Abstract
Objective : The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil on relaxation in highly stressed volunteers with heart rate variability(HRV) and electroencephalography(EEG). Methods : 11 highly stressed volunteers participated in this study. The volunteers were examined with HRV and EEG before and after inhalation of Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil. Results : After smelling Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil, mean RR(mean of RR intervals) was incresed significantly(p<0.01), mean HRV(mean of heart rate), HF(high frequency) were decreased significantly(p<0.01). norm LF(low frequency), LF/HF ratio were decreased significantly(p<0.05), norm HF(normalized high frequency) was increased significantly(p<0.05) on HRV. After smelling Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil, relative ${\theta}$ power was decreased significantly(p<0.05) at P3(left parietal) and relative ${\alpha}$ power was increased significantly(p<0.05) at Fp1(left prefrontal), Fp2(right prefrontal) and relative ${\beta}$ power was decreased significantly(p<0.05) at Fp1(left prefrontal) and relative ${\gamma}$ power was decreased significantly(p<0.05) at Fp1(left prefrontal) on EEG. Conclusions : This results show that inhalation of Cyperus rotundus L. essential oil effects on relaxation and decreasing stress.