Effects of inhalation of lavender oil and citrus oil on sleep and depression in puerperium women: a randomized controlled trial
10.3969/j.issn.1006-2483.2026.01.024
- VernacularTitle:薰衣草油和柑橘油混配吸入对产褥期妇女睡眠及抑郁影响的随机对照试验
- Author:
Yingyu ZHONG
1
;
He WANG
2
;
Yuetian WANG
1
Author Information
1. Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China;School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510000, China
2. Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518000, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Lavender oil;
Citrus oil;
Puerperium;
Sleep;
Depression;
Pain
- From:
Journal of Public Health and Preventive Medicine
2026;37(1):116-120
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To evaluate the effects of inhaled conditioning with a mixture of lavender oil and citrus oil on sleep and depressive symptoms in puerperium women. Methods A randomized controlled trial design was used in this study. Convenience sampling method was used to select 144 pregnant women who gave birth in different hospitals in Shenzhen and were willing to spend the puerperium in the maternity center. According to the random number table method, the subjects were divided into the control group (n=68) and the intervention group (n=76). The intervention was mixed inhalation of lavender oil and citrus oil. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and numerical rating Scale (NRS) were used to evaluate the subjects before and after the intervention. Results After the intervention, the PSQI total score, EPDS total score and pain score of the intervention group were significantly lower than those before the intervention (P<0.05). In particular, the intervention group showed the most significant improvements in sleep quality, time to fall asleep, sleep disturbance, and hypnotic medication use (P<0.05), while the control group showed improvements only in time to fall asleep and sleep disturbance. In addition, pain scores decreased in both groups, but the decrease was greater in the intervention group. Conclusions Inhalation of lavender oil and citrus oil can effectively improve the sleep quality, depression and pain of puerperium women, and provide a safe and effective non-drug therapy for puerperium women.
