PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of aroma inhalation on nursing students' stress responses and anxiety before their first clinical practice. METHOD: Data were collected during the period from March 5 to March 10, 2007 at K College in a province. There were seventy eight subjects, 35 for the experimental group and 38 for the control group. Aroma oils used were lavender, peppermint and rosemary. Before and after the treatment, the severity of stress and anxiety were evaluated by VAS and a questionnaire. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test and chi2-test with the SPSS program. RESULT: The score of subjective stress (VAS) decreased significantly after aroma inhalation (p=.000), but status anxiety was not significantly different between the two groups (p=.649). CONCLUSION: Aroma inhalation can be a useful intervention to reduce nursing student's stress before their first clinical practice.
Anxiety* ; Aromatherapy ; Inhalation* ; Lavandula ; Mentha piperita ; Nursing* ; Oils ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Introduction: Folkloric claims have surrounded essential oils, including their enhancement of learning and memory through inhalational exposure. Few studies in humans have shown a benefit in cognition, albeit incremental. However, this benefit may not be entirely attributable to the essential oil aroma but may be confounded by psychological associations. We investigated rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and coffee aromas in a learning and memory model of Drosophila melanogaster to eliminate this confounder. Methods: We screened for concentrations of the four treatments that are non-stimulatory for altered locomotory behavior in the flies. At these concentrations, we determined if they were chemoneutral (i.e., neither chemoattractant nor chemorepellent) to the flies. Learning and memory of the flies exposed to these aromas were determined using an Aversive Phototaxis Suppression (APS) assay. Results: The aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and lemon that did not elicit altered mobility in the flies were from dilute essential oil solutions that ranged from 0.2 to 0.5% v/v; whereas for the aroma in coffee, it was at a higher concentration of 7.5% m/v. At these concentrations, the aromas used were found to be chemoneutral towards the flies. We observed no improvement in both learning and memory in the four aromas tested. While a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in learning was observed when flies were treated with the aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and coffee, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in memory was only observed in the peppermint aroma treatment. Conclusion This study demonstrated that in the absence of psychological association, the four aromas do not enhance learning and memory
Drosophila melanogaster ; Learning ; Memory ; Rosmarinus ; Mentha piperita ; Citrus ; Coffea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Gastrointestinal peristalsis may hinder inspection of the gastrointestinal track or its treatment during endoscopy. Antispasmodic agents such as hyoscine-N-butylbromide are commonly administered before endoscopy for alleviating peristalsis, although it causes unwanted complications. Peppermint oil (PMO) has a spasmolytic effect on viscera and it has been used as an adjunctive remedy for some disorders. We evaluated the antispasmodic effect of PMO solution during gastroscopy, and we determined if there are any adverse effects. METHODS: 1.6% PMO solution was sprayed on the antrum of the examinees (n=40) during gastroscopy. Observation was performed 5 cm ahead of the pyloric ring to count the peristaltic waves for 3 minutes before and after spraying PMO. The intensity of peristalsis was graded from 0 (none) to 4 (severe), and the pulse rate of all the examinees was recorded every minute. RESULTS: The number of peristaltic contractions decreased after PMO spraying from 7.02+/-2.25 to 3.17+/-2.57 times/3 minutes (p<0.01). The peristaltic intensity also decreased from 3.15+/-1.18 to 1.34+/- \0.95 (p<0.01) with a difference of 1.80+/-1.29. On observing the examinees' pulse rates, using PMO did not induce tachycardia. No adverse effect during and after the investigation with PMO solution was reported. CONCLUSIONS: PMO showed a significant antispasmodic effect, and it reduced the number of peristaltic contractions and the intensity of gastric peristalsis. It also did not have any significant side effects. PMO solution may be used as an effective antispasmodic agent during gastroscopy.
Contracts ; Endoscopy ; Gastroscopy ; Heart Rate ; Mentha piperita ; Parasympatholytics ; Peristalsis ; Plant Oils ; Tachycardia ; Track and Field ; Viscera

PURPOSE: The purpose was to test the effects of self-hand massage with aroma oil on daily cigarette use, smoking craving, and depression of female high school student smokers who are attempting to quit smoking. METHOD: A convenience sampling of a non-equivalent control group time series was used. Female high school student smokers were assigned either to smoking cessation lecture only or to an intervention that involved a smoking cessation lecture and self-hand massage with aroma oil for 4 weeks. Lavender, Peppermint, and Bergamotte essence oils were used for massage. RESULT: There was a significant change in daily cigarette use and depression between the groups at three different times. CONCLUSION: It is promising that self-hand massage with aroma oil can be an effective adjunctive to decrease daily cigarette use and depression of female high school student smokers who are attempting to quit smoking.
Depression* ; Female* ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Massage* ; Mentha piperita ; Oils ; Smoke* ; Smoking Cessation ; Smoking* ; Tobacco Products*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot on nausea vomiting and anorexia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHOD: Study subjects were 30 patients who had experienced nausea and vomiting when they had been hospitalized in K university hospital located in D city after receiving more than two Cisplatin combination chemotherapy treatments. Among them 15 patients were in the experimental group doing aroma oil inhalation and the other 15 patients were in the control group without aroma oil inhalation. The data were collected from February 1, 2002 to May 17, 2002. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program using frequency, percentage, chi-square-test, t-test, Repeated Measures ANOVA. RESULTS: 1) The degree of nausea and vomiting in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. 2) The degree of anorexia in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: aroma oil inhalation was effective for relieving patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia receiving chemotherapy. Therefore, it is proposed that aroma oil inhalation should be applied as a supportive nursing arbitration method to relieve patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia who are receiving chemotherapy.
Anorexia* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Mentha piperita ; Nausea* ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Vomiting*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot on nausea vomiting and anorexia in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. METHOD: Study subjects were 30 patients who had experienced nausea and vomiting when they had been hospitalized in K university hospital located in D city after receiving more than two Cisplatin combination chemotherapy treatments. Among them 15 patients were in the experimental group doing aroma oil inhalation and the other 15 patients were in the control group without aroma oil inhalation. The data were collected from February 1, 2002 to May 17, 2002. The data were analyzed with SPSS WIN 10.0 program using frequency, percentage, chi-square-test, t-test, Repeated Measures ANOVA. RESULTS: 1) The degree of nausea and vomiting in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. 2) The degree of anorexia in the experimental group with aroma oil inhalation using peppermint and bergamot were significantly lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: aroma oil inhalation was effective for relieving patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia receiving chemotherapy. Therefore, it is proposed that aroma oil inhalation should be applied as a supportive nursing arbitration method to relieve patients' nausea vomiting and anorexia who are receiving chemotherapy.
Anorexia* ; Cisplatin ; Drug Therapy* ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Humans ; Inhalation* ; Mentha piperita ; Nausea* ; Negotiating ; Nursing ; Vomiting*

PURPOSE: To determine the effects of 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage on pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse during arteriovenous (AV) fistula needling in hemodialysis (HD) patients. METHODS: This study used a quasi-experimental design. Forty HD patients were assigned to either 10% lidocaine spray group (n=21) or aroma massage group (n=19). 10% lidocaine was sprayed 3 times around AV fistula 10 minutes before. Aroma hand massage was performed for 5 minutes with fluids containing 2% of lavender, peppermint, and geranium concentrate mixture. Pain, anxiety, blood pressure, and pulse were measured during AV fistula needling without any intervention on the first week and during interventions on the second week. Data were analyzed with χ² test, Fisher's exact test, t-test, paired t-test and MANCOVA. RESULTS: Pain and anxiety were significantly decreased in both the lidocaine spray group and aroma massage group. Aroma hand massage was more effective to reduce pulse during AV fistula needling. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that 10% lidocaine spray and aroma hand massage may be effective to reduce pain, anxiety, and pulse during AV fistula needling in HD patients.
Anxiety* ; Arteriovenous Fistula* ; Blood Pressure* ; Fistula ; Geranium ; Hand* ; Humans ; Lavandula ; Lidocaine* ; Massage* ; Mentha piperita ; Renal Dialysis*

OBJECTIVES: The main objectives of this study were to verify the antibacterial activity of two essential oils, lavender and peppermint, against dental caries and to review their synergistic effect when used in combination. Our results provide basic data for the evaluation of the use of these two substances towards the prevention and cure of dental caries. METHODS: The sample solutions of lavender and peppermint oils were prepared in three different concentrations (30%, 50%, and 70% (v/v)) by diluting them with third-distilled water and Tween 20. Streptococcus mutans was selected as the bacterial species for testing. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antibacterial activity of the sample solutions. For generating growth curves and measuring the number of clusters of the bacterial, the liquid medium-dilution method was used; the absorbance of the medium was measured at 600 nm after 3, 6, 12 and 24 hours. RESULTS: When the antibacterial activity of the oils was tested via the disk diffusion method, the activity improved with increasing concentrations of all the sample solutions of peppermint, lavender, and the blend, but there was no significant difference between them with respect to the type of oil. In the growth curves of S. mutans, growth inhibition was observed after 12 hours. The inhibitory effect of 30% lavender oil on growth was 64.9% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively whereas that of peppermint oil was 71.3% and 80.1% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. The inhibitory effect of the blended oil was 71.9% and 81.0% after 12 and 24 hours of treatment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Further research is still required in order to determine the efficacy of lavender and peppermint oils, as well as other essential oils, for wider use in preventing dental caries.
Dental Caries ; Diffusion ; Lavandula ; Mentha piperita ; Methods ; Oils ; Oils, Volatile ; Polysorbates ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus ; Water

The freeze-drying technique, characterized by low-temperature processing, is especially suitable for sensitive volatile oils with thermal instability. However, there are few studies focusing on the retention of volatile oils in the processing of freeze-dried preparations. This study evaluated the effects of different addition methods(adsorption, emulsification, solid dispersion, and inclusion) on the retention rate of the main components in peppermint oil, aiming to explore the application feasibility of freeze-dried preparations of volatile oils. Firstly, the addition method was determined based on the retention rates of menthol in four freeze-dried preparations. Secondly, an orthogonal test was designed to optimize the preparation process based on the characteristics of the preferred addition method. The results showed that the most suitable preparation form of peppermint oil was inclusion with beta-cyclodextrin(β-CD), and the retention rate of menthol in freeze-drying was 86.36%. According to the two-step preparation process of inclusion and freeze-drying, we introduced the product of inclusion rate and retention rate, i.e., comprehensive retention rate, to determine the optimum processing parameters. The results showed that β-CD/oil ratio of 7∶1, inclusion temperature of 40 ℃, and inclusion time of 2 h were the optimum processing parameters. The product prepared with these parameter had the comprehensive retention rate of 68.41%, retention rate of 92.53%, and inclusion rate of 73.93%. The inclusion compound was white powder with significantly increased solubility. The pre-paration process based on cyclodextrin inclusion in this study is stable and reliable and provides a new idea for ensuring the efficacy and stability of volatile components in freeze-dried preparations.
Cyclodextrins ; Freeze Drying ; Mentha piperita ; Oils, Volatile ; Plant Oils ; Solubility ; Technology

OBJECTIVETo reveal the effects of UV-B radiation on the growth of medical plant Mentha piperita, simulate an enhanced UV-B radiation and evaluate intensity of radiation on the photosynthesis of M. piperita.

METHODThree different levels of UV-B radiation were set in the experiment which included: natural light control (0 W x m(-2)), light UV-B radiation stress (0.15 W x m(-2)) and heavy UV-B radiation stress (0.35 W x m(-2)). The chloroplast ultrastructure, photosynthesis indexes and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters of the M. piperita were observed under the three treatments.

RESULTAlthough the chloroplast ultrastructure was destroyed to some degree under the light UV-B radiation stress, F(v)/(F)m, F(v)/F(o), qP, phiPS II and ETR could resume to the comparative level of natural light control. At the same time, qN increased firstly and decreased thereafter. But under the high strength UV-B radiation stress, the photosynthetic structures were badly destroyed, which could not recover through protecting mechanism by itself.

CONCLUSIONIt was showed that M. piperita was able to protect photosynthetic structures by increasing respiration and dissipation when photosynthetic capacity reduced under light UV-B radiation stress. It is demonstrated that M. piperita has high adaptation to light UV-B radiation stress, which is kind of promising medical plant for area with higher UV-B radiation.

Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Chloroplasts ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Mentha piperita ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Photosynthesis ; radiation effects ; Ultraviolet Rays