Aromaterapia na redução dos sintomas de estresse na equipe de enfermagem: revisão integrativa de literatura / Aromaterapia para reducir síntomas de estrés en equipos de enfermería: revisión integradora de la literatura / Aromatherapy in reducing stress symptoms in the nursing team: an integrative literature review

Objetivo: analisar as evidências científicas em relação ao uso da aromaterapia na redução de sintomas relacionados ao estresse na equipe de Enfermagem. Método: revisão integrativa da literatura realizada em 01 de julho de 2022, a partir dos descritores "Aromatherapy", "Stress" e "Nursing", com utilização da plataforma Rayyan para seleção dos estudos realizados por dois pesquisadores independentes. Foram incluídos documentos de acesso digital na íntegra e gratuitos nos idiomas português, inglês ou espanhol, que analisaram a aromaterapia e a população de interesse separadamente. Resultados: doze estudos foram incluídos com predominância de ensaios clínicos randomizados e estudos quase experimentais. Destacou-se aromaterapia inalatória com o óleo essencial de Lavandula angustifolia. A utilização de grupo-controle e múltiplas medições dos desfechos foram os critérios que apresentaram maior fragilidade entre os estudos analisados. Considerações finais: a aromaterapia demonstrou efetividade e segurança na redução de sintomas de estresse para a equipe de Enfermagem.

Objetivo: analizar las evidencias científicas en relación con utilizar Aromaterapia para reducir síntomas relacionados con el estrés en equipos de Enfermería. Método: revisión integradora de la literatura realizada el 1 de julio de 2022 a partir de los siguientes descriptores: "Aromatherapy", "Stress" y "Nursing", y empleando la plataforma Rayyan para seleccionar los estudios a cargo de dos investigadores independientes. Se incluyeron documentos con acceso digital a sus textos completos y gratuitos en portugués, inglés o español, y que analizaran la Aromaterapia y la populación de interés en forma separada. Resultados: se incluyeron doce estudios, con predominio de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados y estudios cuasiexperimentales. Se destacó la Aromaterapia por inhalación con aceite esencial de Lavandula angustifolia. Emplear un Grupo Controle y de múltiples mediciones de los desenlaces fueron los criterios que presentaron mayor fragilidad entre los estudios analizados. Consideraciones finales: la Aromaterapia demostró ser efectiva y segura para reducir síntomas de estrés en equipos de Enfermería.

Objective: to analyze the diverse scientific evidence regarding the use of aromatherapy in reducing stress-related symptoms in the Nursing team. Method: an integrative literature review carried out on July 1st, 2022, based on the "Aromatherapy", "Stress" and "Nursing" descriptors and using the Rayyan platform to select the studies, all in charge of two independent researchers. Full-text and free digital access documents in Portuguese, English or Spanish were included, which analyzed aromatherapy and the population of interest separately. Results: twelve studies were included, with predominance of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies. Inhalation aromatherapy with Lavandula angustifolia essential oil stood out. The use of a Control Group and multiple outcome measures were the criteria that presented the greatest weakness among the studies analyzed. Final considerations: Aromatherapy showed effectiveness and safety in reducing stress symptoms for the Nursing team.

Odorants: a tool to provide nonpharmacological intervention to reduce anxiety during normal and pathological aging.

Anxiety disorders represent 1 of the most common classes of psychiatric disorders. In the aging population and for patients with age-related pathology, the percentage of people suffering of anxiety is significantly elevated. Furthermore, anxiety carries with it an increased risk for a variety of age-related medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, cognitive decline, and increased severity of motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease. A variety of anxiolytic compounds are available but often carry with them disturbing side effects that impact quality of life. Among nonmedicinal approaches to reducing anxiety, odor diffusion and aromatherapy are the most popular. In this review, we highlight the emerging perspective that the use of odorants may reduce anxiety symptoms or at least potentiate the effect of other anxiolytic approaches and may serve as an alternative form of therapy to deal with anxiety symptoms. Such approaches may be particularly beneficial in aging populations with elevated risk for these disorders. We also discuss potential neural mechanisms underlying the anxiolytic effects of odorants based on work in animal models.

Perspectives on the use of aromatherapy from clinicians attending an integrative medicine continuing education event.

BACKGROUND: The use of essential oils is growing in the United States, but clinician attitudes, experience, and beliefs regarding their use have not previously been studied. METHODS: One hundred five of 106 clinician attendees (99.1%) of an integrative medicine continuing education conference were surveyed using an audience response system to obtain baseline information. Response frequencies of each item were reported. Nonparametric correlations were assessed comparing the statement "In the last 12 months, I have used essential oils for myself and/or my family" with the other agree/disagree statements using Spearman's rho. RESULTS: A majority of participants personally used integrative medicine approaches other than aromatherapy (92.6%) and recommended them clinically (96.8%). Most had personally used essential oils (61%) and wished to offer essential oil recommendations or therapies to their patients (74.0%). Only 21.9% felt confident in their ability to counsel patients on safe use. Personal use of essential oils was highly correlated with confidence in the ability to counsel patients on safe use (Spearman coefficient 0.376, P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that clinicians interested in integrative medicine desire to provide aromatherapy recommendations, but do not feel confident in their ability to do so.

Introducing Essential Oils into Pediatric and Other Practices at an Academic Medical Center.

Aromatherapy is an integrative intervention that uses essential oils to address symptom management, potentially as a first-line intervention or as a complement to other medical treatments. Aromatherapy is gaining widespread acceptance and increased scientific evidence of efficacy. Integrative and holistic nursing care uses integrative therapies such as aromatherapy and the principle of moving from a less invasive intervention to a more invasive intervention according to patient needs, symptoms, and preferences. Aromatherapy is often provided as a minimally invasive, independent, and integrative nursing intervention. This article describes the process used to introduce essential oils into practices at a large Midwestern academic medical center.

Usage patterns of aromatherapy among the French general population: A descriptive study focusing on dermal exposure.

Although likely benefits of aromatherapy are well documented, little is known about essential oils consumption and exposure to molecules present in the oils. The aim of our study was to determine usage patterns of 12 types of essential oils among a quite large panel, sorted per sex and quintile of age from birth to 70. A survey was conducted in September 2014 among 1507 French individuals, selected to build a representative panel of the general population. The key point of our study, apart from the fact that it has never been done among general population, was the focus on dermal exposure. Information about types of essential oils used, skin areas exposed, frequencies and quantities were collected. Our work revealed that some sub-populations could be significantly exposed to molecules of toxicological concern, especially in terms of skin sensitization. This work is the first step to assess human exposure to these molecules, and will help safety authorities and risk managers to protect the population.

Eficácia da aromaterapia na redução de níveis de estresse e ansiedade em alunos de graduação da área da saúde: estudo preliminar / Effectiveness of aromatherapy in reducing stress and anxiety levels in undergraduate health science students: a preliminary study

Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a eficácia de aromaterapia na diminuição de níveis de estresse e ansiedade (traço e estado) de alunos de graduação de cursos na área da saúde. Participaram do estudo 36 sujeitos, com idade entre 18 e 29 anos, que foram divididos entre os que receberam tratamento (grupo aroma, n=18) e o grupo controle (n=18). Os sujeitos foram avaliados quanto a níveis de estresse e ansiedade antes e após o período de intervenção, pela Lista de Sintomas de Estresse e pelo Inventário de Ansiedade Traço e Estado. O tratamento de aromaterapia consistiu em sete sessões (duas vezes por semana) de dez minutos de inalação com uma sinergia de óleos essenciais elaborada especificamente. Os escores de estresse e ansiedade antes e depois do tratamento foram comparados estatisticamente, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). O grupo aroma apresentou redução significativa dos níveis de estresse (de 24%) e ansiedade (de 13% e 19%, p<0,05), enquanto no grupo controle houve uma diminuição significante, embora menor (de 11%), apenas no nível de estresse. A aromaterapia mostrou–se eficaz na redução dos níveis de estresse e ansiedade em estudantes da área da saúde. No entanto, ainda são necessários mais estudos para identificar as causas dos níveis medidos e, também, os mecanismos de ação dos óleos essenciais em sua redução...

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of aromatherapy in decreasing stress and anxiety levels in undergraduate health science students. Thirty-six students aged 18 to 29 were divided into those who received treatment (aroma group, n=18) and a control group (n=18). All subjects were assessed as to stress and anxiety levels before and after the treatment, by means of the List of Stress Symptoms and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. The aromatherapy treatment consisted in twice weekly, 10-minute inhalations of a synergy of essential oils made specifically for this study, for a total of 7 sessions. Stress and anxiety scores measured before and after treatment were statistically compared, with significance level set at 5% (p<0.05). The aroma group showed a significant (p<0,05) decrease in stress (less 24%) and anxitey (less 13% and 19%) levels, while in control group only a significant, though lesser (11%) stress level decrease could be noticed. Aromatherapy thus proved effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels in graduate health students, but there is still great need to further studies to identify causes of the levels assessed, as well as the mechanisms whereby essential oils might have reduced them.

The science and art of aromatherapy.

Essential oils have been used for thousands of years. Hippocrates claimed that the way to health was through aromatic baths and massages. Much anecdotal evidence exists regarding aromatherapy's positive effects on recipients. However, well-designed research trials are sparse. Certainly much controversy exists regarding the appropriate way to conduct research on holistic therapies. Can their effects be broken down and studied without contradicting the central premise on which holism is based? The purpose of this article is to review the current state of the science of aromatherapy and to propose future research. The author also offers guidelines for safe aromatherapy practice while awaiting future research on its clinical efficacy.

Olfactory remediation: current evidence and possible applications.

A number of recent psychological investigations has suggested a significant role for olfactory stimulation in the alteration of cognition, mood and social behaviour. These orthodox investigations have a common, if uneasy, relationship with the holistic practice of so-called aromatherapy. This paper reviews the therapeutic effects of dour on health-related behaviour. It distinguishes two types of research activity, one which is quantitative and science- and medicine-based, the other which is qualitative and anecdote- and experience-based. Both of these endeavours are critically assessed and suggestions are made for improvement in methodology and experimental design.