N Morris1. 1. Psychology Division, School of Applied Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfuna Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1SB, UK. neilmorris1@aol.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Two important aspects of psychological well-being are positive mood state and a positive outlook with respect to the future. This study investigates the use of lavender baths to improve these aspects of psychological well-being. DESIGN: A single blind, randomised control trial. SETTING: The participants' home and interview rooms at the University of Wolverhampton. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty women not receiving treatment for psychological disorders who were staff or students at the University of Wolverhampton. Forty participated in Study 1 and 40 in Study 2. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly allocated to use either grapeseed oil or 80% grapeseed oil and 20% lavender oil in their bath for 14 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In Study 1, the UWIST mood adjective checklist. In Study 2, the MacLeod and Byrne Future Events procedure. RESULTS: In Study 1 psychologically positive mood changes were found after the bathing regimen for energetic arousal, tense arousal, hedonic tone and anger-frustration. Only anger-frustration showed a selective effect for lavender oil. In the second study negative responses about the future were selectively reduced after lavender oil baths. CONCLUSIONS: These results are encouraging and suggest further investigation using potential patients may result in the development of a useful procedure for improving psychological well-being.
RCT Entities:
OBJECTIVE: Two important aspects of psychological well-being are positive mood state and a positive outlook with respect to the future. This study investigates the use of lavender baths to improve these aspects of psychological well-being. DESIGN: A single blind, randomised control trial. SETTING: The participants' home and interview rooms at the University of Wolverhampton. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty women not receiving treatment for psychological disorders who were staff or students at the University of Wolverhampton. Forty participated in Study 1 and 40 in Study 2. INTERVENTION: Participants were randomly allocated to use either grapeseed oil or 80% grapeseed oil and 20% lavender oil in their bath for 14 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: In Study 1, the UWIST mood adjective checklist. In Study 2, the MacLeod and Byrne Future Events procedure. RESULTS: In Study 1 psychologically positive mood changes were found after the bathing regimen for energetic arousal, tense arousal, hedonic tone and anger-frustration. Only anger-frustration showed a selective effect for lavender oil. In the second study negative responses about the future were selectively reduced after lavender oil baths. CONCLUSIONS: These results are encouraging and suggest further investigation using potential patients may result in the development of a useful procedure for improving psychological well-being.
Authors: Javad Sharifi-Rad; Antoni Sureda; Gian Carlo Tenore; Maria Daglia; Mehdi Sharifi-Rad; Marco Valussi; Rosa Tundis; Marzieh Sharifi-Rad; Monica R Loizzo; Adedayo Oluwaseun Ademiluyi; Razieh Sharifi-Rad; Seyed Abdulmajid Ayatollahi; Marcello Iriti Journal: Molecules Date: 2017-01-01 Impact factor: 4.411