0498 Effect of Lavender Essential Oil on Sleep in Postmenopausal Women with Insomnia: Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction

Sleep is essential for women’s health and its deprivation leads to serious physiological consequences. In addition, insomnia is a common complaint in postmenopausal women. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil inhalation on sleep and menopausal symptoms in postmenopausal women with insomnia.

Methods

Experimental, double-blind, randomized controlled trial composed by 33 women (48 - 65 years) with clinical diagnosis of insomnia divided in two groups that inhaled different oils before sleep during 29 days: Placebo Group - PG (sunflower oil) and Aroma Group - AG (Lavandula angustifolia essential oil). Both groups received sleep hygiene guidelines and were followed weekly. To assess the effect of the intervention on menopausal symptoms the Menopause Rating Scale (MRS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) were used and for sleep evaluation the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used. Additionally, polysomnography were used to assess sleep pattern. All outcomes were evaluated before and after intervention. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22 through Generalized Estimed Equations test with significance set at p≤ 0.05.

Results

Comparing the pre and post-intervention periods, AG participants had a significant decrease in sleep onset latency, depression level, hot flashes, menopausal symptoms and a significant increase in sleep quality. Polysomnography data showed increased sleep efficiency and decreased wakefulness after sleep onset on AG participants. After the intervention, all volunteers presented improvement in all outcomes of sleep and menopausal symptoms measured by questionnaires.

Conclusion

The intervention was effective in improving the sleep pattern of AG participants, but was not significant when compared to PG participants. In addition, sleep hygiene instructions were essential to improve the sleep pattern of all volunteers. Therefore, inhalation of lavender essential oil is a safe, low-cost practice that should be considered as a complementary option to conventional treatments, whether medical, psychological or other integrative and complementary practices.

Support

This research was supported by fellowships from Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa (AFIP), Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) - Finance Code 001 and Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa (CNPq).