Making Scents: Aromatherapy Lowers Anxiety in Preoperative Patients

You’re waiting to have surgery, and your nerves are jangling. But what if, instead of hospital antiseptic, you instead smelled lavender? Or bergamot? Maybe some eucalyptus?

A new study, part of a special collaboration between the University of Florida College of Nursing and UF Health Shands, finds that a little aromatherapy before surgery significantly reduces patients’ anxiety and decreases blood pressure and pulse rates.

The results were so compelling that UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville is actively implementing preoperative aromatherapy treatments across all its surgical units.

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