Aromatherapy Improves Pain, Anxiety & Nausea in Hospitals

Patients in hospitals often suffer from pain, nausea and anxiety that require treatment. But those treatments have side effects and are often ineffective. This interesting study looked at the possibility of using inexpensive and safe aromatherapy as an alternative in the hospital. . . .

The study was conducted in hospitals in Minnesota and Wisconsin and included essential oils of ginger, lavender, mandarin and sweet marjoram that had been administered by nurses either by inhalation (77.6%), topical application (19%) or both (3.3%).

The best results for pain were seen with sweet marjoram, with a pain reduction of 3.31 units. Sweet marjoram and lavender both reduced anxiety by 2.73 units. Ginger, which also produced some reduction in anxiety, was the best essential oil for nausea: it reduced nausea by 2.02 units. Mandarin also had some effect on nausea (-1.77 units).

This study was not controlled, but it suggests the interesting possibility that aromatherapy may be a safe and effective way of improving the life of patients in the hospital. Interestingly, the less discussed sweet marjoram essential oil may have been the most promising. It is also interesting that ginger, which is so well studies as a herbal remedy for nausea, was also effective for nausea as an aromatherapy remedy.

These results may also have implications for the management of pain, anxiety and nausea outside of hospital settings.

Complement Ther Med 2016;25:164-169

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