title: [Effects of aromatherapy on changes in the autonomic nervous system, aortic pulse wave velocity and aortic augmentation index in patients with essential hypertension].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effectiveness of aromatherapy on blood pressure, heart rate variability, aortic pulse wave velocity and the aortic augmentation index of essential hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a coin toss, 22 participants were assigned to the experimental group and 20 to the control. The experimental group was given a blend of oils of lemon (Citrus limonum), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) which were prepared in the ratio of 2:2:1, respectively. The control group was given an artificial lemon fragrance of Limonene (35 cc) and Citral (15 cc) mixture. The experiment, inhalation, was conducted for 3 weeks (2 min per inhalation, 2 times per day) to both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a noticeable difference in systolic blood pressure between the groups (p=.001), however the difference in diastolic blood pressure between the two groups was not significant. There was a notable difference in sympathetic nerve system activity of heart rate variability (p=.047). However, the differences in aortic pulse wave velocity or the aortic augmentation index were not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aromatherapy is effective in lowering systolic blood pressure and sympathetic nerve system activity.
authors.affiliation: Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yang Sook
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000502:physiology; D019341:Aromatherapy; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D054362:Cananga / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000628:therapy*; D027523:Lavandula; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010938:Plant Oils; C501365:lemon oil; C045718:lavender oil