Effect of Essential Oils in Aromatherapy on Emotional Relaxation

University of Phayao

Status: Completed

Conditions: Healthy

Treatments: Other: Aromatherapy; Other: Pure water

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01443871

WP-5102031

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to examine and compare electroencephalography (EEG) changes in human subjects directly after inhalation of essential oils from five Thai aromatherapies. The investigators hypothesize that essential oils from Thai aromatherapies may influence the human EEG involving emotional relaxation particularly alpha wave EEG.

Full description

The subjects consisted of 22 male and 26 female subjects , ages between 20 to 30 years (mean age, 23.3 years). They were screened for excessive nasal congestion, drug and food taken, and neurological disorders prior to participation in the experiment. The experiments were approved by the Ethical Committee for Research Involving Human Research Subject, Naresuan University. All subjects read and signed an informed consent before participation.

Enrollment: 48 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 60 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• > 18 years old

Exclusion criteria

• excessive nasal congestion
• neurological disorders prior to participation in the experiment

Trial design

48 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Aromatherapy

Experimental group

Description:

Experimental procedures were conducted in the morning. Subjects individually entered the closed room where the temperature was kept at 25-26 oC and humidity 50-60%. The subjects were blinded using mask and were seated comfortably with eyes closed during experimental period. The EEG was recorded using silver electrodes. EEG activity was monitored 4 areas (F7, F8, T3 and T4) and ground electrodes. The experiments were divided into 3 parts. The first part, no-odor were recorded EEG activity for 10 minutes as a baseline. The second part, subject was exposure to the odor for 10 minutes as during inhalation. The last part, the odor was dispersed and assessed EEG activity for 10 minutes as after inhalation.

Treatment:

Other: Aromatherapy

Pure water

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Experimental procedures were conducted in the morning. Subjects individually entered the closed room where the temperature was kept at 25-26 oC and humidity 50-60%. The subjects were blinded using mask and were seated comfortably with eyes closed during experimental period. The EEG was recorded using silver electrodes. EEG activity was monitored 4 areas (F7, F8, T3 and T4) and ground electrodes. The experiments were divided into 3 parts. The first part, no-odor were recorded EEG activity for 10 minutes as a baseline. The second part, subject was exposure to the water for 10 minutes as during inhalation. The last part, the water was dispersed and assessed EEG activity for 10 minutes as after inhalation.

Treatment:

Other: Pure water