Comparison of the effect of lavender and bitter orange on anxiety in postmenopausal women: A triple-blind, randomized, controlled clinical trial.
Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018 May;31:132-138. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.02.004. Epub 2018 Feb 20.
Author information: Farshbaf-Khalili A, Kamalifard M, Namadian M. Aging Research Institute, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Centre, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
Nursing and Midwifery Faculty, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: mahsa.mid.n@gmail.com.
INTRODUCTION: This trial compared the effects of lavender and bitter orange on anxiety in postmenopausal women.
RESULTS: A one-way ANOVA showed no significant difference in mean state anxiety (P = 0.254) and trait anxiety (p = 0.972) score among the three groups before the intervention. The general linear model, adjusted for baseline state and trait anxiety scores and confounding factors, showed significant differences among the groups in the mean state anxiety (P = 0.010) and trait anxiety (p = 0.041) score after eight weeks of treatment. Bitter orange significantly reduced the mean state-anxiety scores compared with the control group [Adjusted Mean Difference (aMD): -1.99 (95% Confidence Interval, -3.64 to -0.34)]. Lavender significantly reduced the mean state-anxiety scores compared with the control group as well [aMD: -2.45 (95% CI -4.13 to -0.77)] and Bitter orange significantly reduced the mean trait-anxiety scores compared with the control group [aMD: -1.76 (95% CI -3.45 to -0.06)]. Lavender significantly reduced the mean trait-anxiety scores compared with the control group as well [aMD: -2.05 (95% CI -3.76 to -0.33)]. There was no significant difference between bitter orange and lavender groups after intervention in the mean trait-anxiety (p = 0.731) or state-anxiety (p = 0.578) scores.
CONCLUSION: The positive effect of bitter orange and lavender on anxiety in postmenopausal women suggests that they can be used to decrease anxiety in such women.
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