Abstract
This study investigated the effects of rose essential oil aromatherapy with a 15-minute neck and shoulder massage as the treatment intervention. Forty-two female nurses were assigned to the aromatherapy group （n＝20）, which was treated with 1% rose essential oil in grapeseed oil, or the control group （n＝22）, which was treated with grapeseed oil only. The participants’ saliva samples were analyzed for chromogranin A and biological antioxidant potential levels. Their scores on the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-Form JYZ, the Japanese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and a modified visual analog scale were evaluated. Biological antioxidant potentials after treatment and modified visual analog scale scores in the aromatherapy group were higher than those in the control group. The sleep disturbance factors of the Japanese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index after treatment decreased in the aromatherapy group compared with the control group. Aromatherapy with rose essential oil not only improved anxiety and sleep difficulty but also exhibited antioxidant effects. Our findings suggest that use of rose essential oil in neck and shoulder massage effectively alleviates stress.
