engleski

Influence of Aromatherapy on Alleviation of Insomnia Symptoms

Aim: Aim of this research was to test if there exists a connection between intensity of insomnia and application of a combination of essential oils composed from lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), marjoram (Origantum majorana), geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) and basil (Ocimum basilicum), and to examine the relationship between intensity and duration of insomnia, consumation of medicine for sleeping and gender, age and presence of various illnesses (comorbidity). Method: Application of combination of essential oils on a sample consisting of 150 subjects, who are users of an institution for elderly people ( n female = 108, n male = 42), in duration of one month. Results: After application of combination of essential oils, intensity of insomnia was lower (percentage of subjects with clinical insomnia before aromatherapy application was 68% and 4% after). When compared to male subjects, a higher intensity of insomnia and a tendency towards longer duration of insomnia, accompanied with more frequent consumation of sleeping medication was found in female subjects. Longer duration of insomnia was determined in subjects who consumed sleeping medication when compared with subjects that did not take any medication, but there was no difference regarding the intensity of insomnia between two groups. A connection regarding total comorbidity and intensity of insomnia was determined before application of aromatherapy and lack of connection between the two parameters after application of aromatherapy. Conclusion: Results show that application of aromatherapy contributes to reduction of intensity of insomnia. Intensity of insomnia was more developed in female subjects and subjects with higher values of comorbidity.

Insomnia ; aromatherapy ; essential oils ; lavender

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