Journal
PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY
Volume 33, Issue 3, Pages 328-339Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.psyneuen.2007.11.015
Keywords
psychoneuroimmunology; aromatherapy; odor; complementary medicine
Categories
Funding
- NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE [P30CA016058] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR COMPLEMENTARY &ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE [R21AT002122] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL CENTER FOR RESEARCH RESOURCES [M01RR000034] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES [T32AI055411] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NCCIH NIH HHS [R21 AT002122-02, AT002122, R21 AT002122-01, R21 AT002122] Funding Source: Medline
- NCI NIH HHS [CA16058] Funding Source: Medline
- NCRR NIH HHS [M01 RR000034-440675, M01 RR000034-460686, M01 RR000034, M01-RR-0034, M01 RR000034-450686] Funding Source: Medline
- NIAID NIH HHS [T32 AI055411, AI55411, T32 AI055411-05] Funding Source: Medline
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Despite aromatherapy's popularity, efficacy data are scant, and potential mechanisms are controversial. This randomized controlled trial examined the psychological, autonomic, endocrine, and immune consequences of one purported relaxant odor (lavender), one stimulant odor (lemon), and a no-odor control (water), before and after a stressor (cold pressor); 56 healthy men and women were exposed to each of the odors during three separate visits. To assess the effects of expectancies, participants randomized to the blind condition were given no information about the odors they would smell; primed individuals were told what odors they would smell during the session, and what changes to expect. Experimenters were blind. Self-report and unobtrusive mood measures provided robust evidence that lemon oil reliably enhances positive mood compared to water and lavender regardless of expectancies or previous use of aromatherapy. Moreover, norepinephrine levels following the cold pressor remained elevated when subjects smelled lemon, compared to water or lavender. DTH responses to Candida were larger following inhalation of water than lemon lavender. Odors did not reliably alter IL-6 and IL-10 production, salivary cortisol, heart rate or blood pressure, skin barrier repair following tape stripping, or pain ratings following the cold pressor. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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