Effect of Bitter Orange Blossom Distillate on Anxiety and Sleep Disorder in Mothers with Infants Admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care unit: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background:Mothers of neonates admitted to the intensive care unit are prone to sleep disorders due to stress and anxiety. Some herbs have anti-anxiety and sedative properties.The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bitter orange blossom distillate on anxiety and sleep disorder in mothers with infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. Methods:This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in 2021on 60 mothers with NICU-admitted infants in one of the medical teaching centers affiliated to Babol University of Medical Sciences,Iran. Permuted block randomization was used to assign the mothers to the experimental (bitter orange blossom distillate syrup)and control groups(syrup prepared from water and sugar).Given the impossibility of blinding the participants, allocation concealment was used to prevent the researcher from predicting the future allocation of the samples to the groups. In addition, the statistical consultant received coded data pertaining to the type of intervention in each group.A demographic questionnaire,the Spielberger State and Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the General Sleep Disorder Scale were employed to collect data.We assessed the level of anxiety and sleep disorder (in both groups before the intervention and again after the last day of the intervention). Data were analyzed using SPSS V22 software. P value less than 0.05was considered significant. Reasults: The mean and standard deviation of the sleep disorder score in the intervention group from (50.26±5.81) to (44.70±6.94) and in the control group from (50.46±6.95) to(48.53±8.62)changed. The covariance test showed that bitter orange blossom distillate syrup has a significant effect on the improvement of sleep disorders (P=0.01, Effect size=0.09), but there was no significant difference in the anxiety level of mothers(P> 0.05, Effect size < 0.06). Conclusions:Due to the positive effect of bitter orange blossom distillate syrup on sleep disorders of mothers with hospitalized babies, this low-cost and low-risk intervention is recommended. Trial registration: IRCTID: IRCT20201209049666N1. Registered 15-04-2021. Retrospectively registered. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/es/central/doi/10.1002/central/CN-02280085/full https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=IRCT20201209049666N1, 2021

The Effect of Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) Essential Oil on Sleep Quality in Mothers of Preterm Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (A Randomized Clinical Trial Study)

“…Thus, the highest amount of essential oil extracted from lemon balm is typically obtained by this method, in which the desired plant is directly placed in a distillation flask inside water, and then about two-thirds of its volume is filled with water, and heated. The produced water vapors contain essential molecules, which are liquefied after traveling through refrigerant pipes, and collected in the receiving container [24,25].…”

Therapeutic potential of hypnotic herbal medicines: A comprehensive review

“…Similarly, it has been demonstrated that using C. aurantium essential oil for aromatherapy in pregnant women with sleep disorders could remarkably improve their sleep quality(Mohammadi et al, 2022). Furthermore, a recent clinical trial reported that the administration of C. aurantium blossom distillate to mothers with neonatal intensive care unitadmitted infants reduced sleep disorder scores in comparison with the mothers in the placebo group(Dehghan et al, 2023).Finally, both in vitro and in vivo investigations have indicated that C. aurantium extracts and essential oils can increase sleep duration, reduce sleep latency, and mitigate sleep disorders in several laboratory methods. Clinical research with C. aurantium essential oil has further confirmed its effectiveness in improving sleep quality.…”