Effects of aromatherapy massage with lime essential oil on stress

Abstract

Aromatherapy is an alternative treatment for many psychiatric problems including stress. Lime essential oil (LEO) is widely used in aromatherapy although there are a few systemic investigations reporting different effects of LEO. A behavioural animal study showed that the main compounds of LEO had sedative effects while the signs of alertness associated with restlessness were found in a human study.Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the effect of i) a single LEO massage on the physical parameters of saliva Cortisol, arterial blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature and ii) repeated LEO massage (one hour a week for 4 weeks) on mental parameters evaluated by the Thai General Health Questionnaire 28 (GHQ-28). Forty women volunteers, selected from GHQ-28 (>= 6) for stress status (mean + SEM = 13.19 + 0.90), were randomly divided into LEO and control (carrier oil) group. Before and after the single treatment, physical parameters were examined. GHQ-28 was evaluated after receiving repeated treatments. The single LEO massage significantly decreased systolic blood pressure compared to controls (p <0.05). Repeated LEO massage (one hour a week for 4 weeks) reduced the GHQ-28 score similar to the control treatment. The single LEO massage attenuated systolic blood pressures, suggesting the stimulation of parasympathetic activity. © Essential Oil Resource Consultants. All rights reserved.