アロマテラピー検定・資格の認定、学術調査研究の実施

アロマの研究・調査

健康|Health

芳香浴が更年期症状に与える影響

女性は、40歳を過ぎたころから更年期を迎えます。この時期は大きくホルモン分泌量が変動し、身体的・精神的にさまざまな症状があらわれます。また、ゼラニウム精油には、女性特有の症状を和らげる作用があると伝えられてきました。
そこで今回は、更年期特有の症状に対してゼラニウム精油が与える影響を測定した実験をご紹介します。

実験方法

参加者 40~52歳の月経開始が不規則な女性 19名
精油 ゼラニウム精油(1%希釈)
対照 精製水
方法 精油または精製水のいずれかを滴下したシールを毎日付けて1カ月間過ごす
測定 更年期症状、血中ホルモン濃度、不安感、肌・髪の状態の実感など

実験結果

実験結果(更年期症状 改善の程度)

※VAS(Visual Analog Scale)
医師による問診において参加者の更年期症状について、実験前と比べた実施後の改善の程度を評価。
長さ100㎜の水平線の0㎜(とても悪化している)から100 ㎜(とても改善している)までの間に線を記入することにより測定する方法。

【更年期症状】

医師の問診により実験前と実験後の更年期症状の程度を比較したところ、ゼラニウム精油群は対照群に比べて更年期症状の改善の程度が有意によい結果となった。

【不安感・実感】

ゼラニウム精油群では、血中ホルモン濃度を大きく変えることはなく、不安感の軽減肌・髪の状態実感などのスコアに有意な増加がみられた。

論文 熊谷千津, 他 (2019) 継続的に精油の香りを纏うライフスタイルが閉経移行期の女性に与える影響. アロマテラピー学雑誌 20(1):1-12.

Abstract : We conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the effect of continuously using essential oils for indefinite complaints, psychological states , the skin and hair condition, and endocrine system in women during the menopausal transition.
Thirty-five women who are in their 40s and 50s and have irregular menstrual cycles were divided into 3 groups; each used either purified water (control group), 1% diluted roman chamomile essential oil (chamomile group), or 1% diluted geranium essential oil (geranium group) for approximately 4 weeks.
We measured the participants’ Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI) score; anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, STAI); mood states (Profile of Mood State 2nd edition, POMS 2); feelings about the condition of their skin and hair; and blood (serum) hormone concentration before and after the intervention. In addition, doctors evaluated the degree of improvement in indefinite complaints after the intervention period. The data of 28 participants, whose degree of menopausal indefinite complaints were mild based on their pre-intervention SMI scores, were used for analysis.
The SMI scores decreased in all groups after the intervention. However, a significant decrease in STAI score, significant increase in POMS 2 “vigor-activity” and “friendliness” scores after the intervention were observed only in the geranium group. The subjective feeling scores for “skin moisture” and “hair moisture” increased significantly in both the essential oil intervention groups, whereas the “low hair-loss” score increased significantly only in the geranium group. The use of essential oil did not significantly affect blood hormone concentration. The degree of improvement in indefinite complaints was significantly greater in the two essential oil intervention groups than in the control group.
In conclusion, although the results indicated that essential oil did not affect SMI scores, significant improvements in the score of multiple psychological scales, subjective feelings about skin and hair condition, and degree of improvement in indefinite complaints were observed as a result of the essential oil interventions. These results warrant a detailed examination of the effect of aromatherapy on the mind and body of menopausal women.
Keywords: essential oil, climacteric symptoms, menstrual cycle, blood hormone concentration