From Pain to Pleasure: A Newly Developed Essential Oil Inhaler (AromaStick®) Alters Pain Dynamics and Increases Well-being. Results from Two Randomized, Controlled Documentation Studies

Title:From Pain to Pleasure: A Newly Developed Essential Oil Inhaler (AromaStick®) Alters Pain Dynamics and Increases Well-being. Results from Two Randomized, Controlled Documentation Studies

Volume: 6

Author(s): Rainer Schneider*

Affiliation:

• RECON – Research and Consulting, Unterer Mühlenweg 38 B, 79114 Freiburg,Germany

Keywords: Aromatherapy, AromaStick®, chronic pain, essential oil inhaler, pain management, wellbeing.

Abstract: Background: Recently, it was demonstrated in a series of experiments that a specifically designed odor inhaler outperformed well-known and popular stress relieving techniques. In another study it was shown that odor inhalers increased attention and concentration in a demanding cognitive task.

Objective: This paper follows up on these experiments and investigates whether such effects can also be found for an inhaler specially designed to reduce pain.

Method: Two prospective randomized, controlled cross-over documentary studies were conducted comparing participants’ individual pain management (menstrual pain and chronic lower back pain) with an odor inhaler used as an adjuvant.

Results: The odor inhaler improved pain dynamics like onset of pain and pain duration for both menstrual pain and lower back pain in a natural setting. In individuals suffering from chronic lower back pain, the inhaler also increased the pain alleviating effect of the individual pain management method. In both studies mood and well-being were considerably increased when the inhaler was applied. No side effects were reported.

Conclusions: Even highly effective individual pain-relieving methods benefit from the use of this odor inhaler by changing pain dynamics and improving pain relief. Therefore, it helps to facilitate and amplify pain management.

Cite this article as:

Schneider Rainer *, From Pain to Pleasure: A Newly Developed Essential Oil Inhaler (AromaStick®) Alters Pain Dynamics and Increases Well-being. Results from Two Randomized, Controlled Documentation Studies, Current Psychopharmacology 2017; 6 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/2211556006666170510094602