Aromatherapy Has Been a Controversial

Aromatherapy has been a controversial alternative form of medicine touted by many of the individuals who employ it as a complementary medical method resulting in reductions of anxiety and stress, as well as a number of other psychological benefits being derived from its employment.

Many experts believe that aromatherapy does have significant benefits when used correctly and some studies prove that the use can lower stress and anxiety. One recent study showed; "The intervention produced significant differences in the anxiety and self-esteem and no significant differences in blood pressure or pulse rate between the two groups. These results suggest that aromatherapy massage exerts positive effects on anxiety and self-esteem." (Rho 2006-page 1455)

There have been studies on children, Mediterranean fruit flies, and studies covering a number of different diseases and the effects of aromatherapy on those individuals suffering from those afflictions.

Previous studies have found beneficial effects of aromatherapy massage for agitation in people with dementia, for pain relief and for poor sleep." (Williams 2006). Much of the literature concerning this treatment focuses on specific diseases or specific applications including a number of studies that tested whether Mediterranean fruit flies would prove to be more virile after aromatherapy. The study found, "sterile males exposed to GRO for a 24-hour period displayed greater mating success than non-exposed males in mating cage trials." (Shelly 2007-page 200)

Most of the studies have focused on human problems and how aromatherapy can assist in the treatments of those problems, and the results have been mixed.

One recent study even showed "findings suggest that aromatherapy...is effective in decreasing the severity of menstrual cramps." (Han 2006-page 535)

The study proposed here will be used to clarify if it is specific aromatherapy that offers patients an improved healing environment, or if pleasant odors will have the same effects. This study will be a double-blind experiment involving three separate groups.