A randomised controlled trial of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis) essential oils for the treatment of agitated behaviour in older people with and without dementia
Abstract
Objective Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils are popular in the management of older person agitation due to their ease of application, minimal side effects and low interaction with concurrent medications. This study addressed limitations in the literature to evaluate and compare effectiveness of Lavender and Lemon Balm essential oils on the agitated behaviour of older people with and without dementia living in residential aged care facilities [RACFs].Methods Forty-nine nursing home residents with dementia (n=39) and without dementia (n=10) exhibiting agitation participated in this study. Participants were randomised to a counterbalanced, repeated measures design experiment that tests the treatments Lavender, Lemon Balm, and Placebo (Sunflower oil). Treatments were administered once daily for two-weeks followed by a two-week washout period before commencing the subsequent treatment. All participants trialed all three treatments over a 10-week period. Data were collected on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory (CMAI).Results A significant difference was shown when essential oils effect were compared between the cognitive groups. Post hoc analysis reports Lemon Balm more effective in reducing NPI agitation (p = .04) and CMAI physical non-aggressive behaviour (PNAB) (p = .02) in residents without dementia. Lemon Balm less effective in reducing NPI irritability (p = 0.01) and Lavender more effective in reducing CMAI PNAB (p = 0.04) in dementia.Conclusion The findings support an opposing effect of Lemon Balm and Lavender in reducing agitated behaviour between the participant cognitive groups. There was no reduction in agitation with treatments when compared to placebo independent of cognitive groups.
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Lavandula angustifolia improves memory deficit.
“Improves memory deficit”
From Unlocking the Therapeutic Potential of Medicinal Plants for Alzheimer’s Disease: Preclinical to Clinical Trial Insights (2023) · cites this paper as [174]
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- Authors
- Watson, K., Hatcher, D., & Good, A.
- Affiliations
- University of Technology Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Watson, Karen
- Venue
- Complementary Therapies in Medicine
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2019-02
- Volume
- 42
- Pages
- 366-373
- ISSN
- 0965-2299 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2905750876
- Cited by
- 61
- References
- 28
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 7.91
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Complementary Therapies in Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Complementary and alternative medicine › Medicinal Plant Extracts Effects
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Keywords
- lavender essential oil, lemon balm essential oil, lemon balm, Lavandula angustifolia, agitation, dementia, older adults, nursing homes, non-pharmacological treatment, irritability, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Anxiety, Dementia, Depression, Female, Homes for the Aged, Humans, Male, Nursing Homes, Oils, Volatile, Plant Extracts, Plant Oils, Psychomotor Agitation, Aromatherapy, Lavandula, Melissa
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