The Effect of Lavender Aroma on Anxiety of Patients Having Bone Marrow Biopsy

The Effect of Aromatherapy with Lavender Essential Oil on the Sleep and Fatigue Level of Patients with Multiple Sclerosis in Turkey: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND

Fatigue is a common problem in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and is one of the most serious symptoms of the disease. Although many factors play a role in the etiology of fatigue in patients with MS, it has been reported that fatigue is caused by irregular or disrupted sleep patterns.

AIM

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of lavender oil aromatherapy on the sleep and fatigue of MS patients.

METHODS

The study was designed as a randomized controlled trial and was conducted in Turkey. The data of the study were collected using the Patient Description Form, Fatigue Severity Scale, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.

RESULTS

The mean FSS score in the experimental group was 6.86 ± 0.94 before the procedure and 3.42 ± 0.85 after the procedure, the mean PSQI score was 9.45 ± 1.23 before the procedure and 6.68 ± 2.87 after the procedure, and the difference in the mean scores between the two groups was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that aromatherapy with lavender essential oil has significant impacts on fatigue and sleep in MS patients. Lavender essential oil aromatherapy can be used by nurses as an independent nursing practice. It is an inexpensive, noninvasive, and reliable technique to manage fatigue in individuals with MS.

Effect of Lavender Oil on Preoperative Anxiety: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

PURPOSE

Surgical interventions are known to induce anxiety in patients due to the associated risks and potential complications. Various methods are employed to alleviate preoperative anxiety. This study aimed to investigate the impact of lavender oil application on the anxiety levels of patients scheduled for surgical procedures.

DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

METHODS

Studies were accessed using the keywords "preoperative and lavender oil and stress" in Turkish and English between July 1 and 30, 2022, through PubMed (including MEDLINE), Cochrane, EBSCOhost, Web of Science, YÖK National Thesis Center, and Google Scholar. The standardized mean difference was calculated using random-effects models, and the Cochrane Collaboration tool was used to assess the risk of bias in each study. The study was prepared according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis checklist.

FINDINGS

Twenty studies were included in the analysis. The anxiety level of the experimental group to which lavender oil was applied before the surgical intervention was significantly lower than that of the control group (standardized mean difference:-5.40; 95% CI: -8.76 to -2.04).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative lavender oil application was found to be an effective method for relieving patients' anxiety. Lavender oil is thought to be a potential standalone treatment for preoperative anxiety.

Anxiety-Reducing Effects of Lavender Essential Oil Inhalation: A Systematic Review

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent and disabling mental disorders, causing health-related burdens. With the increasing demand for and interest in safe and acceptable anxiolytics, several studies report the anxiolytic effects of lavender aromatherapy, providing evidence of its physiological and psychological effects. However, existing reviews comprehensively cover the effects of different modes of delivering aromatherapy. Therefore, this review assesses the efficacy of lavender essential oil inhalation in reducing anxiety. The titles and abstracts of relevant articles published over the last five years were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. This review only included clinical trials that utilized lavender inhalation for anxiety treatment. Eleven studies comprising 972 participants were included. Of these, 10 reported significantly decreased anxiety levels after lavender oil inhalation. The physiological measures of vital signs, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, pulse, and saturation, were conducted in three trials, showing that lavender oil inhalation could physiologically affect anxiety levels. Lavender oil inhalation is a safe and feasible anxiolytic intervention for treating people with diverse types of anxiety. Data from further studies with a high-quality design and accurate information are necessary to confirm the validity of these findings and elucidate the anxiety-reducing mechanisms of lavender inhalation.

Integrative Oncology Care of Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression in Adults With Cancer: Society for Integrative Oncology-ASCO Guideline

PURPOSE

To provide evidence-based recommendations to health care providers on integrative approaches to managing anxiety and depression symptoms in adults living with cancer.

METHODS

The Society for Integrative Oncology and ASCO convened an expert panel of integrative oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology, palliative oncology, social sciences, mind-body medicine, nursing, methodology, and patient advocacy representatives. The literature search included systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and randomized controlled trials published from 1990 through 2023. Outcomes of interest included anxiety or depression symptoms as measured by validated psychometric tools, and adverse events. Expert panel members used this evidence and informal consensus with the Guidelines into Decision Support methodology to develop evidence-based guideline recommendations.

RESULTS

The literature search identified 110 relevant studies (30 systematic reviews and 80 randomized controlled trials) to inform the evidence base for this guideline.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations were made for mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs), yoga, relaxation, music therapy, reflexology, and aromatherapy (using inhalation) for treating symptoms of anxiety during active treatment; and MBIs, yoga, acupuncture, tai chi and/or qigong, and reflexology for treating anxiety symptoms after cancer treatment. For depression symptoms, MBIs, yoga, music therapy, relaxation, and reflexology were recommended during treatment, and MBIs, yoga, and tai chi and/or qigong were recommended post-treatment.

DISCUSSION

Issues of patient-health care provider communication, health disparities, comorbid medical conditions, cost implications, guideline implementation, provider training and credentialing, and quality assurance of natural health products are discussed. While several approaches such as MBIs and yoga appear effective, limitations of the evidence base including assessment of risk of bias, nonstandardization of therapies, lack of diversity in study samples, and lack of active control conditions as well as future research directions are discussed.Additional information is available at www.asco.org/survivorship-guidelines.

Common herbs for stress: The science and strategy of a botanical medicine approach to self-care

Frontline healthcare workers have reported elevated levels of stress and increase prevalence of burnout symptoms since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. With these heightened levels of stress and burnout comes a need for more evidence-based interventions to address these symptoms earlier, in both a safe and effective way. Some common botanical medicines have a measurable effect on perceived stress, neurotransmitter levels, and circulating cortisol levels indicating their ability to modify the stress response. Botanical medicines are often relatively low cost, increasingly available in retail stores and online marketplaces, and show relatively low reports of adverse effects, making these medicinal herbs an important option for addressing work-related stress for healthcare workers.

Effect of Aromatherapy on the Anxiety of Patients before Coronary angiography

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the effect of aromatherapy administered before coronary angiography on anxiety levels and physiological parameters.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

The study used a randomized controlled trial design. The study group consisted of a total of 96 individuals. The research data were collected using the descriptive information form, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Physiological Parameters Assessment Form.

RESULTS

The results of this study indicated a significant difference between the groups in terms of pain levels and mean STAI-I scores prior to coronary angiography.

CONCLUSION

The results revealed that aromatherapy administered before angiography reduced the anxiety and pain levels of patients.

Phytotherapy of mood disorders in the light of microbiota-gut-brain axis

BACKGROUND

Clinical research in natural product-based psychopharmacology has revealed a variety of promising herbal medicines that may provide benefit in the treatment of mild mood disorders, however failed to unambiguously indicate pharmacologically active constituents. The emerging role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis opens new possibilities in the search for effective methods of treatment and prevention of mood disorders.

PURPOSE

Considering the clinically proven effectiveness juxtaposed with inconsistencies regarding the indication of active principles for many medicinal plants applied in the treatment of anxiety and depression, the aim of the review is to look at their therapeutic properties from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

METHOD

A literature-based survey was performed using Scopus, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases. The current state of knowledge regarding Hypericum perforatum, Valeriana officinalis, Piper methysticum, Passiflora incarnata, Humulus lupulus, Melissa officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, and Rhodiola rosea in terms of their antimicrobial activity, bioavailability, clinical effectiveness in depression/anxiety and gut microbiota - natural products interaction was summarized and analyzed.

RESULTS

Recent studies have provided direct and indirect evidence that herbal extracts and isolated compounds are potent modulators of gut microbiota structure. Additionally, some of the formed postbiotic metabolites exert positive effects and ameliorate depression-related behaviors in animal models of mood disorders. The review underlines the gap in research on natural products - gut microbiota interaction in the context of mood disorders.

CONCLUSION

Modification of microbiota-gut-brain axis by natural products is a plausible explanation of their therapeutic properties. Future studies evaluating the effectiveness of herbal medicine and isolated compounds in treating mild mood disorders should consider the bidirectional interplay between phytoconstituents and the gut microbiota community.

The Effect of Lavender on Sleep Quality in Individuals Without Insomnia: A Systematic Review

We reviewed 20 randomized controlled trials concerning the intervention methods and effects of lavender essential oil on adults' sleep quality. Fourteen showed positive intervention effects. A mixture of subjective and objective indicators was used. Lavender essential oil was associated with improved sleep quality before insomnia or other sleep disorders occurred.

Evaluation of the Effect of Lavender Aroma on Fatigue Among Hemodialysis Patients

Fatigue is a complication of hemodialysis (HD). We examined the effect of aromatherapy on fatigue in 62 HD patients. Data were collected using a questionnaire and the Piper Fatigue Scale. It was found that fatigue decreased in the intervention group (P < .05). Lavender aromatherapy is useful in reducing fatigue.

Garden Smellscape-Experiences of Plant Scents in a Nature-Based Intervention

This study explores how participants suffering from stress-related mental disorders describe their perception, interaction, and lived experience of garden smellscape during their nature-based rehabilitation. Natural elements, and especially nature smells, have been found to have a profound effect on stress reduction, suggesting an interesting link between odor in nature and stress reduction. The study was conducted as a longitudinal case-study, running over a period of 5 years, investigating participants' perceptions of a garden smellscape, after completing a 12-weeks nature-based rehabilitation in Alnarp Rehabilitation Garden, Sweden. All participants were treated for stress-related mental disorders. Data were collected through retrospective semi-structured individual interviews and analyzed according to interpretative phenomenological analysis. The results revealed in what way nature odor (odor in nature) evoked associations, emotions, and physical reactions and provide examples of how nature scents function as a catalyst for sensory awareness and memories. Findings supported the understanding that experiencing the smell of plants, especially pelargonium, may facilitate stress reduction and support mental recovery in a real-life context. The results of the study can be used for several purposes; thus, they are relevant for actors within the development of nature-based therapy, as well as stakeholders within the horticultural industry.

Lavender Aromatherapy for Anxiety and Pain During Multichannel Urodynamics: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to determine if there is a difference in anxiety during urodynamics in women given lavender aromatherapy (lavender) versus placebo.

METHODS

This was a randomized, controlled trial of women scheduled for urodynamic testing with baseline anxiety. Participants rated their anxiety and pain immediately before the examination and then were randomized to lavender or placebo. Anxiety and pain were assessed immediately after catheter placement and 15 minutes after termination of the study.

RESULTS

Data for 40 women who received lavender and 38 women who received placebo were available for analysis. Decrease in anxiety from baseline to catheter placement (-2 vs -0.5, P = 0.01) and 15 minutes post procedure was significantly greater in the lavender group. Postprocedure anxiety was lower in the lavender group compared with controls (0 vs 0.5, P = 0.001). No differences were seen in pain.

CONCLUSIONS

Lavender aromatherapy reduces anxiety during urodynamics.