Investigation of an Essential Oil Blend as a Complementary Therapy to Reduce Stress and Aid Relaxation.

Abstract

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from plants to support health and wellbeing. In recent years, the practice of aromatherapy, has been increasingly integrated into clinical settings to support patients experiencing elevated stress and anxiety, that can adversely impact treatment outcomes, recovery, and quality of life. The aim of this research was to investigate inhalation aromatherapy as a complementary therapy to reduce stress and anxiety and promote relaxation. The systematic review of 76 studies (6,539 patients) conducted across 11 countries (2000-2021) found that 70% reported anxiolytic effects, with lavender being the most frequently studied essential oil. Following this review, three double-blind randomised studies were conducted in two phases. The first phase examined the impact of using essential oil blends on wellbeing, stress and anxiety in a young student population through two studies in 2021 and 2022 using room diffusion (Study 1) and an aromastick (Study 2). The findings indicated that the use of aromatherapy had a positive impact on the mental health of the participating student cohort. Despite small sample sizes (n = 17, n = 33), results showed statistically significant reductions in stress and depression (p = 0.0291, p = 0.04), with a positive trend for anxiety (p = 0.25). Study 2 also demonstrated a significant improvement in wellbeing scores (p = 0.002). The second phase, a clinical pilot study, the first of its kind in Ireland, was conducted in collaboration with the Gynae Oncology Survivorship Clinic at St James's Hospital, Dublin with Patient and Public Involvement (PPI) in the study design. Preliminary results (n = 11) indicated a promising trend, the study will continue until June 2025 to achieve a larger sample size for more robust statistical analysis and subsequent publication. This novel research underscored the potential benefit of inhalation aromatherapy as a non-pharmacological tool to reduce stress and anxiety and aid relaxation. As supporting data continues to emerge, there is an opportunity to expand its use in Irish and International clinical settings. The robust double-blind study design and methodology presented in this thesis will strengthen and advance evidence-based research to establish aromatherapy as a valuable modality to support the development of a more patient-centred approach in integrative medicine.