Background
Alternative and complementary medicines are widely used to treat migraine headaches. This review aimed to determine the effectiveness of essential oils as an alternative treatment approach.
Methods
A structured search was conducted to identify randomized trials comparing essential oils with a placebo for migraine headaches, using databases (MEDLINE and CENTRAL) to search for articles published between 1966 and 2021. We included trials involving adult males and females diagnosed with migraine headaches according to the International Headache Society. The outcomes included number of attacks, headache severity, associated symptoms, number of days of limited activity, headache duration, use of analgesics, and adverse effects. Seven trials were included with a total of 558 participants.
Results
No difference was observed in the number of migraine headache attacks compared to placebo (mean difference [MD], -1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], -3.31 to 0.64; I2=94%; P=0.190; four trials, 242 participants; moderate- quality evidence). There was no difference in this outcome between the essential oils treated group and the placebo (MD, -0.38; 95% CI, -1.76 to 0.99; I2 statistics=86%; P=0.580; five trials, 240 participants; moderate-quality evidence).
Conclusion
We found no significant difference between the use of essential oils and placebo in managing migraine headaches.

Citations

• Use of aromatherapy for Migraine pain relief
  Yasmine Askeur, Selka Adil, Daliyahia Kamel
  Current Perspectives on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CUPMAP).2024;[Epub]     CrossRef

Background
: The harmfulness of cigarette smoking is widely known, as a result the interest of smoking cessation is increasing. Some smoking cessation methods have tried at clinical setting, but with exception of nicotine replacement therapy, the long-term result is not satisfactory. The objective of this study is to determine of smoking cessation effectiveness of aromatherapy, which one of the alternative medicine, attracted public attention recently.

Methods : All participants of this study used nicotine patch, and as a double-blind randomized control study with use of natural herb aroma which is known to have tranquility effect and placebo(artificial lemon perfume). The subjects consist of Dankook University Hospital workers who volunteered as smoking cessation. 6 weeks of smoking cessation program was conducted using nicotine patch and aroma or nicotine patch and placebo, and the result were verified 6 weeks and 6 month after the start of smoking cessation.
Result : Fifty-three male persons(27 in aroma, 26 in placebo) paricipated and three subjects(2 in aroma, one in placebo) were dropped out. In two groups, participants with successful results were 13 persons in aroma group, and 14 persons in placebo group at 6 week later, and 6 persons and 7 persons respective at 6 month later. There was no statistical difference in two groups.

Conclusion : There was no statistical difference between the herb aroma and placebo with smoking cessation effect.

Background
: This study is to investigate on how much the dysmenorrheal and lower abdominal pain(LAP)/back pain are improved by the aromatherapy which is emerging as an alternative therapy.

Methods : In order to get the data by questionnaire, 245 subject was selected from women student class of a high school at rural area from June 2000 to August 2000. 125 subject, aroma was given to 69 subject and placebo was given to 56 subject. The subject was investigated how the dysmenorrhea was improved by using the aroma and placebo.

Results : After the aromatherapy, severities of dysmenorrheal and LAP/back pain improved in aroma group and placebo group. Therefore, there is not statistical difference between both groupts.

Conclusion : The herbal aroma is not effective more than placebo aroma to relieve dysmenorrhea.