The Effect of Aroma Hand Massage Therapy for People with Dementia

Abstract

This pilot study demonstrated that clinical aromatherapy was clinically safe but did not lead to statistically significant improvements in BPSD or ADL among people with dementia. Further research on therapeutic effects is needed to develop high-quality care with clinical aromatherapy for elderly patients with dementia in Japan and to fully establish evidence for effective and safe practice in health care institutions.

Complementary medicine for treatment of agitation and delirium in older persons: a systematic review and narrative synthesis

“…Only six studies qualitatively assessed the effects of CAM therapies on agitated states. As with the quantitative findings, craniosacral still‐point technique (osteopathy) (Gerdner et al ., ), healing touch (Wang and Hermann, ), tender touch massage (Sansone and Schmitt, ), and therapeutic touch (Woods et al ., ) revealed some improvement in agitation when assessed by interviews with patients, families, or staff members (nurses and physicians), while aromatherapy (Snow et al ., ; Yoshiyama et al ., ) did not seem to have any effect on agitation in patients with dementia (Table ).…”

“…Sixteen studies were RCTs, two were NRCTs (non-RCTs), fifteen were before and after (B&A) studies, and seven were cross-over clinical trials. Eleven studies dealt with the effects of aromatherapy alone or in combination with massage or acupressure (Yoshiyama et al, 2015;Snow et al, 2004; et al, 2001;Brooker et al, 1997;Fu et al, 2013;Ballard et al, 2002;Lin et al, 2007;Holmes et al, 2002;Yang et al, 2015), nine explored massage therapy alone (Remington, 2002;Snyder et al, 1995;Holliday-Welsh et al, 2009;Suzuki et al, 2010;Sansone and Schmitt, 2000;Makinian et al, 2015;Hicks-Moore and Robinson, 2008;Moyle et al, 2011;Moyle et al, 2014), seven examined various herbal and non-herbal dietary supplements (Freund-Levi et al, 2008;Kwok et al, 2008;Remington et al, 2010;Akhondzadeh et al, 2003aAkhondzadeh et al, , 2003bKimura et al, 2011;Shinno et al, 2008), five studies dealt with traditional Japanese medicine (Mizukami et al, 2009;Okahara et al, 2010;Nagata et al, 2012;Hayashi et al, 2010;Teranishi et al, 2013), four concentrated on therapeutic touch and reflexology (Woods et al, 2005;Hawranik et al, 2008;Woods and Dimond, 2002;Woods et al, 2009), three on acupressure (Lin et al, 2009;…”

Using Complementary and Alternative Medicine to Treat Pain and Agitation in Dementia

“…35–38 Intervention variables also mostly involved touch in the form of foot 39 or hand massage, 36,37 reflexology, 40 therapeutic touch, 21 and dermally applied aromatherapy. 35–38 Outcome variables were primarily BPSD (especially agitation), 21,35–38 but also pain, 40 changes in mood and communication, 37 and physiological stress responses (blood pressure, heart rate, salivary α-amylase). 39,40 (See Table 2.…”

“…38 High-strength lavender oil was found to be no better than control, 35 as was D&H oil blend with hand massage, however, they did show safety as well as positive experiences of participants. 37 See Table 2 for more details. Overall, the results offered evidence for human presence and interaction as well as touch reducing BPSD, stress, and pain.…”

Non-Pharmalogical Interventions towards Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia—An Integrated Literature Review

“…Because of that, the effect of the intervention on BPSD feels doubtful. In another study by Yoshiyama, Arita and Suzuki [41], researchers were also unable to provide evidence that aromatherapy gave significant improvements in BPSD.…”