The effect of citrus ginger aroma on heart rate and salivary cortisol level during sleep at home

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of odor on the heart rate (HR) and salivary cortisol levels during sleep at home. Twenty male students (aged 20.9 ± 0.74 years) participated in the study and were exposed to three different odorants (apple, cedar wood, and citrus ginger) or a scentless control sample each night in their home environment in a counterbalanced order. In this within-subjects study design, all subjects were instructed to sleep at home for 6 h, from 00:00 to 06:00, and HR was measured using a wristwatch-type HR monitor. Saliva samples were obtained before sleep and after awakening. While subjective sleep quality at awakening did not differ between conditions, tension and anxiety, as assessed by the Profile of Mood State Questionnaire, significantly decreased from the night before sleep to the next morning on which citrus ginger exposure was provided (p < 0.01). Moreover, HR during sleep and after awakening, as well as cortisol secretion after awakening, was significantly higher in the citrus ginger condition (p < 0.01-0.05). Hence, the inhalation of citrus ginger aroma during sleep may enhance sympathetic nervous and endocrine system activity while alleviating psychological tension and anxiety.

The Impact of Wearable Technologies in Health Research: Scoping Review

“…7). Often, studies (59/179, 33%) identified the wearable as innovative, that is, as a cutting-edge tool and method [103] with a wearable device potentially closing a gap in or improving health care and research. For example, 1 study described how wireless wearables and data synching could improve the quality of care [69], "The data can be sent from the wearable to the physician's office, avoiding the need for office visits, ultimately making possible preventive medicine and improving quality of care."…”

Alleviation of acute stress response by black pepper aroma administration

“…It uses different types of essential oils, and various psychological and physiological effects are expected from these aromas. Previous studies on aromatherapy have reported reduced anxiety with lavender [ 1 , 2 ], orange [ 3 – 6 ], sandalwood [ 7 ], citrus ginger [ 8 ], Hiba [ 1 ], and Melissa officinalis (lemon balm) extract [ 9 ]; relieved stress with lemon [ 10 ], peppermint [ 11 ], black tea [ 12 ], green tea [ 13 ] and blended essential oil with sandalwood and lavender [ 14 ]; improved sleep quality with lavender [ 2 , 15 , 16 ] and Rosa damascene [ 17 ]; induced physiological relaxation with Hinoki cypress leaf oil [ 18 ], and increased memory performance with lavender, rosemary [ 19 ], and ginger [ 20 ].…”

“…Inhalation of ginger essential oil has demonstrated positive effects on nausea and vomiting severities [21][22][23] and ginger oil massage has been effective in relieving chronic low back pain [24] and moderate-to-severe knee pain [25] in older adults, while ginger extract showed positive efficacy in pain relief and improved functionality in patients with moderate knee osteoarthritis [26]. Moreover, inhalation of citrus ginger during sleep enhanced sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity upon awakening and alleviated psychological tension and anxiety [8].…”

The Effect of Inhaling an Essential Oil Compound Containing Eupatorium fortunei Turcz: A Pilot Study

“…First, after inhaling essential oils, the nasal olfactory nerve carries the scent information to the rhinencephalon (the olfactory area of the brain), which can trigger the rapid release of neurotransmitters (such as dopamine and 5-HT) that regulate the nervous system. This can induce physiological and mental states of relaxation, pleasure, and happiness [1][2][3][4]. Second, after inhaling essential oils, essential oil molecules can enter the nasal mucosa and lungs.…”

“…E-mail: xuemei_bai@yahoo.com blood circulation or are recognized by olfactory epithelium-specific gas receptors. The scent information is then transmitted to the olfactory bulb through the olfactory sensing potentiometer, where it can activate the limbic brain system or the brain stem network to affect mood, memory, cognition, behavior, or physiology [1,5].…”