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Aromatherapy Using Lavender Oil Effectiveness on Pain and Anxiety After C-Section: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

  • 2024-10-14
  • Journal of epidemiology and global health 14(4)
    • Mariem Nouira
    • Nesrine Souayeh
    • Sirine Aicha Kanzari
    • Hadhami Rouis
    • Amira Lika
    • Chaouki Mbarki
    • Fatma Zahra Rahali
    • Hajer Bettaieb

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 100
Population
100 women undergoing c-sections under spinal anesthesia
Methods
Monocentric randomized controlled double-blind trial, block randomization of 4 items per block with allocation ratio 1:1, aromatherapy group (inhaled Lavender essential oil) vs placebo group (distilled water)
Blinding
Double-blind
Duration
five months
  • Large Human Trial

Background

Managing postoperative setting, regarding pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery is crucial for the mother's recovery, her emotional well-being, mother-infant bonding and initiating breastfeeding. Although some research have suggested that aromatherapy with lavender essential oil can be effective in reducing pain and anxiety in various medical settings, the efficacy of lavender aromatherapy in the postoperative setting after cesarean delivery is less well-studied. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of lavender essential oil therapy in the management of pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery.

Methods

This was a monocentric randomized controlled double-blind trial conducted over a period of five months during 2023. A hundred women undergoing c-sections under spinal anesthesia were enrolled and randomly assigned; using block randomization of 4 items per block with allocation ratio 1:1, into two groups: The aromatherapy group (receiving inhaled Lavender essential oil) versus the placebo group (receiving distilled water instead). The primary outcomes were pain (at rest and after mobilization) and anxiety levels and after the intervention. This trial was registered on clinical-trials.org (NCT06387849).

Results

A total of 100 women were included (50 women in each group aromatherapy and the placebo group). The two groups were comparable regarding baseline characteristics and pre-intervention parameters with no statistically significant difference. After the intervention, the pain at rest (38,76 ± 22,9 vs. 23,84 ± 18,01; p < 0.001), the pain after mobilization (60,28 ± 23,72 vs. 40,12 ± 22,18; p < 0.001), and degree of anxiety (46,76 ± 6,59 vs. 44,3 ± 5,17; p = 0.03) were all significantly lower in the aromatherapy group. No adverse effects were reported by participants in both groups.

Conclusion

Aromatherapy using Lavender essential oil is effective in reducing pain and anxiety after cesarean delivery without adverse effects.

Research Insights

  • Lavender→Reduced Anxiety

    After the intervention, … degree of anxiety (46,76 ± 6,59 vs. 44,3 ± 5,17; p = 0.03) were all significantly lower in the aromatherapy group.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Small
    Dose
    inhaled lavender essential oil
  • Lavender→Reduced Pain After Mobilization

    After the intervention, the pain after mobilization (60,28 ± 23,72 vs. 40,12 ± 22,18; p < 0.001) … were all significantly lower in the aromatherapy group.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    inhaled lavender essential oil
  • Lavender→Reduced Pain at Rest

    After the intervention, the pain at rest (38,76 ± 22,9 vs. 23,84 ± 18,01; p < 0.001) … were all significantly lower in the aromatherapy group.

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    inhaled lavender essential oil

Adverse Events Reported

  • Lavender→Overall tolerability

    No adverse effects were reported by participants in both groups.

    Finding
    Reported
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