Psychological Effects

Alexandrovich, I., Rakovitskaya, O., Kolmo, E., Sidorova, T., Shushunov, S. (2003). The
effect of fennel (Foeniculum Volgare) seed oil emulsion in infantile colic: a randomized,
placebo-controlled study. Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine, 9(4), 58-61.

This double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of fennel seed
oil emulsion in infantile colic. The results showed that the colic of 65% of the infants in the
treatment group was eliminated comparing with 23.7% in the control group and the difference
was statistically significant. The study indicates that fennel seed oil emulsion is superior to
placebo in decreasing intensity of infantile colic.

Ballard, C. G., O’Brien, J. T., Reichelt, K., Perry, E. K. (2002). Aromatherapy as a safe and
effective treatment for the management of agitation in severe dementia: the results of a
double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with Melissa. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 63, 553-
8.

Ballard et al (2002) conducted the first double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled study to

evaluate the efficacy of aromatherapy for the treatment of behavioral and psychological
symptoms in dementia (BPSD). Seventy one patients completed the trial. Patients received
aromatherapy experienced significant improvement in agitation and quality of life comparing
with the control group.

Lucks, B. C., Sorensen, J., Veal, L. (2002). Vitex agnus-castus essential oil and menopausal
balance: a self-care survey. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery, 8, 148-54.

The authors surveyed 33 women who were in the perimenopausal to postmenopausal transition
and volunteered to participate the study. The returned 3-page questionnaires from 23 women
indicated that the use of Vitex essential oil (both leaf and berry) helped the majority of
respondents relieve their menopausal symptoms to a sufficient degree. The leaf essential oil
appears to have a broader range of actions including addressing psychological aspects.

Itai, T., Amayasu, H., Kuribayashi, M., Kawamura, N., Okada, M., Momose, A., Tateyama,
T., Narumi, K., Waka, Kaneko, U.S. (2000). Psychological effects of aromatherapy on
chronic hemodialysis patients. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 54, 393-7.

Fourteen female inpatients with chronic renal failure were selected to participate the study to
evaluate the psychological effects of aromatherapy. Natural hospital smells and odorless
conditions were systematically used as control periods. It was found that hiba oil aroma
significantly decreased the mean scores of the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAMD) and
lavendar aroma significantly decreased the mean scores of the Hamilton rating scale for anxiety
(HAMA). There is no significant difference of the mean scores between those in an odorless
condition and those in the control conditions.
O'Brien M. E. (1999). Aromatherapy: a definite mood booster... commentary on Schiffman
S. S., Sattely-Miller E. A., Suggs M. S. et al. The effect of pleasant odors and hormone
status on mood of women at midlife. Brain Research Bulletin, 1995, 36, 19-29.
Complementary Medicine for the Physician, 4(4):26-7.

Two placebo-controlled studies were conducted to evaluate 56 women and 60 men in their
middle-age in the Department of Psychiatry at the Duke University Medical Center. It was found
that tension, depression, confusion and mood disturbance were significantly alleviated in the
presence of pleasant odors, with no effect on physiologic symptoms of menopause for women.
For men, fragrance scores were also significantly better than with placebo for all six mood
factors and mood disturbances. The findings suggested that the use of pleasing odors has
potential therapeutic effect in coping with midlife.

Wilkinson, S., Aldridge, J., Salmon, I., Cain, E., & Wilson. B. (1999) An evaluation of
aromatherapy massage in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 13, 409-17.

Wilkinson et al (1999) studied 103 patients to assess the effects of massage and aromatherapy
massage on cancer patients in a palliative care setting. The authors found that patients with
massage had a statistically significant reduction in anxiety. Massage with essential oil improve
the outcome measurement of physical and psychological symptoms and overall quality of life.

Lis-Balchin, M., Hart, S. (1997). A preliminary study of the effect of essential oils on
skeletal and smooth muscle in vitro. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 58, 183-7.

This study examined the pharmacological activity of nine commercial essential oils. The results
indicate that certain essential oils (clary sage, dill, fennel, frankinsense and nutmeg) produced a
contracture and inhibition of the twitch response to nerve stimulation on skeletal muscle; thyme
had a contracture without a change in the twitch response; lavender reduced the twitch response
alone and camphor increased the size of the twitch response. The findings supported previous
work in showing that essential oils have selective actions on biological tissues and the actions
were not non-specific toxic actions on cell membranes.

Dunn, C., Sleep, J., Collett, D. (1994). Sensing an improvement: an experimental study to
evaluate the use of aromatherapy, massage and periods of rest in an intensive care unit.
Journal of Advanced Nursing, 21, 34-40.

The experimental study randomly allocated 122 patients into receive either massage,
aromatherapy using essential oil of lavender, or a period of rest. The assessment from 93 patients
found no statistically significant differences in the physiological stress indicators or observed or
reported behavior of patients’ ability to cope following any of the three interventions. But the
patients in the aromatherapy group reported significantly greater improvement in their mood and
perceived levels of anxiety than those in the other two groups.