The effect of topically administered lavender aromatherapy on the pain of insulin injection in diabetic patients: a double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Needle phobia occurs in more than half of diabetic patients due to the pain caused by frequent insulin injections. Therefore, this study evaluated the effect of topically administered lavender aromatherapy on the pain of insulin injections in diabetic patients.

METHODS

In this double-blind randomized controlled and experimental study, patients who met the study criteria were divided into three groups; topical lavender oil (n = 60), placebo (n = 60), and control (n = 60) groups. The data were collected using the "Patient Information Form", the "Follow-up Form", the "Verbal Category Scale (VCS)", and the "Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)".

RESULTS

The results revealed no significant difference between the patients in the topical lavender oil group before and during the insulin injection in terms of VAS and VCS pain scores (p > 0.05). In the placebo and control groups, the mean VAS and VCS pain scores during insulin injection were found to be significantly higher than before insulin injection (p < 0.05). Besides, the mean VAS and VCS scores during insulin injection were significantly higher in the placebo and control groups than the topical lavender oil group (p < 0.05).

DISCUSSION

: The study showed that patients who were administered topical lavender oil felt less pain after insulin injection than those in the placebo and control groups. Therefore, topically applied lavender aromatherapy can be easily used for pain control in insulindependent diabetic patients (clinical trial number NCT04767737).

Impact of inhalation aromatherapy with Damask Rose (Rosa damascena) on stress, anxiety and hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography: a single blind randomized clinical trial

OBJECTIVES

Coronary arteries angiography is used commonly for diagnosing cardiovascular diseases. In spite of the low risk of coronary artery angiography method, it could lead to stress, anxiety and consequently hemodynamic changes in patients. This study aimed to assess the effects of inhalation aromatherapy with Rosa damascena on stress, anxiety, and hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

METHODS

A single-blind randomized clinical trial was conducted on 98 patients in Besat Educational Hospital, Hamadan, Iran. Before coronary angiography, patients at aromatherapy group inhaled five drops of 40% Rosa damascena for 20 min and in the control group, patients inhaled distilled water. Stress, anxiety, and hemodynamic parameters were measured before and after the intervention using DASS-21 questionnaire and checklist.

RESULTS

Data were analysed by SPSS 16 software using descriptive and inferential statistics such as paired t-test and non-parametric tests. There were significant differences in terms of stress and anxiety severity in patients at aromatherapy group (p=0.005) and control group (p=0.001). There were significant differences in terms of hemodynamic parameters such as heart rate (p=0.001), mean arterial pressure (p=0.001), systolic (p=0.003) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.001) and SpO₂ (p=0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Inhalation aromatherapy with Rosa damascena can significantly decrease stress and anxiety severity and improve hemodynamic parameters of patients undergoing coronary angiography.

REGISTRY NUMBER

This study has registered with the number IRCT201702019759N8 at Iranian Registry Clinical Trial.

Plants of the Genus Lavandula: From Farm to Pharmacy

The Lavandula genus, belonging to the Lamiaceae, includes 39 species, with nearly 400 registered cultivars. Lavandula are worldwide plants that occur over the Mediterranean, Europe, North Africa, southwest Asia to southeast India. Lavandula plants have been used since ancient time to flavor and preserved food, to treat diseases including wound healing, sedative, antispasmodic, microbial and viral infections. Numerous researches have described the chemical composition and the primary components of lavender oils are the monoterpenoids (linalool, linalyl acetate, 1,8-cineole, β-ocimene, terpinen-4-ol, and camphor), sesquiterpenoids (β-caryophyllene and nerolidol) and other terpenoid compounds (e.g., perillyl alcohol). The high concentrations of linalyl acetate make them attractive in perfumery, flavoring, cosmetics and soap industries. Currently, data on the antimicrobial activity of lavender plants have been scientifically confirmed. Indeed, lavender essential oils possess wide spectra of biological activities such as antispasmodic, carminative, analgesic, sedative, hypotensive, antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, antidiuretic and general tonic action. In addition, clinical studies support their uses as treatment of health conditions. However, further clinical studies are necessary to define the magnitude of the efficacy, mechanisms of action, optimal doses, long-term safety, and, potential side effects of lavender plants.