explores a number of complementary therapies which might provide support and enable self-care for people adjusting to the impact of infertility on their mental and emotional wellbeing, including hypnosis, aromatherapy, music and sound, Ayurveda, and touch/massage therapies.
Introduction
Fatigue is one of the main symptoms of heart failure, which leads to activity intolerance and self-care impairment. Aromatherapy is one of the most popular and widely used methods among patients with chronic diseases. One reason for the popularity of complementary medicine methods is the ease of use and attention to patient preferences, so in this study, the effect of two herbal derivatives with two methods of consumption (oral and inhalation) was investigated. This study compared the effect of Lavender essence inhalation and oral Sedamin on fatigue severity in patients with heart failure.
Methods
The three arm randomized controlled trial was conducted for 15 days on 120 patients with Heart Failure. The patients were selected by the convenience sampling method and randomly assigned to three groups of Sedamin (containing 530 mg of Valerian root), Lavender (essence), and Control (routine care). The fatigue severity was measured using the Fatigue Severity Scale. Descriptive and inferential statistics including the Friedman test, Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, one-way ANOVA, and Mann-Whitney U tests were used. Data were analyzed using SPSS-22 software.
Results
Fatigue severity was lower in the two intervention groups in the first week (P < 0.0001) and the second week (P < 0.0001) than in the control group. The fatigue severity was decreased in the two intervention groups in the first and the second weeks of intervention compared to baseline (P < 0.0001) and increased in the control group (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Aromatherapy with Lavender essence or oral Sedamin capsule are inexpensive and easy methods and were effective in alleviating fatigue in Patients with Heart Failure. To confirm the findings, further studies are recommended.
Objective
To explore potential clinical applications, based on evidence and a nurse-driven test of change, of using lavender aromatherapy for preoperative anxiety as an intervention complementary to standard preoperative care.
Design
A pre- versus postaromatherapy comparison using a visual analog scale (VAS).
Setting
The preoperative department at a level 2 trauma hospital witsth 544 beds.
Participants
Forty-four surgical patients, including 29 female participants and 15 male participants.
Intervention/Measurements
Participants reported their anxiety on a VAS before receiving a lavender aromatherapy inhaler. Anxiety scores were measured again after receiving the lavender aromatherapy and shortly before participants left the preoperative area for surgery. A pre–post comparison of the two VAS anxiety measurements before and after receiving the lavender aromatherapy was completed, analyzed, and is discussed.
Results
Mean anxiety scores were calculated for the pre- and postaromatherapy groups. More than 48% (n = 29) of participants reported a decrease in their anxiety after receiving preoperative lavender aromatherapy. Female participants reported higher preoperative anxiety scores and a larger decrease in their mean anxiety scores after receiving lavender aromatherapy when compared to male participants.
Conclusion
The use of a nurse-driven complementary intervention in the preoperative area was associated with a decrease in mean anxiety scores among female patients about to undergo elective surgery. However, cause and effect cannot be determined because of a lack of a control group and randomization. Opportunities exist with support from seasoned staff for nurses to incorporate safe, evidence-based complementary interventions into the current standard of care for preoperative anxiety.
Currently, the quality of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil (LEO) is defined and regulated based on standards and methods established by regulatory authorities. Unfortunately, these existing standards and methods are not sufficient for LEO quality evaluation due to the complexity of LEO and adulteration encouraged by a burgeoning market. This study provides an efficient and reliable method for LEO quality assessment and adulteration detection. After a comprehensive investigation, involving a large set of LEO samples (n = 72) analyzed by multiple techniques (GC/MS, GC/Q-ToF, NMR, and chemometric analysis), a new approach named Q-Index was proposed. Fourteen marker compounds, along with trans-furano-linalool oxide acetate (an indicator of synthetic compound adulteration in LEO), were identified. These marker compounds played significant roles in discriminating the adulterated samples from the authentic LEOs. Calculation of the Q-Index value using the identified marker compounds permitted the detection of fraudulent samples. As demonstrated, all the authentic LEOs exhibited high Q-Index values (>100), whereas the adulterated or poor-quality samples displayed low Q-Index values (<100). The NMR-based chemometric analysis, which served as an independent and complementary approach to the GC/MS and Q-Index methods, was applied in order to assess the validity of the Q-Index method. Overall, the results obtained from different methods were in good agreement. Moreover, compared to the NMR method, the Q-Index approach possessed greater sensitivity in detecting LEO adulteration associated with the addition of synthetic compounds. Results of this study demonstrated that the Q-Index method could be successfully applied for LEO quality assessment and adulteration detection. This approach may have a significant potential to improve quality control for the LEO industry.
Background:
Psychosocial distress, depression, or anxiety can occur in up to 50% of women after a breast cancer diagnosis and mastectomy. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential benefit of lavender oil as a perioperative adjunct to improve anxiety, depression, pain, and sleep in women undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction.
Methods:
This was a prospective, single-blinded, randomized, controlled trial of 49 patients undergoing microvascular breast reconstruction. Patients were randomized to receive lavender oil or placebo (coconut oil) throughout their hospitalization. The effect of lavender oil on perioperative stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain was measured using the hospital anxiety and depression scale, Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire, and the visual analogue scale.
Results:
Twenty-seven patients were assigned to the lavender group and 22 patients were assigned to the control group. No significant differences were seen in the perioperative setting between the groups with regard to anxiety (p = 0.82), depression (p = 0.21), sleep (p = 0.86), or pain (p = 0.30) scores. No adverse events (i.e., allergic reaction) were captured, and no significant differences in surgery-related complications were observed. When evaluating the entire cohort, postoperative anxiety scores were significantly lower than preoperative scores (p < 0.001), while depression scores were significantly higher postoperatively as compared with preoperatively (p = 0.005).
Conclusion:
In the setting of microvascular breast reconstruction, lavender oil and aromatherapy had no significant adverse events or complications; however, there were no measurable advantages pertaining to metrics of depression, anxiety, sleep, or pain as compared with the control group.
Background and aims
Antidepressant drugs are accompanied with high rate of adverse effects. Lavender is one of the most common herbal drugs mentioned in Traditional Persian literature with potential efficacy on mental disorders and less serious side effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of lavender on depression severity by preforming a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods
Databases including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane library, Embase and Web of science were searched for relevant articles till December 2020. Quality of studies were evaluated by Jadad scale and the Cochrane collaboration tool. Depression as endpoint measure or as a subscale of any valid assessment tool was subjected to quantitative data analyses. Both fixed and random effects meta-analysis were conducted for data synthesis.
Results
Out of 342 screened studies, 17 articles were included in the meta-analysis. Results showed significant efficacy of lavender in decreasing depression scores compared to the control group (pooled Standardized Mean Difference (SMD)= -0.66, 95% CI: -0.85 to -0.46;P < 0.001, I² = 68.2%;). Subgroup analysis proved that the effect of lavender was marginally more pronounced in participants with diagnosed depression (pooled SMD= -0.62, 95% CI: -1.26 to 0.01, P = 0.055; I² = 88.1 %) while its effect was statistically significant in patients having other diseases with concomitant depressive symptoms (pooled SMD= -0.65, 95% CI: -1.84 to -0.46, P < 0.001; I² = 52.1%), and the oral route (pooled SMD= -0.56, 95% CI: -1.07 to -0.05, P = 0.032; I² = 85.2%;) was the most effective route of administration.
Conclusions
This systematic review and meta-analysis concluded that lavender has significant antidepressant effects. However, due to some limitations, further large clinical trials are recommended with more homogeneous populations and rigorous designs.
Background:
Knee osteoarthritis is the most common articular disease, and non-medical treatment of this disease has attracted the attention of researchers. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of aromatherapy and massage therapy on knee pain, morning stiffness, daily life function, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis.
Methods:
This is a clinical trial. In this study, 93 patients referred to the Imam Ali Hospital (Physical Therapy Clinic) who entered the study were randomly divided into three groups including massage therapy (n = 31), aromatherapy (n = 31), and the control (n = 31). The data gathering tools were a demographic characteristics questionnaire and the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) questionnaire. The questionnaire was completed before intervention and at the 5th and 10th sessions after intervention in all three groups. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 20, and Chi-square, Fisher's exact test, repeated measures test, one-way ANOVA test, and Tukey's post hoc test were used for analysis.
Results:
The study shows that mean score subscale Symptoms and dryness in the 5th session and 10th session of intervention in the aromatherapy group is significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). The massage therapy group had the highest pain score at the beginning of the intervention, but at the end of the 10th session of intervention had the least pain score. Mean score subscale Performance of daily life in the 5th session and 10th session of intervention in the aromatherapy group is significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Mean score in the subscale Performance, exercise, and recreational activities significantly differs between the aroma therapy and massage therapy groups compared with the control group in all times of interventions (p < 0.05), and in the mean score in the subscale Quality of life, there is no significant difference between the groups in all times of interventions (p > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The use of both massage therapy and aromatherapy is recommended for patients with knee osteoarthritis. Interventions should be prolonged for at least 6 months in patients so their effects appear on the patient.
Die Agrohomöopathie ist die Anwendung homöopathischer Mittel und homöopathischer Prinzipien bei der Behandlung von Krankheiten der Pflanzen. Die Agrohomöopathie scheint vor allem in Indien und Italien populär zu sein, wo es sogar ein „Laboratorium für Agrohomöopathie“ gibt. Dutzende von Büchern sind zu diesem Thema erhältlich.
Background and Aim: Tremor is one of the most debilitating common symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Tremor can reduce patientschr('39') life quality and limit their daily activities. Considering the beneficial effects of Lavandula on several neurologic disorders which have been confirmed in many studies, we decided to evaluate the effects of Iranian Lavandula on tremor in MS patients.
Materials and Methods: This was a randomized double-blind clinical trial that included 30 patients with MS in Khuzestan Province from April 2017 to December 2018. The patients were divided randomly into intervention and control groups. Using goal positioning system (individual’s hands), all the movements of hands and fingers were investigated during rest, posture 1, posture 2, and movement toward a specific target (kinetic) in the zero, 4th, and 8th weeks. Data collection tools were a questionnaire on tremor extracted from MDS_UPDRS questionnaire which is a comprehensive self-assessment questionnaire, a specific form of assessing EDSS, and a motion capture system. Data were converted into quantitative data by Matlab software and then analyzed.
Results: The Wilcoxon test demonstrated a significant difference among the three variables of POSTURE1, POSTURE 2, and kinetic in the group receiving the drug (P
Lavandula angustifolia was watered with either deionized tap water treated with low-temperature, low-pressure glow plasma of low frequency in the air (LPGPA), under oxygen-free nitrogen (LPGPN), methane (LPGPM), carbon dioxide (LPGPC) or molecular oxygen (LPGPO). The crop yields were slightly dependent on the type of water used for watering. Notably, only plants watered with LPGPN showed a slightly higher crop yield. The plants also contained a higher level of protein and bioaccumulated magnesium. The type of water had a considerable and specific effect on the yield of isolated essential oils and their composition. The yield of essential oil decreased in the following order LPGPA = LPGPN (0.4 g/100 g dry mass) > LPGPC = LPGPO (0.3 g/100 g dry mass) > LPGPM = non-treated water (0.2 g/100 g dry mass). The composition of the isolated essential oils varied depending on the type of water used for watering, which influences their role as a fragrant component of cosmetics, and in herbal therapy and aromatherapy.
Most systematic reviews rely substantially on the assessment of the methodological quality of the individual trials. The aim of this study was to obtain consensus among experts about a set of generic core items for quality assessment of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The invited participants were experts in the field of quality assessment of RCTs. The initial item pool contained all items from existing criteria lists. Subsequently, we reduced the number of items by using the Delphi consensus technique. Each Delphi round comprised a questionnaire, an analysis, and a feedback report. The feedback report included staff team decisions made on the basis of the analysis and their justification. A total of 33 international experts agreed to participate, of whom 21 completed all questionnaires. The initial item pool of 206 items was reduced to 9 items in three Delphi rounds. The final criteria list (the Delphi list) was satisfactory to all participants. It is a starting point on the way to a minimum reference standard for RCTs on many different research topics. This list is not intended to replace, but rather to be used alongside, existing criteria lists.
The study was planned as a randomized, controlled, prospective study to determine the effect of aromatherapy on test anxiety. The sample of the study was composed of 50 students who constituted the study group and 45 students who were the controls. The study group was exposed to lavender inhalation. The mean anxiety score of the study group (42.76 ± 12.48) was lower than that of the control group (51.51 ± 12.21), and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = .002). This study shows that aroma inhalation decreases examination anxiety.
Aims:
To provide 12-month prevalence and disability burden estimates of a broad range of mental and neurological disorders in the European Union (EU) and to compare these findings to previous estimates. Referring to our previous 2005 review, improved up-to-date data for the enlarged EU on a broader range of disorders than previously covered are needed for basic, clinical and public health research and policy decisions and to inform about the estimated number of persons affected in the EU.
Method:
Stepwise multi-method approach, consisting of systematic literature reviews, reanalyses of existing data sets, national surveys and expert consultations. Studies and data from all member states of the European Union (EU-27) plus Switzerland, Iceland and Norway were included. Supplementary information about neurological disorders is provided, although methodological constraints prohibited the derivation of overall prevalence estimates for mental and neurological disorders. Disease burden was measured by disability adjusted life years (DALY).
Results:
Prevalence: It is estimated that each year 38.2% of the EU population suffers from a mental disorder. Adjusted for age and comorbidity, this corresponds to 164.8million persons affected. Compared to 2005 (27.4%) this higher estimate is entirely due to the inclusion of 14 new disorders also covering childhood/adolescence as well as the elderly. The estimated higher number of persons affected (2011: 165m vs. 2005: 82m) is due to coverage of childhood and old age populations, new disorders and of new EU membership states. The most frequent disorders are anxiety disorders (14.0%), insomnia (7.0%), major depression (6.9%), somatoform (6.3%), alcohol and drug dependence (>4%), ADHD (5%) in the young, and dementia (1-30%, depending on age). Except for substance use disorders and mental retardation, there were no substantial cultural or country variations. Although many sources, including national health insurance programs, reveal increases in sick leave, early retirement and treatment rates due to mental disorders, rates in the community have not increased with a few exceptions (i.e. dementia). There were also no consistent indications of improvements with regard to low treatment rates, delayed treatment provision and grossly inadequate treatment. Disability: Disorders of the brain and mental disorders in particular, contribute 26.6% of the total all cause burden, thus a greater proportion as compared to other regions of the world. The rank order of the most disabling diseases differs markedly by gender and age group; overall, the four most disabling single conditions were: depression, dementias, alcohol use disorders and stroke.
Conclusion:
In every year over a third of the total EU population suffers from mental disorders. The true size of "disorders of the brain" including neurological disorders is even considerably larger. Disorders of the brain are the largest contributor to the all cause morbidity burden as measured by DALY in the EU. No indications for increasing overall rates of mental disorders were found nor of improved care and treatment since 2005; less than one third of all cases receive any treatment, suggesting a considerable level of unmet needs. We conclude that the true size and burden of disorders of the brain in the EU was significantly underestimated in the past. Concerted priority action is needed at all levels, including substantially increased funding for basic, clinical and public health research in order to identify better strategies for improved prevention and treatment for disorders of the brain as the core health challenge of the 21st century.
A number of essential oils are currently in use as aromatherapy agents to relieve anxiety, stress, and depression. Popular anxiolytic oils include lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), rose (Rosa damascena), orange (Citrus sinensis), bergamot (Citrus aurantium), lemon (Citrus limon), sandalwood (Santalum album), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), Roman chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), and rose-scented geranium (Pelargonium spp.). This review discusses the chemical constituents and CNS effects of these aromatherapeutic essential oils, as well as recent studies on additional essential oils with anxiolytic activities.
In the present experiment the effect of the lavender odorant to human beings was investigated. Japanese version of Cox and Mackay's stress / arousal adjective checklist (J-SACL) , blood pressure, heart rate, stroop test, non-spatial working memory task and the computed electroencephalography (cEEG) was performed before and after the lavender odorants stimulation. The results indicated that lavender odorants have an anti-stress effect and reduce the arousal state in J-SACL, although lavender odorants did not influence blood pressure, heart rate, stroop test and non-spatial working memory task. Furthermore, the power spectrum of theta 1 (F4) was increased and beta 1 waves in T3, O1, P4 and F4 were decreased in the lavender stimulated group. These results suggest that the lavender odorants reduce an electrophysiological arousal state. CoxとMackayにより開発されたストレスチェックリスト，血圧，脈拍，ストループ課題，非空間性作動記憶課題と脳波定量分析をもちいて，ラベンダーの香りが人体に及ぼす影響を調べた。その結果，ラベンダーの香りには抗ストレス作用があることが認められたが，血圧，脈拍，ストループ課題および非空間性作動記憶課題には変化はみられなかった。ラベンダーの負荷後，脳波のパワースペクトラムではF4のθ1波が増加し，T2,O1,P4におけるβ1波が減少していた。このことは，ラベンダーの香りには脳波上覚醒度を下げる働きがあることを示唆するものである。
Patients develop anxiety before undergoing gastroscopy. By removing such distressing feelings, patients are more likely to experience gastroscopy more smoothly. This study was designed to examine changes in anxiety levels in patients undergoing gastroscopy and the effect of an optimal soothing environment (OSE) as a new nonpharmacological intervention to reduce patient anxiety prior to gastroscopy. During a 6-month period, 50 outpatients referred for gastroscopy were randomly assigned to two groups (control group, n = 24 patients; OSE group, n = 26 patients). This study was performed at the digestive endoscopy service of a 150-bed acute care hospital in Japan. The patient anxiety was assessed using the Face Scale score. Pre- and postprocedural systolic blood pressures were measured and values were compared with blood pressure upon arrival at the hospital. The tools for an OSE, including a safe essential oil burner with lavender essential oil and a digital video disk program entitled "Flow" manufactured by NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation) software, were provided to patients in the waiting room before gastroscopy. The score for self-assessed anxiety level just before gastroscopy was significantly higher than that on arrival at the hospital but returned to baseline after gastroscopy in the control group, whereas the score did not increase before starting gastroscopy in the OSE group. Systolic blood pressure measurements just before and after gastroscopy were significantly higher than those on arrival at the hospital and the baseline values in the control group, whereas it was not increased before starting gastroscopy in the OSE group. Providing an OSE before and during gastroscopy is useful to minimize patient anxiety regarding experiencing a gastroscopy. This nonpharmacological method is a simple, inexpensive, and safe method of minimizing anxiety before and during gastroscopy.
It has been suggested that the quality of clinical trials should be assessed by blinded raters to limit the risk of introducing bias into meta-analyses and systematic reviews, and into the peer-review process. There is very little evidence in the literature to substantiate this. This study describes the development of an instrument to assess the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in pain research and its use to determine the effect of rater blinding on the assessments of quality. A multidisciplinary panel of six judges produced an initial version of the instrument. Fourteen raters from three different backgrounds assessed the quality of 36 research reports in pain research, selected from three different samples. Seven were allocated randomly to perform the assessments under blind conditions. The final version of the instrument included three items. These items were scored consistently by all the raters regardless of background and could discriminate between reports from the different samples. Blind assessments produced significantly lower and more consistent scores than open assessments. The implications of this finding for systematic reviews, meta-analytic research and the peer-review process are discussed.
Most systematic reviews rely substantially on the assessment of the methodological quality of the individual trials. The aim of this study was to obtain consensus among experts about a set of generic core items for quality assessment of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). The invited participants were experts in the field of quality assessment of RCTs. The initial item pool contained all items from existing criteria lists. Subsequently, we reduced the number of items by using the Delphi consensus technique. Each Delphi round comprised a questionnaire, an analysis, and a feedback report. The feedback report included staff team decisions made on the basis of the analysis and their justification. A total of 33 international experts agreed to participate, of whom 21 completed all questionnaires. The initial item pool of 206 items was reduced to 9 items in three Delphi rounds. The final criteria list (the Delphi list) was satisfactory to all participants. It is a starting point on the way to a minimum reference standard for RCTs on many different research topics. This list is not intended to replace, but rather to be used alongside, existing criteria lists.
Herbal medicinal products are widely used, vary greatly in content and quality, and are actively tested in randomized, controlled trials (RCTs). The authors' objective was to develop recommendations for reporting RCTs of herbal medicine interventions, based on the need to elaborate on the 22-item CONSORT (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials) checklist. Telephone calls were made and a consensus meeting was held with 16 participants in Toronto, Canada, to develop these recommendations. The group agreed on context-specific elaborations of 9 CONSORT checklist items for RCTs of herbal medicines. Item 4, concerning the herbal medicine intervention, required the most extensive elaboration. These recommendations have been developed to improve the reporting of RCTs using herbal medicine interventions.
The consequences of a stressful lifestyle include myriad symptoms from depression to decreased function of the immune system. In the past, researchers have focused on the efficacy of traditional psychotherapy techniques in reducing the signs of stress. However, these techniques usually require trained individuals to facilitate the programs, participants must do a lot of work on their own, and it may take a long time to produce results. Because of the inconvenience and cost of these techniques, many have turned to alternative methods for stress reduction. The present study examined the efficacy of one of these alternatives, namely aromatherapy, in reducing psychological and physiological responses to an acute stress situation. Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 conditions based on whether they were aware of the aromatherapy or whether they got the treatment. All groups were exposed to a short, 12-minute mental arithmetic task in which their performance was monitored. State anxiety and cardiovascular responses were recorded as well. No group differences in either perceived stress or the physiological responses to the task were recorded. Conversely, correlations displayed that one's knowledge of alternative medicine was highly related with one's physiological responses to stress. This study therefore suggests that although aromatherapy by itself may not be the most effective treatment in reducing acute stress, one's knowledge of the procedure may relate to how one responds.
Chromogranin A (CgA) is a major protein in adrenal chromaffin cells and adrenargic neurons. CgA and catecholamines are co-released into extra-cellular environment. We measured changes in the concentrations of CgA-like immunoreactivity (CgA-like IR), catecholamines and cortisol in saliva and plasma by exposure to stress in male volunteers. We found a prompt elevation of salivary CgA-like IR level prior to an elevation of salivary cortisol level in psychosomatic stresses (oral presentation and car driving). Salivary CgA-like IR level showed apparently no change during continuous physical exercise, while plasma noradrenaline level increased immediately. These results suggest strongly that salivary CgA-like IR can be a sensitive and substantial index for psychosomatic stress.
Massage and aromatherapy are being used increasingly by nurses to enhance the wellbeing of patients in palliative care settings, yet little evaluation of these therapies has been undertaken. This article reports a quasi experimental study comparing the effects of an 8-week course of massage, with or without the addition of a blend of essential oils, on patients undergoing cancer treatment. Findings from the study suggest that massage has a significant effect on anxiety and this was found to be greater where essential oils were used, although the small sample prevented this from being established conclusively. Massage was reported to be universally beneficial by patients, it assisted relaxation and reduced physical and emotional symptoms. The authors call for more research to be conducted in this area with larger cohorts of patients. Copies of the full research report for this study may be obtained from the Macmillan Practice Development Unit, Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care Studies, Institute of Cancer Research/Royal Marsden NHS Trust, Fulham Road, London SW3 6JJ. Price £6.00.
Linalool is a monoterpene compound reported to be a major component of essential oils of several aromatic species. Several linalool-producing species are used in traditional medical systems for sedative purposes, including the interruption and prevention of seizures. Previous studies in mice revealed that linalool modulates glutamatergic (competitive antagonism of L-[3H]glutamate binding, delayed intraperitoneal NMDA-induced convulsions and blockade of intracerebroventricular Quin-induced convulsions) and GABAergic transmission (protection against pentylenetetrazol and picrotoxin-induced convulsions). To further clarify the anticonvulsive mechanisms of linalool, we studied the effects of linalool on binding of [3H]MK801 (NMDA antagonist) and [3H]muscimol (GABAA agonist) to mouse cortical membranes. Linalool showed a dose dependent non-competitive inhibition of [3H]MK801 binding (IC50 = 2.97 mM) but no effect on [3H]muscimol binding. The data suggest that the anticonvulsant mode of action of linalool includes a direct interaction with the NMDA receptor complex. The data do not, however, support a direct interaction of linalool with GABAA receptors, although changes in GABA-mediated neuronal inhibition or effects on GABA release and uptake cannot be ruled out.
We evaluated the stress relief effect of lavender aroma by measuring sensitive salivary endocrinological stress markers, cortisol and chromogranin A (CgA).
Thirty healthy students performed a serial arithmetic task for 10min and then rested for 10min. During the resting period, 16 students (aroma group) were exposed to airborne organic essential oil of lavender. Saliva samples were collected immediately before and after the arithmetic task, and at 5 and 10min after that. Salivary cortisol and CgA levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
In the aroma group, levels of CgA that had been elevated at the end of the arithmetic task were statistically significantly lower 10min later. The control group showed no such change. During the protocol, no statistically significant changes in levels of cortisol were detected in either the aroma group or the control group.
These findings suggest that lavender aroma has a stress relief effect.
This study was performed to investigate the anxiolytic efficacy of silexan, a new oral lavender oil capsule preparation, in comparison to placebo in primary care. In 27 general and psychiatric practices 221 adults suffering from anxiety disorder not otherwise specified (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders-IV 300.00 or International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth revision F41.9) were randomized to 80 mg/day of a defined, orally administered preparation from Lavandula species or placebo for 10 weeks with visits every 2 weeks. A Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) total score >or=18 and a total score >5 for the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were required. The primary outcome measures were HAMA and PSQI total score decrease between baseline and week 10. Secondary efficacy measures included the Clinical Global Impressions scale, the Zung Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and the SF-36 Health Survey Questionnaire. Patients treated with silexan showed a total score decrease by 16.0+/-8.3 points (mean+/-SD, 59.3%) for the HAMA and by 5.5+/-4.4 points (44.7%) for the PSQI compared to 9.5+/-9.1 (35.4%) and 3.8+/-4.1 points (30.9%) in the placebo group (P<0.01 one-sided, intention to treat). Silexan was superior to placebo regarding the percentage of responders (76.9 vs. 49.1%, P<0.001) and remitters (60.6 vs. 42.6%, P=0.009). Lavandula oil preparation had a significant beneficial influence on quality and duration of sleep and improved general mental and physical health without causing any unwanted sedative or other drug specific effects. Lavandula oil preparation silexan is both efficacious and safe for the relief of anxiety disorder not otherwise specified. It has a clinically meaningful anxiolytic effect and alleviates anxiety related disturbed sleep.
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To review the effect of lavender scent on anticipatory anxiety in dental participants.
In a cluster randomized-controlled trial, patients' (N = 340) anxiety was assessed while waiting for a scheduled dental appointment, either under the odor of lavender or with no odor. Current anxiety, assessed by the brief State Trait Anxiety Indicator (STAI-6), and generalized dental anxiety, assessed by the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) were examined.
Analyses of variance (anovas) showed that although both groups showed similar, moderate levels of generalized dental anxiety (MDAS F((1,338)) = 2.17, P > 0.05) the lavender group reported significantly lower current anxiety (STAI: F((1,338)) = 74.69, P < 0.001) than the control group.
Although anxiety about future dental visits seems to be unaffected, lavender scent reduces state anxiety in dental patients.
Generalized and persistent anxiety, accompanied by nervousness and other symptoms (Generalised Anxiety Disorder, GAD) is frequent in the general population and leads to benzodiazepine usage. Unfortunately, these substances induce sedation and have a high potential for drug abuse, and there is thus a need for alternatives. As the anxiolytic properties of lavender have already been demonstrated in pharmacological studies and small-scale clinical trials, it was postulated that lavender has a positive effect in GAD. A controlled clinical study was then performed to evaluate the efficacy of silexan, a new oral lavender oil capsule preparation, versus a benzodiazepine. In this study, the efficacy of a 6-week-intake of silexan compared to lorazepam was investigated in adults with GAD. The primary target variable was the change in the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A-total score) as an objective measurement of the severity of anxiety between baseline and week 6. The results suggest that silexan effectively ameliorates generalized anxiety comparable to a common benzodiazepine (lorazepam). The mean of the HAM-A-total score decreased clearly and to a similar extent in both groups (by 11.3+/-6.7 points (45%) in the silexan group and by 11.6+/-6.6 points (46%) in the lorazepam group, from 25+/-4 points at baseline in both groups). During the active treatment period, the two HAM-A subscores "somatic anxiety" (HAM-A subscore I) and "psychic anxiety" (HAM-A subscore II) also decreased clearly and to a similar extent in both groups. The changes in other subscores measured during the study, such as the SAS (Self-rating Anxiety Scale), PSWQ-PW (Penn State Worry Questionnaire), SF 36 Health survey Questionnaire and Clinical Global Impressions of severity of disorder (CGI item 1, CGI item 2, CGI item 3), and the results of the sleep diary demonstrated comparable positive effects of the two compounds. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that silexan is as effective as lorazepam in adults with GAD. The safety of silexan was also demonstrated. Since lavender oil showed no sedative effects in our study and has no potential for drug abuse, silexan appears to be an effective and well tolerated alternative to benzodiazepines for amelioration of generalised anxiety.
Preoperative anxiety is prevalent in surgical patients who may require anxiety medications, thus impacting preoperative teaching and patient satisfaction. No studies were found in a comprehensive search on the effect of essential oils on anxiety in the preoperative setting. The purpose of this experimental study was to investigate whether the essential oil lavandin is more effective than standard care in reducing preoperative anxiety. A convenience sample of 150 adult patients were randomly assigned to either control (standard care), experimental (standard care plus essential oil lavandin), or sham (standard care plus jojoba oil) groups. Visual analog scales were used to assess anxiety on admission and OR transfer. Controlling for baseline anxiety and pain, the lavandin group had significantly lower anxiety on OR transfer, suggesting that lavandin is a simple, low-risk, cost-effective intervention with the potential to improve preoperative outcomes and increase patient satisfaction. Future studies should test the effects of lavandin in the postoperative phase and in specific populations with documented high anxiety.
This randomized, controlled, blinded study examined the effectiveness of an aromatherapy intervention on the reduction of children's distress in a perianesthesia setting. The sample included children with and without developmental disabilities (n = 94). Subjects in the intervention group received an aromatherapy intervention of lavender and ginger essential oils. The control group received a placebo intervention of jojoba oil. Distress was measured at two times: before induction and in the PACU, using the Faces, Legs, Arms, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) scale. The mean distress level was lower for the children in the essential oil group, but the effect was not statistically significant (P = .055). Parents' responses to survey questions about satisfaction with aromatherapy did not differ between groups, although open-ended comments indicated a more positive opinion of the benefits of the intervention in the aromatherapy group.
Lavender odour is commonly used to alleviate mild anxiety. Double blind studies are difficult to conduct with odours, and there are few reliable investigations of lavender's efficacy.
Orally administered lavender capsules (placebo, 100, 200 microl) were tested in a randomised between-subjects (n = 97) double-blind study. Film clips were used to elicit anxiety. Measures included anxiety, State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), mood, positive and negative affect scale (PANAS), heart rate (HR), galvanic skin response (GSR), and heart rate variation (HRV). Following baseline measurements capsules were administered. Participants viewed a neutral film clip, then an anxiety-provoking and light-hearted recovery film clip.
For the 200 microl lavender dose during the neutral film clip there was a trend towards reduced state anxiety, GSR and HR and increased HRV. In the anxiety-eliciting film, lavender was mildly beneficial in females but only on HRV measures. In males sympathetic arousal increased during the anxiety film (GSR). HRV significantly increased at 200 microl during all three film clips in females, suggesting decreased anxiety.
These findings suggest that lavender has anxiolytic effects in humans under conditions of low anxiety, but these effects may not extend to conditions of high anxiety.
Ayurvedic oil-dripping treatment, Shirodhara, involves the use of medicated herbal sesame oils. In our previous reports, we found that Shirodhara with plain sesame oil induced anxiolysis and an altered state of consciousness (ASC) in healthy subjects. We studied the pharmaco-physio-psychologic effect of Shirodhara with medicated sesame oil including an essential oil from Lavendula angustifolia (lavender) in the present study. Sixteen (16) healthy females (38 +/- 8 years old) were assigned at random to three treatments applied by a robotic oil-dripping system: plain sesame oil (plain Shirodhara), medicated sesame oil with a 0.3 volume % of lavender essential oil (lavender Shirodhara), or the control supine position. Psychophysiologic parameters including the heart rate, skin temperature of the dorsum of hands and feet, as well as anxiety and ASC were monitored, and the rates of change of these items were calculated to assess the psychophysiologic changes brought about by Shirodhara. Lavender Shirodhara showed potent anxiolytic and ASC-inducing or promoting effects, and induced the largest increase in foot skin temperature. The correlation between anxiolysis and ASC, as well as the correlation between these psychologic effects and the elevated foot skin temperature were larger in the lavender Shirodhara than in the other two conditions. It was speculated that the psycho-physiologic effects of lavender Shirodhara would be brought about by three mechanisms: (1) the well-known relaxing action of essential oils from L. angustifolia mediated by olfactory nerves, (2) the pharmacologic action of substances absorbed through the skin or mucosa in the sesame oil or lavender essential oil, and (3) the physiologic effect of sesame oil dripped on the forehead induced by the somato-autonomic reflex through thermosensors or pressure sensors in the skin or hair follicles via the trigeminal cranial nerve. The complicated pharmaco-physio-psychologic action of Ayurvedic oil treatment may provide a useful model for future pharmaco-physio-psychotherapy.
In a retrospective survey, 487 research projects approved by the Central Oxford Research Ethics Committee between 1984 and 1987, were studied for evidence of publication bias. As of May, 1990, 285 of the studies had been analysed by the investigators, and 52% of these had been published. Studies with statistically significant results were more likely to be published than those finding no difference between the study groups (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.32; 95% confidence interval [Cl] 1.25-4.28). Studies with significant results were also more likely to lead to a greater number of publications and presentations and to be published in journals with a high citation impact factor. An increased likelihood of publication was also associated with a high rating by the investigator of the importance of the study results, and with increasing sample size. The tendency towards publication bias was greater with observational and laboratory-based experimental studies (OR = 3.79; 95% Cl = 1.47-9.76) than with randomised clinical trials (OR = 0.84; 95% Cl = 0.34-2.09). We have confirmed the presence of publication bias in a cohort of clinical research studies. These findings suggest that conclusions based only on a review of published data should be interpreted cautiously, especially for observational studies. Improved strategies are needed to identify the results of unpublished as well as published studies.
To the Editor. —I am enthusiastic about your experiment in the structured reporting of randomized controlled trials. 1 I agree that current methods provide too little detail about methods to determine a study's statistical validity. However, the structured system you suggest is cumbersome. I suggest the following solution. Rather than delineating randomization issues one by one, why not have an authoritative statistician publish an article in JAMA with appropriate methods outlined and named so that they can be referenced by authors? This would be similar to current style in reporting postrandomization statistical methods, eg, the Cox proportional hazards test. Where specifics are required or variances need to be reported, this could easily be explained without undue verbiage in the text. In this way, full details of the methods could be reported without throwing an undue burden on either author or reader.
There is widespread belief that the use of aromatherapy and massage in an intensive care environment offers a means of increasing the quality of sensory input that patients receive, as well as reducing levels of stress and anxiety. Despite a wealth of anecdotal evidence in support of these claims, there have been few objective studies to evaluate the effects of these therapies. In this experimental study 122 patients admitted to a general intensive care unit were randomly allocated to receive either massage, aromatherapy using essential oil of lavender, or a period of rest. Both pre- and post-therapy assessments included physiological stress indicators and patients' evaluation of their anxiety levels, mood and ability to cope with their intensive care experience. Ninety-three patients (77%) were able to complete subjective assessments. There were no statistically significant differences in the physiological stress indicators or observed or reported behaviour of patients' ability to cope following any of the three interventions. However, those patients who received aromatherapy reported significantly greater improvement in their mood and perceived levels of anxiety. They also felt less anxious and more positive immediately following the therapy, although this effect was not sustained or cumulative.
Jane Buckle presents the results of a randomised, double-blind trial of two essential oils of two different species of lavender, topically applied on post-cardiotomy patients. The emotional and behavioural stress levels of 28 patients were evaluated pre- and post-treatment on two consecutive days. The therapeutic effects of the two lavenders appeared to be different: one was almost twice as effective as the other, thereby disproving the hypothesis that aromatherapy, using topical application of essential oils, is effective purely because of touch, massage or placebo.
The effect of the lavender odorant on a Japanese version of Cox and Mackay's stress/arousal adjective checklist for three groups was studied. One group of 14 was placed into a (2 x 2- x 3 m) sound protected room for 20 min without the presentation of an odor, an analogous group of 15 received the odor oil, and one group of 13 received a nonstressful condition. Analysis suggested that lavender odorants were associated with reduced mental stress and increased arousal rate.
Essential oils distilled from members of the genus Lavandula have been used both cosmetically and therapeutically for centuries with the most commonly used species being L. angustifolia, L. latifolia, L. stoechas and L. x intermedia. Although there is considerable anecdotal information about the biological activity of these oils much of this has not been substantiated by scientific or clinical evidence. Among the claims made for lavender oil are that is it antibacterial, antifungal, carminative (smooth muscle relaxing), sedative, antidepressive and effective for burns and insect bites. In this review we detail the current state of knowledge about the effect of lavender oils on psychological and physiological parameters and its use as an antimicrobial agent. Although the data are still inconclusive and often controversial, there does seem to be both scientific and clinical data that support the traditional uses of lavender. However, methodological and oil identification problems have severely hampered the evaluation of the therapeutic significance of much of the research on Lavandula spp. These issues need to be resolved before we have a true picture of the biological activities of lavender essential oil.
The effects of negative air ions on computer operation were examined using a biochemical index of the activity of the sympathetic/adrenomedullary system (i.e. salivary chromogranin A-like immunoreactivity (CgA-like IR)) and a self-report questionnaire (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Anxiety State--STAI-S). Twelve female students carried out a word processing task for 40 min. The salivary CgA-like IR increased more than three times on the task, but the salivary cortisol did not change. The increase in the CgA-like IR level was attenuated by the exposure to negative air ions during the task. The exposure to the ions during the recovery period following the task was effective for rapidly decreasing the CgA-like IR level that had increased after the task. These effects by negative air ions were also observed using STAI-S. Task performance was slightly but significantly improved by the presence of negative air ions. These results suggest that negative air ions are effective for the reduction of and the prompt recovery from stress caused by computer operation.
Two important aspects of psychological well-being are positive mood state and a positive outlook with respect to the future. This study investigates the use of lavender baths to improve these aspects of psychological well-being.
A single blind, randomised control trial.
The participants' home and interview rooms at the University of Wolverhampton.
Eighty women not receiving treatment for psychological disorders who were staff or students at the University of Wolverhampton. Forty participated in Study 1 and 40 in Study 2.
Participants were randomly allocated to use either grapeseed oil or 80% grapeseed oil and 20% lavender oil in their bath for 14 days.
In Study 1, the UWIST mood adjective checklist. In Study 2, the MacLeod and Byrne Future Events procedure.
In Study 1 psychologically positive mood changes were found after the bathing regimen for energetic arousal, tense arousal, hedonic tone and anger-frustration. Only anger-frustration showed a selective effect for lavender oil. In the second study negative responses about the future were selectively reduced after lavender oil baths.
These results are encouraging and suggest further investigation using potential patients may result in the development of a useful procedure for improving psychological well-being.
To determine whether the inhalation of aromatherapy during radiotherapy reduces anxiety.
Three hundred thirteen patients undergoing radiotherapy were randomly assigned to receive either carrier oil with fractionated oils, carrier oil only, or pure essential oils of lavender, bergamot, and cedarwood administered by inhalation concurrently with radiation treatment. Patients underwent assessment by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the Somatic and Psychological Health Report (SPHERE) at baseline and at treatment completion.
There were no significant differences in HADS depression or SPHERE scores between the randomly assigned groups. However, HADS anxiety scores were significantly lower at treatment completion in the carrier oil only group compared with either of the fragrant arms (P =.04).
Aromatherapy, as administered in this study, is not beneficial.
Research suggests that patients with cancer, particularly in the palliative care setting, are increasingly using aromatherapy and massage. There is good evidence that these therapies may be helpful for anxiety reduction for short periods, but few studies have looked at the longer term effects. This study was designed to compare the effects of four-week courses of aromatherapy massage and massage alone on physical and psychological symptoms in patients with advanced cancer.
Forty-two patients were randomly allocated to receive weekly massages with lavender essential oil and an inert carrier oil (aromatherapy group), an inert carrier oil only (massage group) or no intervention. Outcome measures included a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) of pain intensity, the Verran and Snyder-Halpern (VSH) sleep scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale and the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (RSCL).
We were unable to demonstrate any significant long-term benefits of aromatherapy or massage in terms of improving pain control, anxiety or quality of life. However, sleep scores improved significantly in both the massage and the combined massage (aromatherapy and massage) groups. There were also statistically significant reductions in depression scores in the massage group.
In this study of patients with advanced cancer, the addition of lavender essential oil did not appear to increase the beneficial effects of massage. Our results do suggest, however, that patients with high levels of psychological distress respond best to these therapies.
We electrophysiologically investigated the effect of some fragrant compounds in oolong tea on the response of ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (GABAA receptors) which were expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Of the tested fragrances in oolong tea, cis-jasmone, jasmine lactone, linalool oxide and methyl jasmonate significantly potentiated the response. Among these, cis-jasmone and methyl jasmonate potently potentiated the response, having a respective dissociation constant of the compound (Kp) and maximum potentiation (Vm) of 0.49 mM and 322% for cis-jasmone, and 0.84 mM and 450% for methyl jasmonate. Inhalation of 0.1% cis-jasmone or methyl jasmonate significantly increased the sleeping time of mice induced by pentobarbital, suggesting that these fragrant compounds were absorbed by the brain and thereby potentiated the GABAA receptor response. Both of these compounds may therefore have a tranquillizing effect on the brain.
To develop a checklist of items measuring the quality of reports of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) assessing nonpharmacological treatments (NPTs).
The Delphi consensus method was used to select and reduce the number of items in the checklist. A total of 154 individuals were invited to participate: epidemiologists and statisticians involved in the field of methodology of RCTs (n = 55), members of the Cochrane Collaboration (n = 41), and clinicians involved in planning NPT clinical trials (n = 58). Participants ranked on a 10-point Likert scale whether an item should be included in the checklist.
Fifty-five experts (36%) participated in the survey. They were experienced in systematic reviews (68% were involved in the Cochrane Collaboration) and in planning RCTs (76%). Three rounds of the Delphi method were conducted to achieve consensus. The final checklist contains 10 items and 5 subitems, with items related to the standardization of the intervention, care provider influence, and additional measures to minimize the potential bias from lack of blinding of participants, care providers, and outcome assessors.
This tool can be used to critically appraise the medical literature, design NPT studies, and assess the quality of trial reports included in systematic reviews.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of aromatherapy to reduce anxiety prior to a scheduled colonoscopy or esophagogastroduodenoscopy. A controlled, prospective study was done on a convenience sample of 118 patients. The "state" component of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to evaluate patients' anxiety levels pre- and postaromatherapy. The control group was given an inert oil (placebo) for inhalation, and the experimental group was given the essential oil, lavender, for inhalation. The STAI state anxiety raw score revealed that patients were at the 99th (women) and 96th (men) percentiles for anxiety. The intervention group and the control group had similar levels of state anxiety prior to the beginning of the study (t[116] = .47, p = .64). There was no difference in state anxiety levels between pre- and postplacebo inhalation in the control group (t[112] = .48, p = .63). There was no statistical difference in state anxiety levels between pre- and postlavender inhalation in the experimental group (t[120] = .73, p = .47). Although this study did not show aromatherapy to be effective based on statistical analysis, patients did generally report the lavender scent to be pleasant. Lavender is an inexpensive and popular technique for relaxation that can be offered to patients as an opportunity to promote preprocedural stress reduction in a hospital setting.
In aromatherapy, lavender aroma is reputed to assist with relaxation. However, while there is much anecdotal evidence to that effect, the empirical literature is very inconsistent. Failure to employ adequate placebos, proper blinding, objective measures, or screening of prior beliefs about aromatherapy means that many previous findings could have been influenced by expectancy biases. The present study sought to establish whether lavender aroma and/or expectancies affect post-stress relaxation.
A double-blind, 3 (aroma) x 3 (instruction) x 10 (time in minutes) mixed-factorial placebo-controlled trial.
In a laboratory, 96 healthy undergraduate women were exposed to lavender, placebo, or no aroma during physiologically assessed relaxation after an arousing cognitive task. Where an aroma was presented, an instructional priming procedure was used to manipulate participants' expectancies about the aroma's likely impact on their ability to relax.
Results showed no effect of aroma on galvanic skin response during relaxation. However, the nature of instructional prime was associated with relaxation patterns: when expecting the aroma to inhibit them, participants relaxed more; when expecting facilitation, participants relaxed less. The effect was not seen with regard to self-reported relaxation (as represented by changes in state anxiety) and was independent of ratings of attitudes towards aromatherapy.
The findings imply that the previous associations of lavender aroma with assisted relaxation may have been influenced by expectancy biases, and that the relevant expectancies are easily manipulable.
Soden et al. 2004) reported differences in anxiety levels at baseline. In addition, the trials differed greatly in terms of the conditions treated, and independent replications are missing for most. Five trials were described as double-blind
- Sgoutas
Sgoutas-Emch et al. 2001; Soden et al. 2004) reported differences in anxiety levels at baseline. In addition, the trials differed greatly in terms of the conditions treated, and independent replications are missing for most. Five trials were described as double-blind (Bradley et al. 2009;
Woelk and Schlafke 2010) and two on treat-ment allocation concealment
- Muzzarelli
Muzzarelli et al. 2006; Woelk and Schlafke 2010) and two on treat-ment allocation concealment (Dunn et al. 1995; Soden et al. 2004).
described as randomised but only five gave details on randomisa-tion process
- Braden
described as randomised but only five gave details on randomisa-tion process (Braden et al. 2009; Kasper et al. 2010; Morris 2002;