The effect of aromatherapy on mental, physical symptoms, and social functions of females with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

Naval Heydari; Mliheh Abootalebi; Naeimeh Tayebi; Fahimeh Hassanzadeh; Maryam Kasraeian; M Emamghoreishi; Marzieh Akbarzadeh

doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_452_19

The effect of aromatherapy on mental, physical symptoms, and social functions of females with premenstrual syndrome: A randomized clinical trial

J Family Med Prim Care. 2019 Sep 30;8(9):2990-2996. doi: 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_452_19. eCollection 2019 Sep.

Authors

Naval Heydari¹, Mliheh Abootalebi¹, Naeimeh Tayebi², Fahimeh Hassanzadeh³, Maryam Kasraeian⁴, M Emamghoreishi⁵, Marzieh Akbarzadeh⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
² Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran.
³ Department of Midwifery, Community Based Psychiatric Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁴ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal - Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
⁶ Department of Midwifery, Maternal - Fetal Medicine Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Abstract

Objective: This study was designed to compare the effect of aromatherapy with Rosa Damascena and Citrus Aurantium blossom on psychological and physical symptoms and social functions of females with premenstrual syndrome.

Materials and methods: This double-blind clinical trial was conducted on 95 students. They were randomly divided into three aromatherapy groups (aromatherapy with 4% concentration of Rosa Damascena and 0.5% concentration of Citrus Aurantium blossom essential oil) and aromatherapy with sweet almond oil (as control group). Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool questionnaire (PSST) was completed before and during the first and second month of the intervention. Data were analyzed by SPSS software version 22.

Results: After intervention, the scores of mental symptoms decreased in all three groups and this decrease was significant in both Citrus Aurantium (P = 0.004) and Rosa Damascena groups (P = 0.007). The score of physical symptoms was decreased in all three groups but it was significant only in the Rosa Demecensa group (P = 0.042). The reduction of effect of symptoms on social function was observed in two intervention groups which were significant only in Rosa Damascena group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion: Essential oils of Rosa Damascena and Citrus Aurantium were both effective in improving the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome but the effect of Rosa Damascena, with regard to improvement of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome was more than that of Citrus Aurantium in all psychological, physical, and social aspects.

Keywords: Aromatherapy; Citrus Aurantium; Rosa Damascena; female; premenstrual syndrome.