RESUMEN
PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate differences between lavender abdominal massage and inhalation on dysmenorrhea, menstrual pain, anxiety, and depression. METHODS: This study used a non equivalent quasiexperimental design. Lavender essential oil and almond oil were used in massage and a lavender necklace and artificial perfume necklace in inhalation for female college students. Frequencies, percentages, Chi-square, Fisher' s exact test and t-test with the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Dysmenorrhea was significantly higher inhalation for placebo treatment compared to lavender inhalation (p< .001). There was not significant difference between lavender abdominal massage and inhalation. CONCLUSION: Lavender abdominal massage and inhalation could be effective methods to reduce dysmenorrhea. However, before lavender abdominal massage and inhalation can be considered as intervention, it is more needed to study of menstrual pain, anxiety and depression.