The Effect of Inhalation of Lavender Essential Oils on Autonomic Nervous System Function of the Shift-Working Nurses

• Main Authors: Hsu-hui Wu, 吳緒慧
• Other Authors: Zer-ran Yu
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2009
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/87694547317667238394

碩士 === 南華大學 === 自然醫學研究所 === 97 === 　　This research aims to investigate the effects of different proportion for Lavendula angustifolium essential oils (linalool/linalyl acetate), after inhalation for 15 minutes, on the autonomic nervous system function of nurses working in different shifts. For the study groups, the proportions of linalool/linalyl acetate in Lavendula angustifolium essential oil were 0.67%, 0.90%, 1.16%, and 10.48%, respectively. Eac individual was given 0.3mL of the extract of the above 4 concentrations, mixed with 200 mL of distilled water and then inhaled for 15 minutes. Nine healthy females nurses from CHIA-YI Christian hospital were recruited as the research subjects. Their average age was 26±3 years, average body weight was 55±10 kg and body fat was 29±8 %. 　　 　　Heart rate variability (HRV) was carried out before and after the inhalation. Results from paired t-tests showed that there was no significant differences (p>0.05) in heart rate variability for the control group. For the study groups, mean heart rate (MHR), was significantly decreased (p<0.05); the total power (ln TP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and QRS wave were significantly increased (p<0.05). Changes between the four study groups and control group were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) with Sidak post hoc test. Results showed that there were no significant differences between the study groups and the control group (p>0.05 ). In conclusion, the effect of inhalation of different proportions of Lavendula angustifolium essential oils on the autonomic nervous system function was different. Increasing concentration of linalyl acetate in the Lavendula Angustifolium essential oils was found to reduce the sympathetic nervous system activity and elevate the parasympathetic nervous system activity, which can lead to a physiological relaxation effect.