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Study · Measured the body's own peptide · 2024

3 results

Sex differences in the effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and salivary oxytocin levels.

Nakajima D, Yamachi M, Misaka S, Shimomura K, Maejima Y

Frontiers in endocrinology11 Jun 2024Cited by 8 (Europe PMC)

PMID38919481 (opens in a new tab)PMCIDPMC11196605 (opens in a new tab)DOI10.3389/fendo.2024.1380779 (opens in a new tab)PepBankPUB-38919481
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Summary

ObjectiveAromatherapy is a holistic healing method to promote health and well-being by using natural plant extracts. However, its precise mechanism of action and influence on the endocrine system remains unclear. Since recent studies reported that a neuropeptide, oxytocin, can attenuate anxiety, we hypothesized that if oxytocin secretion is promoted through aromatherapy, it may improve mood and anxiety. The present study is aimed to investigate the relationship between oxytocin and the effects of aromatherapy with lavender oil on anxiety level, by measuring salivary oxytocin levels in healthy men and women.MethodsWe conducted a randomized open crossover trial in 15 men and 10 women. Each participant received a placebo intervention (control group) and aromatherapy with lavender oil (aromatherapy group). For the aromatherapy group, each participant spent a 30-min session in a room with diffused lavender essential oil, followed by a 10-min hand massage using a carrier oil containing lavender oil. Anxiety was assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before the intervention, 30-min after the start of intervention, and after hand massage, in both groups. Saliva samples were collected at the same time points of the STAI.ResultsIn women, either aromatherapy or hand massage was associated with a reduction in anxiety levels, independently. Moreover, salivary oxytocin levels were increased after aromatherapy. On the other hand, in men, anxiety levels were decreased after aromatherapy, as well as after hand massage, regardless of the use of lavender oil. However, there were no significant differences in changes of salivary oxytocin levels between the control and aromatherapy groups during the intervention period. Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between anxiety levels and salivary oxytocin levels before the intervention, but a negative correlation was observed after hand massage with lavender oil.ConclusionThe results of the present study indicate that in women, aromatherapy with lavender oil attenuated anxiety with increase in oxytocin level in women, whereas in men, there was no clear relationship of aromatherapy with anxiety or oxytocin levels but, there was a change in correlation between anxiety and oxytocin. The results of the present study suggest that the effect of aromatherapy can vary depending on sex.
CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study3

No result from this study comes from a test of the peptide.

Natural levels measured3

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

  1. 01HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    Anxiety correlated positively with salivary oxytocin before the intervention and negatively after hand massage with lavender oil.

    In plain wordsAnxiety was linked to the body's own oxytocin in saliva, positively before the intervention and negatively after lavender hand massage.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    MixedCorrelation between anxiety and salivary oxytocin
    Study

    n = 25

    Outcome group
    Anxiety and mood · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Interestingly, there was a positive correlation between anxiety levels and salivary oxytocin levels before the intervention, but a negative correlation was observed after hand massage with lavender oil.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a randomized open crossover trial in 15 men and 10 women.
    Summary · context
    Each participant received a placebo intervention (control group) and aromatherapy with lavender oil (aromatherapy group).

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  2. 02HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    In healthy men, changes in salivary oxytocin did not differ between the control and aromatherapy groups.

    In plain wordsIn healthy men, the body's own oxytocin in saliva did not change differently with lavender aromatherapy than with placebo.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    No significant changeSalivary oxytocin after aromatherapy in men
    Study

    n = 15

    Comparator
    Placebo intervention
    Outcome group
    Endogenous peptide levels · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    However, there were no significant differences in changes of salivary oxytocin levels between the control and aromatherapy groups during the intervention period.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a randomized open crossover trial in 15 men and 10 women.
    Summary · context
    Each participant received a placebo intervention (control group) and aromatherapy with lavender oil (aromatherapy group).

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

  3. 03HumanEndogenous levelRandomized controlled trialOther

    In healthy women, salivary oxytocin levels increased after aromatherapy with lavender oil.

    In plain wordsIn healthy women, the body's own oxytocin in saliva rose after lavender aromatherapy.

    Peptide
    Oxytocin
    Outcome
    IncreaseSalivary oxytocin after aromatherapy in women
    Study

    n = 10

    Comparator
    Placebo intervention
    Outcome group
    Endogenous peptide levels · Endocrine and hormones

    Source sentences

    Summary
    Moreover, salivary oxytocin levels were increased after aromatherapy.
    2 context sentences
    Summary · context
    We conducted a randomized open crossover trial in 15 men and 10 women.
    Summary · context
    Each participant received a placebo intervention (control group) and aromatherapy with lavender oil (aromatherapy group).

    This result measures the body's own Oxytocin. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

  1. Version 2Current

    11 Oct 2026, 00:50 UTC

    Study results updated

  2. Version 1

    9 Oct 2026, 02:47 UTC

    First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

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