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14-Day Aromatherapy Massage for Cervicogenic Headaches: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Shu-Cheng Lin1, Ho-Cheng Chen, Kuo-Wei Lee
1Author Affiliations: School of Gerontology and Long-Term Care, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan (Dr Lin); Teacher Education Center, Tainan University of Technology, Tainan, Taiwan (Dr Chen); Center for the Liberal Arts, College of General Education, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Dr Lee); Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania (Ms Yeh); and Natural Therapy and Regimen Health Promotion Association, Kaohsiung, Taiwan (Mrs Chang).
Abstract:
Headaches are a common symptom. However, procedures for the use of aromatherapy and its effects on patients with cervicogenic headaches (CGHs) have yet to be determined. This study investigated the effects of a 14-day aromatherapy intervention on pain, life function, and neck flexion endurance in patients with CGHs. This pretest-posttest randomized controlled trial involved 24 patients with physician-diagnosed CGHs and used matching, single-blinding, and independent samples. Participants were divided into aromatherapy massage (AM) and placebo massage groups, with aromatherapy involving 15-min inhalations of essential oil/placebo and 5-min applications to cervical muscles daily for 14 days. Assessments included the Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form and neck flexion endurance tests. The AM group showed significant improvement in pain relief and life function scores but no notable increase in cervical muscle endurance. Fourteen days of aromatherapy effectively relieved pain and improved life functions.
