Written by Joyce Smith, BS. Aromatherapy with rose geranium essential oil significantly reduced anxiety and diastolic blood pressure in the forty-nine participating nulliparous women in labor.
Anxiety associated with labor and childbirth, particularly for nulliparous women, can have consequences for both mother and unborn child. Studies have shown that essential oils and aromatherapy can reduce the anxiety in dental patients 1, those undergoing coronary angiography 2,3, and women in labor 4. Pelargonium graveolens (rose geranium) essential oil is a member of the geranium family that has, in addition to its rose scent, anti-inflammatory, antidepressant, sedative, anxiety-reducing, and muscle-relaxing properties 5 In addition, it is one of the most effective herbal essences for reducing menstrual-related anxiety.2 The objective of this 2012 Iranian randomized clinical trial 6 was to assess the benefit of geranium essential oil aromatherapy on anxiety and physiological effects of 100 nulliparous women admitted to an Iranian hospital during their first stage of labor.
The women were randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=49) receiving 2% geranium oil or a control (placebo) group (n=48) receiving 2 drops of distilled water. Anxiety levels were measured before and 20 minutes after intervention using Spielberger’ questionnaire. Physiological parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respiratory rate, pulse rate) were also measured before and after intervention in both groups. Data analysis was conducted using the x2 test, paired t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Wilcox on test on SPSS 11.5.
- Mean anxiety scores before and after intervention [56.75 (9.9), 52.73 (11.7)], respectively showed a significant decrease (P =0.001) in anxiety for those in the aromatherapy group
- Mean anxiety scores before and after the intervention [53.45 (6.1) and 52.31 (6.2)], respectively, showed a lesser but significant decrease (P =0.003).
(The difference between anxiety levels before and after intervention were (-4.02) for the experimental group and (-1.14) for the control group.)
- Physiological parameters measured were not significantly different except for diastolic blood pressure, which changed significantly between the two groups (P <0.05) after the intervention with aromatherapy.
The decrease in anxiety in the control group may have been influenced by the physical presence of the investigator as well as the ongoing care and monitoring that transpired. Also, blinding was not possible because of the diffusion of oil molecules into the environment. In spite of these limitations, the results of this study support the benefits of aromatherapy using geranium essential oil aromatherapy as an inexpensive, non-invasive and effective treatment protocal for reducing anxiety in women during labor.
Source: Fakari, Fahimeh Rashidi, Mahbubeh Tabatabaeichehr, Hossian Kamali, Farzaneh Rashidi Fakari, and Maryam Naseri. “Effect of inhalation of aroma of geranium essence on anxiety and physiological parameters during first stage of labor in nulliparous women: a randomized clinical trial.” Journal of caring sciences 4, no. 2 (2015): 135.
Copyright © 2015 by Tabriz University of Medical Sciences
Posted November 7, 2017.
Joyce Smith, BS, is a degreed laboratory technologist. She received her bachelor of arts with a major in Chemistry and a minor in Biology from the University of Saskatchewan and her internship through the University of Saskatchewan College of Medicine and the Royal University Hospital in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. She currently resides in Bloomingdale, IL.
References:
- Lehrner J, Marwinski G, Lehr S, Johren P, Deecke L. Ambient odors of orange and lavender reduce anxiety and improve mood in a dental office. Physiology & Behavior. 2005;86(1):92-95.
- Kim Y-J, Lee MS, Yang YS, Hur M-H. Self-aromatherapy massage of the abdomen for the reduction of menstrual pain and anxiety during menstruation in nurses: a placebo-controlled clinical trial. European journal of integrative medicine. 2011;3(3):e165-e168.
- Tahmasbi H, Mahmoodi G, Mokhberi V, Hassani S, Akbarzadeh H, Rahnamai N. The impact of aromatherapy on the anxiety of patients experiencing coronary angiography. 2012;14(3):51-55.
- Mirzaei F, Keshtgar S, Kaviani M, Rajaeifar A. The effect of lavender essence smelling during labor on cortisol and serotonin plasma levels and anxiety reduction in nulliparous women. Journal of Kerman University of Medical Sciences. 2009;16(3):245-254.
- Ryman D. Geranium. Geranium ( Pelargonium spp. – Geraniaceae; Geranium essentioal oil properties. Available at: http://aromatherapybible.com/geranium/. Accessed November 1, 2017.
- Fakari FR, Tabatabaeichehr M, Kamali H, Fakari FR, Naseri M. Effect of inhalation of aroma of geranium essence on anxiety and physiological parameters during first stage of labor in nulliparous women: a randomized clinical trial. Journal of caring sciences. 2015;4(2):135.
