The Effect of Music Therapy and Aromatherapy with Chamomile-Lavender Essential Oil on the Anxiety of Clinical Nurses: A Randomized and Double-Blind Clinical Trial

Abstract

Nurses may be anxious due to critical and emergencies, and anxiety can affect their professional performance. Non-pharmacological interventions, as a safe method, can reduce anxiety. This study aimed to determine the effect of music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile - lavender essential oil on the anxiety of clinical nurses. This was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. One hundred twenty nurses from clinical wards of Besat Hospital in Sanandaj, Iran, were selected between 2018 and 2019 by purposeful sampling. The samples were randomly assigned to three groups with different interventions, namely music therapy, both aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil and music therapy, and aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil, along with a control group as well. The anxiety of nurses was measured based on the Beck Anxiety Inventory before the intervention and after three work shifts. The data were analyzed using the SPSS v.22 software. One-way ANOVA was used to test the hypotheses. The findings showed that the mean scores of the anxiety of nurses after the intervention in the three groups namely the group for which music therapy was applied, the group for which aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil was used and the group for which both music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil were applied, were (39.28), (37.82) and (40.03), respec�tively. Therefore, the obtained mean score of each group was significantly lower than that of the control group (56.08) (p < 0.0001). The results showed that the interventions of music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil could reduce the anxiety of nurses. Therefore, it is recommended to use music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender essential oil to reduce the anxiety of nurses in the clinical setting.

Effect of Chamomile on the Complications of Cancer: A Systematic Review

“…The results of a RCT showed that chamomile-lavender aromatherapy decreased the anxiety of nurses compared to the control group. 58 In another study, it was reported that the inhalation of chamomile essential oil reduced patients’ anxiety before endoscopy. 59 Furthermore, it was found in a study that inhalation aromatherapy using chamomile essential oils reduced depression and anxiety levels in community-dwelling older adults.…”

Plant Essential Oils as Healthy Functional Ingredients of Nutraceuticals and Diet Supplements: A Review

“…For instance, Melissa officinalis L. (lemon balm) EO was tested in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients, resulting in significantly reduced scores of stress and anxiety, with reduced heart rate ( p < 0.001) along with remarkable decrease in the mean arterial pressure in the Melissa group compared to the placebo group ( p < 0.001) [ 176 ]. Lavandula angustifolia L. (lavender) EO was tested for 4 weeks on patients with insomnia, showing significantly improved sleep quality and duration, improved quality of life, and improved overall mood [ 178 ], while the combination of lavender with chamomile ( Matricaria recutita ) showed statistically significant improvement in depression, anxiety, and stress levels immediately and one month after the intervention in the lavender and chamomile group compared to the control group ( p < 0.01) [ 171 ]. Similarly, lavender combined with Roman chamomile ( Anthemis nobilis ) and neroli ( Citrus aurantium flowers EO) showed reduced anxiety and improved sleep quality [ 181 ].…”

Chamomile Essential Oil: Chemical Constituents and Antitumor Activity in MDA‐MB‐231 Cells through PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

“…[12] Another study recommended music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile and lavender essential oils in combination to reduce the nurses anxiety in the clinical setting. [13] The combination of clomipramine and inhaled Roman chamomile essential oil attenuated depression-like behavior in mice tested for forced swimming. Meanwhile, inhalation of the essential oil of Roman chamomile improved the antidepressant effect of clomipramine by increasing hippocampal neurogenesis and regulating corticosterone levels in patients with treatment-resistant depression.…”

“…A parallel randomized controlled clinical trial study found that inhaled aromatherapy with essential oils of lavender and chamomile helped reduce depression, anxiety and stress in elderly people in the community [12] . Another study recommended music therapy and aromatherapy with chamomile and lavender essential oils in combination to reduce the nurses anxiety in the clinical setting [13] . The combination of clomipramine and inhaled Roman chamomile essential oil attenuated depression‐like behavior in mice tested for forced swimming.…”