Table 3.
Effects of essential oils on pathophysiological responses.
| Author | Essential Oils | Application Methods | Measures | Outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scuteri et al. [8] | bergamot | inhaled | licking/biting behavior | analgesic properties |
| Pereira et al. [9] | bergamot, geranium, and mountain pepper | inhaled | the relationship between anxiety, depression, and quality of life (primary outcomes), as well as the impact of hedonic aroma | long-term emotional and quality of life-related adjustment |
| Maya-Enero [10] | lavender | inhaled | pain assessment | decreased crying time |
| Hawkins et al. [11] | thyme, orange peel, clove bud, and frankincense | inhaled | multidimensional fatigue symptom inventory | lowered fatigue score |
| Ebrahimi et al. [12] | lavender and chamomile | inhaled | the depression, anxiety, and DASS stress-scale | both lavender and chamomile essential oils helped decrease depression, anxiety, and stress levels |
| Chen et al. [15] | bergamot | inhaled | questionnaire including the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale and postpartum sleep quality scale (PSQS) | alleviated depressive mood in postpartum |
| Usta et al. [17] | lavender | inhaled | pain scores | pain control in premature infants during heel lancing |
| Shammas et al. [18] | lavender | inhaled | hospital anxiety and depression scale, Richards–Campbell sleep questionnaire, and the visual analogue scale for quantifying stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, and pain | no measurable advantages in breast reconstruction |
| Sgoifo et al. [19] | Juniperus phoenicea gum extract, Copaifera officinalis (Balsm Copaiba) resin, Aniba rosaeodora (Rosewood) wood oil and Juniperus virginiana oil | topical | psychological questionnaires (anxiety, perceived stress, and mood profile), autonomic parameters (heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV)), and neuroendocrine (salivary cortisol) measurements | stress resilience due to favorable physiological, neuroendocrine and psychological effects |
| Seifritz et al. [20] | lavender | oral | a short form of the addiction research center inventory (visual analogue scales assessing positive, negative, and sedative drug effects) | no abuse potential |
| Mascherona et al. [22] | lavender and sweet orange | inhaled | measures the stress felt by professional caregiver using Italian version of the NPI-NH scale | might improve wellbeing of patients and caregivers |
| Karimzadeh et al. [25] | lavender and citrus | inhaled | the state subscale of State-Trait Anxiety Inventory | reduced the anxiety of patients admitted to ICUs |
| Ferreira et al. [26] | Ocimum gratissimum | water medication /immersion |
the time of anesthesia induction and recovery during anesthesia of Oreochromis niloticus exposed to essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum | reduced the stress of transport, and improved the oxidative status of Oreochromis niloticus by stable plasma glucose and change antioxidant defense system by increasing hepatic and kidney ROS |
| Takahashi et.al. [27] | cedar | inhaled | the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI), the Japanese version of Zarit Caregiver Burden interview (J-ZBI), and the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). |
improved behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia |
| Hacke et al. [29] | lemongrass, pure citral and geraniol | water medication/immersion | the light–dark test | anxiolytic effect |
| Bae et al. [31] | lavender | inhaled | the geriatric depression scale (GDS) | positive distraction during the healing process-theory of supportive design |
| Watson et al. [32] | lavender and lemon balm | inhaled | NPI and Cohen-Mansfield agitation inventory (CMAI) | reduced agitated behavior in residents without dementia, but no reduction with treatments when compared to placebo independent of cognitive groups |
| Xiong et al. [37] | lavender, sweet orange, and bergamot | massage | the geriatric depression scale (GDS) | intervened depression in older adults |
| Van Dijk et al. [39] | chamomile, lavender, and neroli | massage | the behavioral relaxation scale and the COMFORT behavior scale | not effective in reducing stress of children with burns |
| Senturk and Kartin [40] | lavender | inhaled | Pittsburgh sleep quality index, the Hamilton anxiety assessment scale, and visual analog scale for daytime sleepiness level | improved sleep problems and anxiety for dialysis nurses |
| Kalayasiri et al. [45] | lavender and synthetic oil | inhaled | the modified version of Penn alcohol craving score for inhalants |
reduced inhalant craving |
| Mosaffa-Jahromi et al. [47] | anise | oral | the Beck Depression Inventory Scale II | reduction of total score of Beck Depression Inventory II in depressed patients with irritable bowel syndrome |
| Matsumoto et al. [48] | yuzu and lavender | inhaled | HRV and the profile of mood states (POMS) questionnaire |
alleviated premenstrual emotional symptoms and improved parasympathetic nervous system activity |
| Karadag et al. [50] | lavender | inhaled | Pittsburgh sleep quality index and the Beck anxiety inventory scale. | increased quality of sleep and reduced level of anxiety in coronary artery disease patient |
| Kasper et al. [54] | lavender | oral | Hamilton anxiety rating scale and the Montgomery Asberg depression rating scale | improved impaired daily living skills and health-related quality of life |
| Dyer et al. [56] | bergamot, sandalwood, frankincense, mandarin, lavender, orange sweet, petitgrain, lavandin, mandarin, bergamot, lavender, and roman chamomile. |
inhaled | a patient questionnaire | improved Likert scale measuring sleep quality |
| Yoshiyama et al. [57] | bitter orange leaf, Cymbopogon martini, Picea mariana, lavender, damask rose, grapefruit, and lemon balm | massage | behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and activities of daily living (ADLs) | no improvement of BPSD-ADLs with dementia |
| Kasper et al. [59] | lavender | oral | the Hamilton anxiety rating scale, Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and the Zung Self-rating anxiety scale | calming and anxiolytic efficacy |
| Hasanein and Riahi [60] | lemon balm | injection | nociceptive test | treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy |
| Bikmoradi et al. [62] | lavender | inhaled | DASS-21 questionnaire, HR, RR, systolic (SBP) and diastolic pressure (DBP) | no effects on mental stress and vital signs in patients following coronary bypass surgery (CABG), but has a possibly significant effect on systolic blood pressure in patients |
| Nagata et al. [63] | bergamot | inhaled | a visual analog scale | showed little effect on pain, discomfort, vital signs, as well as preferred music and aroma during the next CT |
| Kasper et al. [66] | lavender | oral | Hamilton anxiety scale, Covi anxiety scale, Hamilton rating scale for depression, and clinical and global impressions | antidepressant effect/improved general mental health–health-related quality of life |
| Baldinger et al. [68] | lavender | oral | PET and MRI measurements | the anxiolytic effects of Silexan via serotonin-1A receptor |
| Varney and Buckle [69] | jojoba oil, peppermint, basil, and helichrysum | inhaled | self-assessed mental exhaustion or burnout | might reduce the perceived level of mental fatigue or burnout |
| Taavoni et al. [70] | lavender, geranium, rose, and rosemary | massage | the menopause rating scale | reduced psychological symptoms |
| Seol et al. [71] | Salvia sclarea and lavender | inhaled | a questionnaire | lowered stress during urodynamic examinations and induced relaxation in female urinary incontinence patients undergoing urodynamic assessments |
| Fu et al. [74] | lavender | inhaled | mini mental state examination and the CMAI short form | reduced disruptive behavior |
| Apay et al. [76] | lavender | massage | visual analog scale | effect of aromatherapy massage on pain was higher than that of placebo massage |