J Korean Acad Fundam Nurs.  2021 Aug;28(3):286-296. 10.7739/jkafn.2021.28.3.286.

Effects of Aroma Essential Oil Inhalation on Autonomic Nerve System Response, Electroencephalogram and Concentration

• Min ES
• Hur MH

• KMID: 2519683
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7739/jkafn.2021.28.3.286

Abstract

Purpose
This study was an experimental research study to examine the effects of aroma essential oil inhalation on autonomic nerve system response, electroencephalogram and concentration.
Methods
The participants were 92 healthy adults: 32 in the experimental group, 30 in the placebo group, and 30 in the control group. In the experimental group, lemon and rosemary oil were mixed in a ratio of 4: 1, and 0.1 ml was dropped on gauze and then naturally inhaled for a total of 30 minutes. The application for the placebo group was 0.9% saline solution, and for the control group, no treatment. To determine the effects, the autonomic nervous system response was measured by applying Canopy 9 Plus 4.0 before the experiment and at 10, 20, and 30 minutes after the experimental application, and an electroencephalogram was taken using QEEG-8. The computerized neurocognitive function test for measuring concentration was given before the experiment and at 30 minutes after the treatment.
Results
There were no significant differences in the homogeneity tests for general characteristics and for the dependent variables prior to the experiment. There was a significant difference in sympathetic nervous activity between the experimental group, placebo group, and control group (F=3.78, p=.027), and the experimental group had higher sympathetic nervous activity than the control group. There was no statistically significant difference on the electroencephalogram between the ⍺ and beta waves of the three groups. The Stroop Color-Word interference test (color) of the three groups for concentration measurement was significantly different between pre test and at 30 minutes after the treatment (F=7.40, p=.001), and the score for the experimental group increased compared to the control group.
Conclusion
The findings showed that the inhalation of aroma essential oil activated the sympathetic nervous system and partially increased the level of concentration.

Keyword

Aromatherapy; Autonomic nervous system; Electroencephalography; Stroop test; 아로마요법, 자율신경계, 뇌파, Stroop 검사