ACUTE AND CHRONIC EFFECT OF ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND ON PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF STRESS

Background

Prolonged stress is a major cause of mental and physical illness (Mariotti A, 2015). Aromatherapy, using essential oil, has been widely used to relieve stress (Farrar AJ and Farrar FC, 2020).

Aims & Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Thai aromatherapy formulations, including bergamot oil, ylang-ylang oil, Litsea cubeba Pers. oil, peppermint oil and sandalwood oil on relaxation.

Method

Firstly, essential oil formulation used for reducing stress was developed in order to choose the most satisfying blend. The selected blend was identified the main component by using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC– MS). Then, this blend was used to investigate the acute effect of essential oil inhalation on physiological stress by assessing vital sign, salivary α-amylase and salivary cortisol. Subsequently, the effect of long-term treatment with stickers made with the selected blend was investigated.

Results

The result showed that the volunteers were satisfied with the essential oils blend containing menthol, isomenthone and limonene. Acute inhalation of this blend did not lower blood pressure including systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure, heart rate, salivary α-amylase and salivary cortisol level compared to pre- inhalation. After 2 weeks of using sticker containing essential oil blend, there was a significant reduction in stress score, systolic blood pressure and salivary cortisol (p<0.05).

Discussion & Conclusion

This study indicated that long-term inhalation of Thai essential oil blend reduced stress by reducing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) activity.

References

Mariotti, A. (2015) ‘The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain– body communication’ Future Sci OA., 1(3), Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5137920/pdf/fso-01-23.pdf (Accessed: 30 October 2023).

Farrar AJ, Farrar FC. (2020) Clinical Aromatherapy. Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Dec;55(4): pp. 489- 504. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7520654/pdf/main.pdf (Accessed: 10 September 2020).