Effect of Essential Oils in Aromatherapy on Emotional Relaxation

The purpose of this study is to examine and compare electroencephalography (EEG) changes in human subjects directly after inhalation of essential oils from five Thai aromatherapies. The investigators hypothesize that essential oils from Thai aromatherapies may influence the human EEG involving emotional relaxation particularly alpha wave EEG.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Healthy
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Aromatherapy; Other: Pure water

Detailed Description

The subjects consisted of 22 male and 26 female subjects , ages between 20 to 30 years (mean age, 23.3 years). They were screened for excessive nasal congestion, drug and food taken, and neurological disorders prior to participation in the experiment. The experiments were approved by the Ethical Committee for Research Involving Human Research Subject, Naresuan University. All subjects read and signed an informed consent before participation.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Thailand
  • Phayao
    • Muang, Phayao, Thailand, 56000
      • Surasak Saokaew
    • Muang, Phayao, Thailand, 56000
      • University of Phayao

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 60 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• > 18 years old

Exclusion Criteria:

• excessive nasal congestion
• neurological disorders prior to participation in the experiment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Triple

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Aromatherapy; Experimental procedures were conducted in the morning. Subjects individually entered the closed room where the temperature was kept at 25-26 oC and humidity 50-60%. The subjects were blinded using mask and were seated comfortably with eyes closed during experimental period. The EEG was recorded using silver electrodes. EEG activity was monitored 4 areas (F7, F8, T3 and T4) and ground electrodes. The experiments were divided into 3 parts. The first part, no-odor were recorded EEG activity for 10 minutes as a baseline. The second part, subject was exposure to the odor for 10 minutes as during inhalation. The last part, the odor was dispersed and assessed EEG activity for 10 minutes as after inhalation.	Other: Aromatherapy; Subject will assigned inhale aromatherapy
Placebo Comparator: Pure water; Experimental procedures were conducted in the morning. Subjects individually entered the closed room where the temperature was kept at 25-26 oC and humidity 50-60%. The subjects were blinded using mask and were seated comfortably with eyes closed during experimental period. The EEG was recorded using silver electrodes. EEG activity was monitored 4 areas (F7, F8, T3 and T4) and ground electrodes. The experiments were divided into 3 parts. The first part, no-odor were recorded EEG activity for 10 minutes as a baseline. The second part, subject was exposure to the water for 10 minutes as during inhalation. The last part, the water was dispersed and assessed EEG activity for 10 minutes as after inhalation.	Other: Pure water; Subject will assigned inhale Pure water

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
electroencephalography (EEG) changes	The EEG was assessed for 10 minutes in each period; baseline, during and after inhaled the essential oil	baseline, 10 minutes

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Phayao
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Surasak Saokaew, PhD, University of Phayao

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2014

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 28, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 29, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): September 30, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 27, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 26, 2015
• Last Verified: May 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Volunteer
• Other Study ID Numbers: WP-5102031

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No