著者

田中 睦英 小浦 誠吾

出版者

九州保健福祉大学

雑誌

九州保健福祉大学研究紀要 (ISSN:13455451)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.13, pp.71-76, 2012-03

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Objective:The aim of this study was to evaluate the stress-relieving effect of the aroma of chamomile essential oil by measuring salivary amylase activity and electroencephalogram (EEG) analyses of test subjects. Design:Twenty healthy students performed a calculation task (Uchida-Kraepelin test) for 15 min and then rested for 5 min. During the rest period, 10 students (the aroma group) were exposed to airborne organic chamomile essential oil. After the rest period,all students performed the calculations for further 15 min. Saliva samples were collected at baseline, after the calculation tasks and during the rest period simultaneously with EEG assessment. Results:During the study, no statistically significant changes in levels of salivary amylase activity was detected in either the aroma group or the control group. However, a decrease in frontal beta activity and an increase in slow alpha activity were clearly observed after the rest period among women in the aroma group. The control group and the men in the aroma group showed no such changes. Conclusions:These findings suggest that the aroma of chamomile essential oil has a stress-relieving effect on women.