Aromatherapy massage and inhalation reduces depression symptoms in older people

A study conducted by researchers from Chengdu Medical College showed that aromatherapy massage and inhalation can be used to treat depression in elderly people. In this study, which was published in The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, the researchers looked at the effects of aromatherapy massage and inhalation on geriatric depression through a prospective, randomized controlled clinical trial.

• Elderly people are vulnerable to different mental health disorders like depression.
• Participants that were included in this study were community-dwelling adults who were at least 60 years old during the time of the research. Participants were assigned to groups that received either aromatherapy massage, inhalation, or no treatment.
• A 30-minute aromatherapy massage with a combination of essential oils, namely lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), sweet orange (Citrus sinensis), and bergamot (Citrus bergamia), was given to individuals in the corresponding group.
• Nasal inhalation of the same essential oils used for aromatherapy massage was done for 30 minutes in the aromatherapy inhalation group.
• The effects of the treatments were evaluated based on patient surveys and serotonin levels.

Results of the study showed that participants that were given aromatherapy massage and inhalation had lower depressive symptoms and higher serotonin concentrations compared to those in the control group, proving that they are effective treatments against geriatric depression.

Learn more about the benefits of aromatherapy on mental health by visiting EssentialOils.news today.

Journal Reference:

Xiong M, Li Y, Tang P, Zhang Y, Cao M, Ni J, Xing M. EFFECTIVENESS OF AROMATHERAPY MASSAGE AND INHALATION ON SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION IN CHINESE COMMUNITY-DWELLING OLDER ADULTS. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. 1 July 2018;24(7). DOI: 10.1089/acm.2017.0320