Aroma touch therapy with Citrus junos oil for malaise relief and improvement in quality of life of end-stage cancer patients: a prospective multicenter study

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23593274
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Clinical nursing
• Research Institution: Naragakuen University (2014); Aichi Medical University (2011-2013)
• Principal Investigator: BOHGAKI TOMOMI 奈良学園大学, 保健医療学部, 教授 (00469545)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): KATAGIRI Yoshitada 独立行政法人情報通信研究機構, 研究員 (60462876) ; SHIRAKAWA Taku 神戸大学大学院, 保健学研究科, 准教授 (30171044) ; USAMI Makoto 神戸大学大学院, 保健学研究科, 教授 (00193855)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 柚子 / アロマセラピー / 倦怠感 / 疼痛 / 脳波計測 / α2リズムパワー / がん / 補完代替療法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The efficacy of aroma touch therapy with Citrus junos oil, intended to relieve malaise in patients with cancer associated with chronic pain, was proven quantitatively in patients with lung and liver metastases after surgery for rectal cancer. The therapy decreased malaise and pain, improving patient’s symptoms and psychological state as well as quality of life and strength to fight the disease. We verified this by quantifying deep brain activity in healthy individuals using occipital alpha-2 rhythm powers (10-13 Hz). The essential oil relieved post-exercise malaise by rejuvenating the brain, which manifested as decreased sincipital alpha-1 rhythm powers and stable occipital (O1) alpha-2 rhythm powers. The correlation between the deep brain activity index and pain ratings exhibited a V-shaped curve and dynamics. Under simulated pain that was independent of emotional states, YTT optimized the slow fluctuation components of the occipital alpha-2 rhythm powers and induced analgesia.

Free Research Field

臨床看護学