The impact of aromatherapy with Citrus bergamia- Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and/or mindfulness-based therapy on postmenopausal health: A factorial randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the effects of combined aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) essential oil (LEO) and Bergamot (Citrus×bergamia (Risso) Risso & Poit) essential oil (BEO) and/or mindfulness-based therapy (MBT) on menopausal symptoms, sleep quality, and serum cortisol.

METHODS

This factorial randomized controlled trial included 132 postmenopausal 132 postmenopausal women aged 50-60 years with mild to moderate anxiety. The recruited women were divided into four groups receiving: 1) Control: Usual care + placebo, 2) Therapy: MBT + placebo, 3) Aromatherapy: LEO + BEO Aromatherapy + usual care, and 4) Therapy & Aromatherapy: MBT + LEO-BEO aromatherapy. Participants in the aromatherapy and placebo groups were instructed to apply 2-3 drops of the assigned solution to their forearm skin and inhale it three times daily for eight weeks. Weekly MBT sessions were held over two months.

RESULTS

After two months, the aromatherapy group showed reduced total scores for menopausal symptoms [adjusted mean difference (aMD) (95 % CI): -5.7 (-9.5 to -1.8)] and anxiety [aMD (95 % CI): -1.9 (-3.4 to -0.4)] compared to the control group. Sleep quality, measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), improved in both the therapy [aMD (95 % CI): -2.6 (-4.2 to -1.0)] and aromatherapy [aMD (95 % CI): -1.7 (-3.3 to -0.1)] groups versus controls. However, the combined intervention showed no significant effects compared to control (p > 0.05). Serum cortisol levels did not differ significantly across groups (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

MBT and LEO-BEO aromatherapy demonstrated favorable outcomes in managing menopausal symptoms and sleep quality. The combination therapy did not yield additional benefits. The registration number: IRCT20131009014957N8 The registration date: 04/12/2019.