Abstract
Essential oils of pure lavender and lavender blends have been employed as
potential anxiolytic aromas in aromatherapy, but a direct comparison of their
effectiveness is lacking. The current study investigated the effects of aroma on
induced anxiety in non-clinical adults, comparing pure lavender, a commercially
available blend and a no aroma control. An experimental, quantitative,
mixed factorial design with an opportunity sample of 60 participants was employed. Participants were randomly allocated to three equal groups, one
tested in a room infused with lavender aroma, the second with the doTerra
Peace® blend, and the third free from any aroma. Participants’ state anxiety
scores were measured before and after a novel video-based anxiety induction
procedure. Data analysis revealed that the anxiety induction was successful
and that both aromas delivered small to medium-sized buffering effects
compared to no aroma. The findings add to a small body of research in an
area where the practice is global yet has limited scientific evaluation. Future
studies utilising brain imaging and blood serum analysis to investigate the
anxiolytic mechanism of aromas would be beneficial to further our understanding.
potential anxiolytic aromas in aromatherapy, but a direct comparison of their
effectiveness is lacking. The current study investigated the effects of aroma on
induced anxiety in non-clinical adults, comparing pure lavender, a commercially
available blend and a no aroma control. An experimental, quantitative,
mixed factorial design with an opportunity sample of 60 participants was employed. Participants were randomly allocated to three equal groups, one
tested in a room infused with lavender aroma, the second with the doTerra
Peace® blend, and the third free from any aroma. Participants’ state anxiety
scores were measured before and after a novel video-based anxiety induction
procedure. Data analysis revealed that the anxiety induction was successful
and that both aromas delivered small to medium-sized buffering effects
compared to no aroma. The findings add to a small body of research in an
area where the practice is global yet has limited scientific evaluation. Future
studies utilising brain imaging and blood serum analysis to investigate the
anxiolytic mechanism of aromas would be beneficial to further our understanding.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 390-414 |
| Number of pages | 25 |
| Journal | American Journal of Plant Sciences |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Early online date | 31 Mar 2023 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2023 |
Keywords
- Aromatherapy
- Lavender
- Essential Oil
- Blend
- Anxiety Buffering