Aromatherapy practice in nursing: literature review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• Evidence-Based Practice

Background:

• Aromatherapy, particularly using essential oils, is widely adopted in nursing care.
• Current literature often focuses on low-dose massage or environmental fragrance applications.
• Broader literature can inform the evidence base for aromatherapy in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and critically evaluate the evidence supporting aromatherapy use by nurses.
• To assess the current state of research on aromatherapy in nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of Medline, CINAHL, MANTIS, and EBSCO Host databases.
• Inclusion of 165 articles, with nursing papers from 1990 and scientific research on essential oils from 1971 onwards.
• Exclusion of brief case studies; focus on professional issues and clinical applications.

Main Results:

• Limited empirical evidence supports aromatherapy in nursing beyond promoting relaxation.
• The popularity of aromatherapy must be weighed against potential risks like allergies and misuse.
• There is a need to address safety and efficacy concerns.

Conclusions:

• Significant potential exists for collaborative nursing research to deepen understanding of aromatherapy's clinical applications.
• Future research should explore applications beyond the traditional low-dose essential oil paradigm.
• Further investigation is required to establish robust evidence for aromatherapy in nursing.