The effect of aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil on anxiety of cardiac patients in emergency department: A placebo-controlled study.

INTRODUCTION

Anxiety is an unpleasant feeling that increases the myocardial oxygen demand in acute coronary syndrome. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of peppermint aromatherapy on anxiety in patients with acute coronary syndrome in the emergency department.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this clinical trial study, 64 patients with acute coronary syndrome were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In the intervention group, a cotton ball was soaked in 100% peppermint essential oil and placed about 20 cm from the patient's nose for 1 h while in the control group, the cotton ball was soaked in water. Anxiety was measured before and after the intervention with The Spielberger state-trait anxiety inventory. The data were analyzed in SPSS ver.23 software.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of patients' demographic data. The mean score of trait and state anxiety before the intervention was not significantly different between the two groups. After the intervention, anxiety was significantly lower in the intervention group (37.72 ± 10.41) compared to the control group (42.62 ± 5.99) (P = 0.021). Results indicated a significant decrease in anxiety after the intervention (P < 0.001) in the intervention group. Such a difference was not significant in the control group.

CONCLUSION

Peppermint essential oil inhalation significantly reduces anxiety of patients with acute coronary syndrome in emergency department.