New approaches to the effectiveness of inhalation aromatherapy in controlling painful conditions: A systematic review with meta-analysis

ObjectiveGather scientific evidence on the application of inhalation aromatherapy for pain relief and estimate the effect measure of this practice on pain reduction.MethodsSearches were performed in 2021 in the Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Science direct, Lilacs, Scielo databases. We selected 44 articles demonstrating the effect of aromatherapy on different painful conditions, of which 17 were inserted in the meta-analysis. The risk of bias was assessed according to Cochrane methodology.ResultsIn 35 (79.55%) studies was observed a significant reduction in pain, especially pain labor and postoperative pain. Through the meta-analysis, it was found that inhalation aromatherapy reduces by up to −1.73 points of the visual analog scale (VAS), indicating that this practice contributes to the reduction of pain perception in different painful conditions. In addition, the meta-analysis indicated that the time after inhalation, the type of oil used and the type of pain treated are important variables that interfere with the magnitude of the effect. These effects are attributed to the ability of essential oils to modulate nerve control centers and neurotransmission systems involved in pain control.ConclusionFrom the gathering of articles on aromatherapy, it can be noted that aromatherapy appears to be helpful in alleviating acute pain, however there is an imminent need to improve aromatherapy studies to reduce the risk of bias and increase the power of its clinical evidence. PROSPERO: CRD42019121665.     

EEG ASYMMETRY RESPONSES TO LAVENDER AND ROSEMARY AROMAS IN ADULTS AND INFANTS

Frontal EEG asymmetry shifting from baseline was examined in adults and infants exposed to lavender and rosemary by reanalyzing previously published data, using techniques different from those utilized in the original two studies. Results from Study 1 on 39 adults revealed significant EEG shifting in the lavender group, with greater relative left frontal EEG activation (associated with greater approach behavior and less depressed affect). The participants in the two aroma groups were further grouped by those with greater baseline, relative to left frontal EEG activation, versus those with a greater baseline, relative to right frontal activation. Collapsing across aroma groups, those with greater baseline, relative to right frontal activation, shifted left during the aroma. Those with greater baseline relative to left frontal activation did not change. In the rosemary group, those with greater baseline relative to right frontal EEG activation shifted left during the aroma, while those with greater baselines relative to left frontal EEG activation shifted right. In the lavender group, those with greater baselines relative to right frontal baseline EEG activation shifted left, but those with greater baselines relative to left baseline did not shift. Study 2 on 27 full-term newborns revealed no significant shifts in asymmetry in either aroma group. However, when the aroma groups were collapsed, the right frontal EEG group exhibited significant shifting relative to left frontal EEG activation. This finding was similar to the adult findings, suggesting that either lavender or rosemary may induce left frontal EEG shifting in adults and infants who show greater baselines relative to right frontal EEG activation.     

Effects of aromatherapy on fatigue,quality of sleep and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A feasibility study

BackgroundFatigue, poor sleep quality and poor quality of life (QoL) are recognised as common problems for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to evaluate feasibility and effect of aromatherapy on these problems in patients with IBD.MethodsSeventy IBD patients from a tertiary hospital in China were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. During the 8-week intervention, the intervention group received aromatherapy through the skin and by inhalation, and the control group received routine nursing care. All patients were administered questionnaires at two sessions—the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index—before and after the intervention. The clinical trial registration number is ChiCTR2100045889.ResultsPostintervention fatigue and sleep problems were relieved in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, QoL scores improved significantly in the intervention group (P < 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggested that aromatherapy may be an effective complementary treatment method to relieve fatigue and sleep problems and improve quality of life in IBD patients.     

Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PurposeThe objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effects of aromatherapy on sleep improvements.MethodsA search of randomized controlled trials was conducted in four English and two Chinese medical electronic databases. Two authors independently performed the search, assessed the methodological quality, and extracted data. Then, final studies were selected after consensus with the third author.ResultsIn total, 31 trials met the inclusion criteria, of which four had low risk, while the overall bias in 26 was uncertain in terms of methodological quality. The heterogeneity was high among the trials (Q = 341.544, p < 0.001, I² = 91.216%). There was a significant effect of aromatherapy on sleep quality (Hedges's g = 1.103 (95% confidence interval: 0.813˜1.393, p < 0.001). There was a publication bias (Egger’s regression intercept = 7.127, t = 3.055, p = 0.004 and Begg test, Kendall’s tau with continuity correction, tau = 0.335 and Z = 2.651, p = 0.008). The subgroup analysis showed that there was a significant difference in the methodological quality among different studies (Q = 18.350, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analyses still revealed high heterogeneity after omitting one study at a time.ConclusionsThe results showed that aromatherapy can be applied by clinical staff to effectively improve sleep quality. However, because there was a high degree of heterogeneity among studies, the inferences of the results need to be applied with caution.     

The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels

ObjectivePhysiologically, blood melatonin levels decrease as a person ages and the older adult commonly presents with insomnia and other types of sleep disorders. Alternative therapies can be used to attenuate sleep disturbances. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on serum melatonin levels in the noninstitutionalized older adult (OA).Design and settingA pre-experimental, quantitative study with a pre-test – post-test design was conducted on 67 OAs that included both sexes.Main outcome measuresSerum melatonin levels were measured before and after eight sessions of aromatherapy with lavender that lasted 4 weeks. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation of melatonin levels (pg/ml). The differences were compared using the Student’s t-test and statistical significance was set at a p ≤ 0.05.ResultsBlood melatonin levels significantly increased in the total population after the intervention with aromatherapy (pg/ml): 102.3 ± 33.4 VS 132.5 ± 42.3, p = 0.000004. There were significant differences in the pre-test and post-test phases in the women and men measured as separate groups (p = 0.00005 and p = 0.026), respectively. However, those differences were not observed when the measurements were compared between the two sexes, before (p = 0.64) or after (p = 0.31) the intervention.ConclusionAromatherapy with lavender essential oil similarly favors an increase in blood melatonin levels in both older adult men and women.     

Effect of aromatherapy on cancer complications: A systematic review

PurposeThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of aromatherapy on cancer complications.MethodsIn this systematic review, international (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EMBASE and CENTRAL) and national databases (SID and Magiran) were searched from inception of the databases to April 31, 2019. JBI and Jadad scales were used to assess the quality of the studies included.Resultsof 43 Studies conducted on 3239 cancer patients in 13 countries from 1995 to 2019, entered the final stage. The results showed that the aromatherapy improves the various physical and psychological complications, although few studies have shown that aromatherapy had no effect on skin reactions.ConclusionConsidering the various complications and costs in cancer patients, it seems that the aromatherapy can be used as a proper supplemental treatment to improve complications, although further studies are needed to determine the protocol and the standard dosage.     

Effectiveness of lavender inhalation aromatherapy on pain level and vital signs in children with burns: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundBurns are a source of pain, which cannot be fully treated with medications.ObjectivesThis study aims is to test the effectiveness of lavender oil inhalation aromatherapy applied before dressing change on vital signs and pain levels of children with burns.DesignThis randomized controlled study was held between May 2018 and May 2019. A total of 108 children who met the inclusion criteria were studied in three groups: Lavender-15 Group inhaled lavender oil for 15 min before dressing (n:36), Lavender-60 Group inhaled lavender oil for 60 min before dressing (n:36), and Control Group inhaled jojoba (placebo) oil for 15 min before dressing (n:36). Baseline pain levels and vital signs of the children were measured before inhalation. Pain levels and vital signs of the children were re-measured at the 1st and 30th minutes after dressing.ResultsThere was no significant difference between the groups in terms of pain levels (p = 0.750) and vital signs before dressing. In post-dressing measurements, the number of respiration (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000), heart rate (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000), mean arterial blood pressure (after 1 min p = 0.010, after 30 min p = 0.000) and pain levels (after 1 min p = 0.000, after 30 min p = 0.000) were lower in the Lavender groups compared to the placebo group.DiscussionThe result of this research reveals that inhalation aromatherapy which applied before dressing in children with burns affects the reduction of pain levels and stabilization of vital signs.     

香薰按摩对减轻剖宫产术后疼痛的效果

目的探讨香薰按摩对减轻剖宫产产妇术后疼痛的效果。方法随机选择无慢性躯体疾病、无精神障碍、新生儿出生时健康、术后不使用麻醉镇痛泵的住院行剖宫产的初产妇456例,随机分成对照组和干预组各228例。对照组实施产后常规护理,干预组在常规护理的同时实施全身植物精华香薰按摩,比较两组剖宫产术后产妇切口疼痛、子宫收缩疼痛及产后相关的其他躯体疼痛不适和镇痛药物的使用情况。结果干预组产妇术后不同时间的疼痛程度明显优于对照组（P〈0．05）,干预组产妇术后24h后不再需要使用镇痛药物。结论香薰按摩能有效减轻剖宫产产妇术后的疼痛程度,减少镇痛药物的使用次数。