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Aromatherapy with chamomile-lavender blend or vetiver oil reduces fatigue and improves sleep quality in intensive care nurses

In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, 96 intensive care nurses with fatigue and sleep disturbances received either chamomile-lavender essential oil blend, vetiver oil, or placebo (jojoba oil) via aromatherapy massage once daily before bedtime for 4 weeks. Both active aromatherapy groups showed significant reductions in fatigue (VAS and Piper Fatigue Scale) and improvements in sleep quality (PSQI) compared to placebo, with PSQI scores decreasing from ~10.4 to ~4.6 in active groups versus ~10.8 to 6.8 in placebo. The study reported a large effect size (f=0.462) and high statistical power (0.984).

Last updated: Aug 25, 2026•1 RCTs•📖 Read as article →

Evidence Score

Evidence Score44/100
Human RCT★★☆☆☆
Meta-analysis☆☆☆☆☆
Mechanism★★★★★
Safety★★★★☆
Confidencelow

Study Evidence

Study 1. The Effect of Aromatherapy on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Intensive Care Nurses: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial.

observational

Burkev FG, Taşci S, Çetinkaya A, Aktaş E · Nursing in critical care (2026)

Participants: N/A
Duration: 4 weeks
Intervention: Aromatherapy massage with chamomile-lavender essential oil blend or vetiver oil, applied once daily before bedtime for 4 weeks
Outcome: Fatigue severity (Visual Analogue Scale, Piper Fatigue Scale) and sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index)
Effect Size: f=0.462
Population: Intensive care nurses experiencing fatigue and sleep disturbances (n=96 completers, 36 per group initially)

Result:

PubMed: 42630137DOI: 10.1111/nicc.70602

Mechanism Graph

Aromatherapy essential oils are inhaled or absorbed through skin during massage
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Chamomile and lavender have calming and sedative properties, potentially modulating the autonomic nervous system
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Vetiver oil may have grounding and relaxing effects
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Reduced physiological arousal and improved relaxation lead to decreased fatigue and better sleep initiation and quality

Limitations

  • ⚠Single-blind design (participants not blinded, only assessors)
  • ⚠No objective sleep measures (e.g., actigraphy) used; relied on self-reported questionnaires
  • ⚠Short follow-up period (4 weeks) and single-center study
  • ⚠High dropout rate (12 out of 108) but post hoc power analysis indicated adequate power

Frequently Asked Questions

What essential oils were used in the aromatherapy intervention?▼

The study used a chamomile-lavender essential oil blend and vetiver oil, applied via massage. The placebo was jojoba oil.

How long did the aromatherapy treatment last?▼

The aromatherapy massage was administered once daily before bedtime for 4 weeks.

What were the main outcomes measured?▼

Fatigue was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Piper Fatigue Scale (PFS), and sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).

Did the aromatherapy significantly improve sleep quality compared to placebo?▼

Yes, both active aromatherapy groups showed significant improvements in PSQI scores compared to placebo (post-test p<0.001), with PSQI scores dropping from about 10.4 to 4.6 in active groups versus 10.8 to 6.8 in placebo.

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References

  1. 1.Burkev FG, Ta&#x15f;ci S, &#xc7;etinkaya A, Akta&#x15f; E. "The Effect of Aromatherapy on Fatigue and Sleep Quality in Intensive Care Nurses: A Randomised Placebo-Controlled Trial.." Nursing in critical care, 2026. PMID: 42630137 DOI: 10.1111/nicc.70602
Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Evidence scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical recommendations. Always consult a healthcare professional before starting any supplement or intervention.