Evaluation of Aromatherapy in Treating Postoperative Pain: Pilot Study

Abstract

This study compared the analgesic efficacy of postoperative lavender oil aromatherapy in 50 patients undergoing breast biopsy surgery. Twenty-five patients received supplemental oxygen through a face mask with two drops of 2% lavender oil postoperatively. The remainder of the patients received supplemental oxygen through a face mask with no lavender oil. Outcome variables included pain scores (a numeric rating scale from 0 to 10) at 5, 30, and 60 minutes postoperatively, narcotic requirements in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU), patient satisfaction with pain control, as well as time to discharge from the PACU. There were no significant differences in narcotic requirements and recovery room discharge times between the two groups. Postoperative lavender oil aromatherapy did not significantly affect pain scores. However, patients in the lavender group reported a higher satisfaction rate with pain control than patients in the control group (P = 0.0001).

The Effect of Lavender Oil in Patients with Renal Colic: A Prospective Controlled Study Using Objective and Subjective Outcome Measurements

“…16,35,36 Despite the demonstrated anti-nociceptive effect in animal models, 37 this state cannot be demonstrated directly in human studies. 38 Gedney et al 18 and Kim et al 15 reported that administration via inhalation increased patient satisfaction in terms of pain control; however, they attributed this finding not to the analgesic effect of aromatherapy but to its subjective effect of decreasing unpleasant feelings. Another study reported that aromatherapy decreased the pain related to open heart surgery; however, this was reported to be statistically insignificant.…”

“…11 Today, it is used to decrease the discomfort caused by anxiety, pain, the adverse effects of chemotherapy, and discomfort after surgery, as well as to increase energy (positive effect of mood enhancement) and support sleep. [12][13][14][15][16] Lavender oil has been used in humans to decrease depression of moderate severity, anxiety, and pain. [17][18][19] Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of lavender oil have been demonstrated.…”

The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy with Lavender Essential Oil in Relieving Post Arthroscopy Pain

“…This will be the limitation of this study. Kim et al (2006) carried out a study regarding the effectiveness of lavender essential oil aromatherapy in pain level reduction, pain control satisfaction and reducing the amount of analgesic used for treating breast biopsy surgery patients. Their results showed that inhalation of lavender essential oil did not reduce breast biopsy surgery pain, nor did it reduce the use of analgesics, however it did increase the patients' satisfaction in regards to pain control.…”

“…Perhaps it was because the fragrance of the essential oil covered the smell of the wound, and in turn, calmed and relaxed the patient. Kim et al (2006) carried out a study regarding the effectiveness of lavender essential oil aromatherapy in pain level reduction, pain control satisfaction and reducing the amount of analgesic used for treating breast biopsy surgery patients. The 25 patients comprising the experimental group were given oxygen masks to wear and there were two drops of 2% lavender essential oil placed inside each mask, while the members of the control group also wore oxygen masks without any lavender essential oil.…”

Effectiveness of Aromatherapy with Lavender Oil in Relieving Post Caesarean Incision Pain

“…However, lavender oil is commonly used in aromatherapy that the scent of the essential oil from the flowers is inhaled (6) . Lavender oil used to alleviate pain in different conditions such as changing dressings, palliative care, to control labor pain as well as chronic pain (7) . Some researchers concluded that aromatherapy by using lavender essence is effective in reducing pain after caesarean section (8) , as inhaled lavender essence (9) and massage with lavender oil (10,11) .…”