Endocrinological effect of lavender aromatherapy on stressful visual stimuli

INTRODUCTION: Aromatherapy is prominent in complementary and alternative medicine. Little endocrinological evidence, however, of the effects of aromatherapy has yet been presented. We used salivary stress marker chromogranin A (CgA) to examine the effects of lavender aroma on women watching a stressful video. METHODS: Healthy female university students (n = 23) aged 20–22 years old were randomly assigned to two groups: an aroma group exposed to lavender and an unexposed control group. Both groups watched a stressful video for 10 min. During the protocol, the aroma group was exposed to lavender aroma. Samples of salivary chromogranin A (CgA) were collected immediately before and after watching the video, and at 5 and 10 min after that. RESULTS: In the aroma group, the levels of CgA statistically significantly decreased throughout the experimental period. In the control group, there was no such change. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that lavender aroma may reduce the stress effects of watching a stressful video.