Effects of Aromatherapy on Depression, Anxiety and the Autonomic Nervous System in Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Adjuvant Radiotherapy

Abstract

The study was designed to verify effects of aromatherapy on depression, anxiety and the autonomic nervous system in breast cancer patients who are undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Methods: Data were collected from November 2006 through March 2007 at the C university hospital in Seoul. The study included 33 patients and they were assigned to three groups. Group I had aroma oil inhalation for 2 minutes per time, three times a day for six weeks whereas Group II and a control group inhaled aroma oil for 2 minutes per time, once a day for six weeks. For Groups I and II, a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosewood and rose essential oils were used while control group inhaled tea tree oil. Results: Depression was significantly decreased in patients in the experimental groups only. In Groups I and II patients, anxiety level was lower than that in control patients. Patients in Groups I and II also showed stronger physical resistance to stress than control group patients. Conclusion: Aromatherapy should be considered as a method that can significantly decrease depression in breast cancer patients who are undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy.

The Effects of Aroma Foot Baths on Stress and Sleep in Terminal Cancer Patients

“…There has been no previous research on the effects of foot baths on managing the symptoms of cancer patients in South Korea. There have been a few studies that investigated the effects of aromatherapy for alleviating physical symptoms [ 10 - 12 ] and psychological issues [ 10 , 12 , 13 ] and one study that examined the effects of foot reflex massages using aroma oils on cancer patients living in a care facility [ 14 ]. Few studies have examined a combination of both therapies at the same time, even globally, except for a small number of pregnant women [ 15 , 16 ].…”