Impact of winter savory essential oil on the functioning of cardiovascular system of the elderly

Abstract

Objective. To study the effects of winter savory essential oil on the functioning of cardiovascular system of the elderly. Materials and methods. The study includes 97 women of older age with increased systolic blood pressure, which were divided into control (session of relaxation therapy only), and experimental (session of relaxation therapy combined with aromatherapy of winter savory essential oil) groups. Before and after the sessions, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate of the testees were measured and the following indices were determined: pulse blood pressure, minute blood volume, mean dynamic blood pressure, total peripheral vascular resistance, heart index, systolic index, Robinson index, Kerdo index, circulatory efficiency coefficient. Results. The study found that the use of winter savory essential oil led to a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure (exposure for 10 and 30 minutes) and heart rate (all time periods). The values of pulse and average dynamic blood pressure significantly decreased during aromatherapy for 10 or 30 minutes, there was also a significant decrease in the values of minute blood volume after 10 and 30-minute session of aromarelaxation. After 30-minute aromarelaxation there was an increase in the total peripheral vascular resistance. The change of Kerdo index value in the direction of parasympathetic after 30 minutes of aromatherapy was revealed. The value of the coefficient of efficiency of blood circulation significantly decreased after 10 and 30 minutes of aromarelaxation, Robinson index decreased during all time periods of exposure. Conclusion. On the basis of the obtained data, it can be concluded that the essential oil of winter savory has a pronounced normalizing effect on the circulatory function of the elderly women with systolic hypertension.