• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.87-99
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine aromatherapy interventions for prenatal and postnatal women, and to determine the effectiveness of these interventions on fatigue. Methods: Six national and international databases were reviewed to retrieve and collect studies published up to September 7, 2021, describing randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials of aromatherapy interventions for prenatal and postnatal women's fatigue. Of the 323 articles initially identified, 64 duplicates were excluded and 259 were screened. After further excluding 216 articles not related to PICO framework, 10 were selected for review. Two reviewers independently selected studies and conducted data extraction and quality appraisal using Cochran's Risk of Bias and Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies. Results: The quality of the 10 selected studies was overall satisfactory. A meta-analysis of three studies showed that aromatherapy with lavender oil produced a 0.75-point reduction in postnatal mothers' fatigue when compared to control groups. Sleep quality was also analyzed as a secondary outcome of fatigue. A meta-analysis of four studies using lavender and/or orange peel oil found that aromatherapy produced a 0.98-point improvement in postnatal mothers' quality of sleep. Although a meta-analysis could not be conducted to synthesize the findings for fatigue in pregnant women, inhalation and massage therapy using lavender oil showed positive effects on prenatal fatigue and sleep quality. Conclusion: Aromatherapy using lavender oil and orange peel oil is effective in improving prenatal and postnatal fatigue and sleep quality.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.24-31
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to assess effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and depression of caregivers for patients in rehabilitation therapy and to provide basic data for the aromatherapy. Beck Anxiety Inventory(BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) for the preliminary assessment of anxiety and depressive mood were administered to caregivers for patients in rehabilitation therapy in Chungbuk National University Hospital. Forty two out of seventy subjects who got scores above 10 in BDI were selected. Forty two Participants were divided into orange group, lavender group and control group. They had got the aromatherapy by using the lamp diffusion method for 4 weeks. Only forty participants completed a trial. Effects of the aromatherapy were measured using BAI, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale(HAM-A), BDI, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale(HAM-D), Self Esteem Scale(SES) and Index of Wellbeing(IOWB) before and after the aromatherapy. Orange group showed significant difference in the change of BDI scores compared with control group. Lavender group showed significant difference in the mean change of BAI, BDI and IOWB scores compared with control group. These results suggested that aromatherapy with orange oil was effective for depression and the aromatherapy with lavender oil was effective for anxiety as well as depression.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.239-251
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• 2021

Traditional Chinese medicine has treated diseases and improved health in nature-based experience. Advanced nations began to be interested in naturopathic therapy in the late 19th century and it led China to research aromatherapy. This study searched previous researches related with aromatherapy and generally analyzed aroma oil, applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use. For research contents, scientific and society journals from 2000 to 2019 related with aromatherapy were searched in CNKI(www.cnki.com) and WANFANG DATE(www.wanfang.com). Finally, 30 papers were selected through 5-step qualitative evaluation and expert review and analyzed. Frequency and percentage(%) were calculated by means of the Excel 2013 Program and represented by a chart. The results of analyzing aromatherapy trends are as follows. All 30 papers were researched in the medical society. The most common symptom was irritation and anxiety that appeared in 13 papers. Lavender oil and bergamot oil were commonly used aroma oil. Commonly applied part and method were nose and nasal inhalation. For aroma oil associated with symptoms, lavender oil was the best in irritative, anxious, and negative emotion, depression, labor pain, sleep disorder, migraine, tension, and vomiting, pain, and fatigue after operation. Lemon, ginger, and peppermint oil was good for nausea. Based on the findings, this study derived applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use in aromatherapy. However, most aromatherapy was used for patients in the nursing and medical fields in the simple form of inhalation and local massage. This study will suggest a standard ground that aromatherapy is good for pain, colic pain, and tension in a short period but needs a long period for the efficacy of psychological and neurological symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.63-72
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• 2014

Objectives: This is an experimental study that attempts to define the effect that self-aromatherapy massage has on depression and satisfaction with life of depressed college students. Methods: Of the total 41 participants, 21 were designated as the experimental group and 20 as the control group. The participants were subject to massages; lavender, sweet orange, mandarin, rosewood, and bergamot aromas diluted to the concentration of 2% in jojoba oil, the carrier oil, were used on the experimental group, and only jojoba oil was used on the control group. Self-aromatherapy massages were conducted for 10 minutes per session, 3 times a week in alternating days, in a period of 2 weeks, and the depression points and satisfaction with life scale were measured before and after massages. Results: This study revealed that there was a statistically significant decrease of depression points in the experimental group, and that there was no significant difference of life satisfaction in both groups. Conclusions: Thus, it is thought self-aromatherapy massages could be used as a practical method of self-mediation that alleviates depression in depressed college students.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.317-326
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aromatherapy on the stress response in menstrual period. Method: A randomized, single-blind, pretest- posttest design was used. The study subjects were 60 college women with dysmenorrhea and they were randomized into 3 groups, experimental, 1st control(placebo) and 2nd control group. The researchers massaged treatment oil(3% dilution essential oil of Lavender, Clary sage and Rose) into the abdomen of experimental group. The placebo group used almond oil(carrier oil) instead, and the 2nd control group did not give any treatment. Baseline data including pre-treatment stress response score were obtained on the first day of usual period. Aromatherapy provided for about 7 days until the next cycle began. Post-treatment stress responses were measured by 94 item SOS(symptom of stress) scale on the first day of the cycle. Results: As a results, the stress response score of experimental group was significantly lower than two control groups. And there was no significant difference in stress responses of two control groups. Conclusion: The results show aromatherapy using selected essential oils to be an effective intervention for stress response during menstruation.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.5-17
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine effects of aromatherapy on the activity and balance of autonomic nervous system and on physical resistance to stress. Methods: This research is a primitive experimental design which attempts to analyze aromatherapy EKG monitoring on real-time basis. Lavender & Chamomile, each 30 drops, were blended with 100ml Sweet Almond oil. Subjects was laid relaxed, and had insides of his wrists and ankles attached with electrodes for EKG. Right after applied with essential oil onto his philtrum and parotid, started on EKG monitoring. Results: The activities of parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve were changed as time elapsed, with significant differences(p=.000). In multiple comparison, the value was significantly different(p<.05).The balance of autonomic nerve was changed, becoming close to the normal level in accord with applicable international standards(1.5)(p=.011). In multiple comparison, the value showed a significant difference(p<.05). Physical resistance to stress increased with the passage of time, but not statistically significant. Conclusions: This suggests that aromatherapy can be used as a nursing intervention which aims at alleviating symptoms related to the imbalance of autonomic nerve system such as headache, hot flashes, irregular heartbeat, nervousness, depression and anxiety.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.249-257
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of phytoncide aromatherapy on stress, symptoms of stress and heart rate variability among nursing students. Methods: This study is a randomized control-group non-synchronized design. The experimental group (n=31) underwent phytoncide aromatherapy for 2 weeks, while the control group (n=31) received placebo therapy. The data were collected using self-administration questionnaires and measurement of heart rate variability (HRV) and analyzed using SPSS WIN 18.0 program. A p value <.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Total score of stress, individual score of intrapersonal stress, and score of peripheral manifestations in symptoms of stress in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group. All indices of HRV were significantly different between the two groups. LF norm and LF/HF ratio in the experimental group were significantly lower than those of the control group, and HF norm in the experimental group was significantly higher than that of in the control group. Conclusion: Based on these results, it can be suggested that phytoncide aromatherapy was effective in decreasing stress and peripheral manifestations of stress and changing in HRV among nursing students.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-17
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• 2004

In this paper, we checked health problems of patients who suffered from arthritis. After assessing each patients condition, in order to alleviate their sufferings, we introduced several methods of aromatherapy as a holistic approach to these health problems. Aromatherapy is used of essential oils, which are obtained from aromatic plants, can be defined as a nature-friendly complementary/alternative method, has its great merit in its each way of application. If the arthritis condition is localized, massage,compress or poultices, and hand or foot baths are most effective. Many of essential oils in the recipe have dual benefits, as anti-inflammative and analgesic agents. The Juniper and carrot seed aid in eliminating fluid and toxin accumulation in the joint and surrounding tissue. There are many different courses available and health professional should choose one that is relevant to clinical practice. Considering the future of nursing as a major contribution in the consumer-centered structure of medical health service, aromatherapy as a complementary/alternative method is expected to contribute not only to establishing more effective health service but also to resolving chronic health problems of arthritis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.539-547
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• 2010

Purpose: This study was done to determine the effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and discomfort for patients who were having colonoscopy. Methods: The study used a nonequivalent control group non-synchronized design. The participants were 48 people who were undergoing colonoscopy in a university hospital. The experimental group inhaled a blend of essential oil with neroli, camomile, lavender and lemon through an aroma stone for 5minutes before the examination. Then the aroma stone was put on the side of the pillow to spread the aroma scent in the room. The experimental group could inhale the aroma scent as soon as they came into the room and during the examination process. The control group received only fundamental nursing care. Results: Aromatherapy significantly decreased VAS anxiety. There were also significant differences in facial change and, tone change for objective discomfort. But there were no significant differences in subjective discomfort between the groups nor were there any significant differences in vital signs. Conclusion: Aromatherapy was perceived as an useful intervention to reduce anxiety and objective discomfort of patients receiving colonoscopy. The results of this study could be utilized as a clinical nursing intervention.

• Korean Journal of Adult Nursing
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine whether there is difference in the effects of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea by research design. Methods: Findings from the two different research designs (Nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest [NCG] design vs. two-group crossover design) were compared in regard to the effect of aromatherapy on dysmenorrhea. The subjects of the NCG design and the crossover design were a total of 58 female nursing students. The treatments (aroma essential oil inhalation and carrier oil inhalation) were given using a necklace. The data were analyzed by Fisher's exact test, t-test, Mann-Whitney test, paired t-test, and Shapiro-Wilk test using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. The effect size for the two research designs was calculated. Results: In both research designs, the level of dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain after the aroma treatment were not significantly different from those after the placebo treatment. The effect size of the NCG design was higher than that of the crossover design. Conclusion: Aroma inhalation may not be effective in managing dysmenorrhea and menstrual pain. In order to further clarify the efficiency of research design and the effect of aromatherapy on discomfort during menstruation, replication studies are necessary. Future studies need to examine the effects of different research design on non-interval variables.