Aromatherapy in intensive care

Researchers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital NHS Trust, Reading, recently broke new ground by studying the effects of aromatherapy in the intensive care unit as a means of helping to alleviate anxiety and stress. 

122 patients were randomly selected to receive either massage, aromatherapy (using essential oil of lavender), or bed rest. All of the patients were assessed before and after the therapy sessions which included physiological stress indicators as well as subjective evaluations given by the patients themselves as to their levels of anxiety, mood and ability to cope with their intensive care experience.

93 patients (77%) completed the subjective assessments and whilst there was no significant difference in the physiological stress indicators between the three groups, those patients in the aromatherapy group reported significantly greater improvements in their mood and perceived levels of anxiety. Patients who received aromatherapy were found to be less anxious and more positive immediately after the treatment. Although the improvements were temporary, the results revealed a demonstrable improvement in the aromatherapy group. 

Dunn C; Sleep J; Collett D Sensing an improvement: an experimental study to evaluate the use of aromatherapy, massage and periods of rest in an intensive care unit. Journal of Advanced Nursing (ENGLAND) Jan 1995, 21 (1) p34-40 

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