The Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Heart Rate, Blood Pressure, and Perceived Stress Among Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients

A Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy via inhalation as a stress management modality for patients in cardiac rehabilitation. This was a quasi-experimental design. Aromatherapy was provided via inhalation to participants before a cardiac rehabilitation session over 8 minutes using lavender essential oil. The same protocol was used in the nonaromatherapy session without the essential oil. Blood pressure and radial pulse were measured, and subjective data were also collected including assessment of stress level (1-10 scale) and affect using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS). Analyses were performed using SPSS Statistics version 20. Quantitative measures were analyzed using Mann-Whitney nonparametric equivalent to the t test. Inferential measures were analyzed using the χ² or Fisher's exact test. In the outpatient cardiac rehabilitation program, 25 patients participated in this study. The average change in negative affect (PANAS−) between pre- and postaromatherapy compared with pre- and post--nonaromatherapy sessions was statistically significant. Results showed a reduction in blood pressure following both aromatherapy and nonaromatherapy sessions with no statistical significance between sessions. Heart rate decreased equally postaromatherapy and nonaromatherapy sessions. Aromatherapy may be a useful stress management tool for cardiac rehabilitation patients.