Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun 32439, Korea.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 21;19(9):5063. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095063.
Numerous studies have reported a significant increase in stress experienced by students owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, interest in stress management using nature-derived substances has increased. However, studies examining the effects of olfactory stimulation by fir are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological and psychological effects of inhaling fir essential oil. Additionally, differences between male and female participants were compared. Twenty-six university students (16 female and 10 male students; mean age, 21.5 ± 1.9 years) participated in this study. Fir essential oil was used for olfactory stimulation, with normal room air as the control. The odor was administered for 3 min. Heart rate variability and heart rate were used as indicators of autonomic nervous system activity. The Profile of Mood States and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory were used as psychological indicators. The ln(Low Frequency/High Frequency) ratio, which is an indicator of sympathetic nervous activity reflecting a stressful or aroused state during stimulation with fir essential oil, was significantly lower than during the control condition. Assessment of psychological indicators showed that the positive mood of "vigor" improved significantly and negative moods of "tension-anxiety", "depression", "anger-hostility", "fatigue" and anxiety levels reduced significantly after inhaling fir essential oil compared to the control condition. This study showed that inhalation of fir essential oil has physiologically and psychologically relaxing effects, with differences in results depending on the sex of the participants.
许多研究报告称，由于 COVID-19 大流行，学生所经历的压力显著增加。最近，人们对使用源自自然的物质进行压力管理的兴趣有所增加。然而，关于嗅吸冷杉产生的气味对人体的影响的研究还很少。本研究旨在调查吸入冷杉精油对人体的生理和心理影响。此外，还比较了男性和女性参与者之间的差异。26 名大学生（16 名女性和 10 名男性；平均年龄 21.5 ± 1.9 岁）参与了这项研究。使用冷杉精油进行嗅觉刺激，以正常的室内空气作为对照。气味持续 3 分钟。心率变异性和心率被用作自主神经系统活动的指标。使用心境状态问卷和状态特质焦虑问卷作为心理指标。ln（低频/高频）比值是反映刺激期间交感神经活动的指标，与对照条件相比，吸入冷杉精油后，ln（低频/高频）比值明显降低。对心理指标的评估表明，与对照条件相比，吸入冷杉精油后，“活力”的积极情绪明显改善，“紧张-焦虑”、“抑郁”、“愤怒-敌意”、“疲劳”和焦虑水平等消极情绪明显降低。本研究表明，吸入冷杉精油具有生理和心理放松的作用，并且结果因参与者的性别而异。
