Effects of French Lavender Aromatherapy on the Level of Pain and the Amount of Medications Prescribed to Reduce Post-Appendectomy Pain: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Since surgical interventions often cause damage to tissues, which in turn stimulates the central nervous system, postoperative pain is unavoidable. Objectives: The current study aimed to investigate the effects of French lavender on pain and the amount of medications prescribed to reduce post-appendectomy pain. Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 120 patients undergoing acute abdominal surgery are recruited. The intervention was defined as inhaling the essential oil of lavender, while those in the placebo group inhaled almond oil. Pain measurement was performed at baseline, half an hour after the first intervention, and after providing the second and third interventions using the Visual Analogue Scale. Results: At all stages of the study, the lavender aroma was associated with a significant reduction in pain (P < 0.0001). Also, the pain intensity was significantly lower in the intervention group than the control (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: The current study demonstrated that aromatherapy is an effective complementary option to reduce postoperative pain and as an analgesic drug.