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Unraveling cassia oil's efficacy in alleviating winter-triggered mood disorders in Parkinson's disease patients via aromatherapy-mediated pathways.

  • 2025-08-15
  • Explore (New York, N.Y.) 21(6)
    • Qiang Zhang
    • Peilu Zhang
    • Dongwei Yan

Study Design

Type
Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size
n = 40
Population
80 PD patients
Methods
Randomized to receive CO inhalation therapy (2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks) or standard care
Duration
8 weeks
Funding
Unclear

Objectives

This randomized controlled trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Cassia Oil (CO)-based fragrance therapy in alleviating winter-aggravated mood disorders (including depression and anxiety) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, specifically assessing its effects on improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue-key comorbid symptoms often exacerbated in winter. Additionally, it sought to verify whether this non-pharmacological intervention could serve as a viable complementary strategy for managing seasonal symptom fluctuations in PD.

Methods

Eighty PD patients were randomized to receive CO inhalation therapy (2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks; n = 40) or standard care (n = 40). Outcomes included mood (Hamilton Depression Scale [HAMD], Hamilton Anxiety Scale [HAMA]), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index [PSQI]), fatigue (Fatigue Scale-14 [FS-14]). Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-treatment.

Results

The intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in HAMD (22.08±5.43 vs. 13.65±2.73, p < 0.01) and HAMA scores (17.63±4.50 vs. 12.23±0.53, p < 0.001), with no changes in controls (HAMD: 22.87±6.03 to 23.38±5.66, p = 0.72; HAMA: 16.93±3.87 to 15.95±4.55, p = 0.31). PSQI total scores improved significantly in the intervention group (12.20±3.09 to 0.83±0.96, p < 0.01), particularly in subjective sleep quality (t = 6.55, p < 0.01) and sleep latency (t = 5.46, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

CO-based fragrance therapy effectively improved mood, sleep quality, and fatigue in PD patients during winter, offering a novel non-pharmacological approach for seasonal symptom management.

Research Insights

  • Cassia→Improved Sleep Quality

    PSQI total scores improved significantly in the intervention group (12.20±3.09 to 0.83±0.96, p < 0.01)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Large
    Dose
    2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks
  • Cassia→Reduced Anxiety

    The intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in HAMA scores (17.63±4.50 vs. 12.23±0.53, p < 0.001)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Large
    Dose
    2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks
  • Cassia→Reduced Depression Symptoms

    The intervention group demonstrated significant reductions in HAMD (22.08±5.43 vs. 13.65±2.73, p < 0.01)

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Large
    Dose
    2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks
  • Cassia→Reduced Fatigue

    cassia oil's efficacy in alleviating winter-triggered mood disorders ... improving sleep quality and reducing fatigue

    Effect
    Beneficial
    Effect size
    Moderate
    Dose
    2 h/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks
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