Study result Aromatherapy can relieve pain

Fragrances can relieve pain, reduce nausea and reduce anxiety in the hospital room. This is the conclusion of a recent study from the USA.

Pain relief by aromatherapy. Image: Syda Productions - fotolia

Patients in hospitals often suffer from pain, nausea and vomiting as well as anxiety, which can also be triggered by the treatment. The US scientists therefore conducted an observational study at ten hospitals to investigate the efficacy of aromatherapy in these conditions in hospital patients.

Nurses were provided with four essential oils for the treatment of these conditions, either as an inhalation or applied to the skin. Lavender oil was most commonly used, followed by ginger, sweet marjoram, mandarin and a combination of the oils.

It turned out that sweet marjoram was the best way to affect the pain. Lavender and sweet marjoram helped against anxiety, and ginger was the most successful nausea. The study can be found here.