The Effect of Orange Peel Essential Oil on Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Mothers are vulnerable to mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, in the 6-week postpartum period after delivery. Objectives: This study was performed to determine the potential effect of orange peel essential oil on postpartum depression and anxiety. Patients and Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial consisted of 96 postpartum women. Qualified samples were assigned to intervention and control groups using randomized blocking. The intervention group drank a glass of water containing 10 drops of orange peel essential oil, and the control group drank a glass a water containing 10 drops of placebo, 3 times a day, after each meal for 8 weeks. The subjects completed depression and anxiety questionnaires before and after the intervention. A general linear model was used to analyze the data. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and depression and anxiety scores before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). At the end of the 8th week, the mean depression score (standard deviation [SD]) was 6.7 (4.7) in the orange peel essential oil group and 6.7 (4.9) in the placebo group (P = 0.956). The mean state anxiety score was 47.6 (3.8) in the orange peel essential oil group and 48.4 (4.1) in the placebo group (P = 0.197). The mean trait anxiety score was 45.6 (3.5) in the orange peel essential oil group and 45.9 (3.8) in the placebo group (P = 0.726). Conclusions: Orange peel essential oil did not reduce postpartum depression and anxiety.