HomeDiseaseEffects of aromatherapy on fatigue, quality of sleep and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A feasibility study

Effects of aromatherapy on fatigue, quality of sleep and quality of life in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A feasibility study

November 19, 2022

Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2022 Nov;49:101648. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101648. Epub 2022 Aug 2.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fatigue, poor sleep quality and poor quality of life (QoL) are recognised as common problems for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study aimed to evaluate feasibility and effect of aromatherapy on these problems in patients with IBD.

METHODS: Seventy IBD patients from a tertiary hospital in China were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group. During the 8-week intervention, the intervention group received aromatherapy through the skin and by inhalation, and the control group received routine nursing care. All patients were administered questionnaires at two sessions-the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-before and after the intervention. The clinical trial registration number is ChiCTR2100045889.

RESULTS: Postintervention fatigue and sleep problems were relieved in the intervention group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Moreover, QoL scores improved significantly in the intervention group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: These results suggested that aromatherapy may be an effective complementary treatment method to relieve fatigue and sleep problems and improve quality of life in IBD patients.

PMID:35994795 | DOI:10.1016/j.ctcp.2022.101648

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About The Author

Patrick Blanchard MD

Meet Dr. Blanchard Dr. Blanchard’s medical practice is an embodiment of Integrative health which brings conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way. Conveniently located in sunny Florida and over the internet with ValiseMD’s secure HIPPA compliant telXmed servers. Since 1994, patients with a wide range of challenging medical problems have achieved optimum health using the best of natural medicine, judiciously combined with high-tech innovations. Breakthroughs are often achieved even after patients have consulted mainstream specialists and holistic practitioners. Dr. Blanchard is founder and CEO of ValiseMD, Inc. He is board certified in Family Medicine since 1994 and awarded Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians in 2001. He received the ‘Teacher of the Year’ award from the University of Kansas School of Medicine at completion of his residency in Family Medicine. He completed a fellowship at Wake Forest University in the field of vascular neurosonology. He holds a medical patent in the field of Gastroenterology. He holds an unrestricted license to practice medicine and surgery in Florida. He started his medical career as a Emergency Medical Technician, then as a Paramedic and later a Medical Doctor.