Abstract
Lavender essential oil (LEO) was reported to improve sleep quality. We investigated the influence of aromatherapy by testing the effects of LEO on stress responses during a short-duration sleep in a single-blind, randomized, crossover trial. The subjects were twelve healthy adults who were nonsmokers without any known disease and who were not prescribed medications, and nine of these completed the study. After the subjects had fallen asleep, they were sprayed with LEO using an aroma diffuser. Before and after 90 min of sleep, α-amylase, chromogranin A (CgA), and cortisol levels in saliva were measured as objective stress indicators, and the Japanese version of the UWIST Mood Adjective Checklist was used as a subjective indicator. A comparison of changes before and after sleep, with and without LEO, revealed that the cortisol level did not significantly change; however, α-amylase (p < 0.05) and CgA (p < 0.01) levels significantly decreased after LEO inhalation. A mood test indicated no change in mood before and after sleep, with or without LEO. Since α-amylase and CgA reflect the sympathetic nervous system response, these results indicate that LEO aromatherapy during a short-duration sleep cycle suppresses the stress response, especially that of the sympathetic nervous system.
Highlights
Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy that is generally defined as the application of essential oils to cure symptoms associated with discomfort and illnesses
This study aimed to clarify whether lavender essential oil (LEO) utilized as aromatherapy could improve sleep quality during short-duration sleep such as a nap, with a focus on the stress response
The levels of cortisol and α-amylase significantly decreased after 90 min of sleep, both with and without lavender inhalation
Summary
Aromatherapy is an alternative therapy that is generally defined as the application of essential oils to cure symptoms associated with discomfort and illnesses. The term “aromatherapy” was coined around 1930 by French chemist René-Maurice Gattefossé after he discovered that lavender essential oil (LEO) effectively healed his burned hand [1]. Aromatherapy is currently used to treat various symptoms, such as stress relief, sleep disturbances, and anxiety [2,3,4]. L. angustifolia is a short semiligneous plant that is frequently used in aromatherapy. L. angustifolia possesses various therapeutic properties, such as antibacterial [6], anti-inflammatory [7], analgesic [5], antistress [8,9], anxiolytic [10], and sedative [11] effects. Goel et al [14]
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