Effect of Aromatherapy on Equine Heart Rate Variability

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Animal Behavior
• Complementary Therapies

Background:

• Horses are sensitive animals prone to stress.
• Aromatherapy has demonstrated potential benefits for equine well-being.
• Essential oils possess olfactory properties that may influence physiological responses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of aromatherapy on the parasympathetic component of heart rate variability (HRV) in horses.
• To evaluate the efficacy of lavender and chamomile essential oils as calming agents for equine use.

Main Methods:

• A crossover study design was employed with eight dressage horses.
• Horses received humidified lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) or chamomile (Matricaria recutita) essential oil, or humidified air as a control.
• Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured for 7 minutes before, during, and after treatments, with a 30-minute post-treatment follow-up.

Main Results:

• Lavender oil significantly increased the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), a marker of parasympathetic activity, immediately post-treatment (P = .020).
• Lavender also reduced very low-frequency HRV oscillations (P = .039), indicating a calming effect.
• Chamomile oil produced variable results with no statistically significant impact on HRV.

Conclusions:

• Lavender aromatherapy can be an effective method for transiently calming horses.
• The parasympathetic nervous system's activity in horses can be modulated by lavender essential oil.
• Further research into chamomile's effects and other essential oils for equine calming is warranted.