February 24, 2023
Hospitalization is necessary for the intensive treatment care for the patients preparing for medical procedures. It has been reported that hospitalization causes a moderate to high anxiety levels to these patients. High levels of anxiety produce several undesirable outcomes before, during and after the procedure. Increasing heart rate, blood pressure or other sympathetic outflows, and an increasing pain sensation are common possible effects of anxiety. It has been reported that patients with high levels of anxiety need a higher sedation drug dose and are prone to have unwanted movements during sedation. In addition, the elevation of blood cortisol level has been reported in anxiety patients and induces the reduction of immune systems, causing infection or delays the wound healing.
Numerous studies reported the efficacy of aromatherapy with essential oils on the reduction of anxiety in patients who underwent for medical, radiological and angiographic procedures. A randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the effects of inhaling ylang ylang essential oil among people hospitalized for interventional neuroradiology (INR) procedures. Ylang ylang (25 mcL) or a placebo (25 mcL of distilled water) were dropped onto two pieces of absorbent mulberry paper and then attached to the person’s gown at shoulder level for 12 hours. Trait and state anxiety scores and biological indices—salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase (indicators of stress and anxiety), blood pressure, and heart rate—were measured before and after the intervention. The ylang ylang group experienced significantly less trait and state anxiety and decreased salivary alpha-amylase, showing that inhaling ylang ylang can decrease anxiety related to unfamiliar medical procedures.