Soden, K., Vincent, K., Craske, S., Lucas, C., & Ashley, S. (2004). A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliative Medicine, 18, 87–92.
Patients were randomly allocated to one of three groups: (a) massage with lavender essential oil and an inert carrier oil, (b) massage with inert carrier oil, or (c) a control group without massage. Patients receiving weekly massages were not told which oils were used. The two massage groups received a standardized, 30-minute back massage weekly for four weeks. Patients in the control group completed the assessment scales weekly during the study period but did not receive massages. Outcomes were anxiety, aromatherapy, massage, pain, palliative care, and sleep.
The study was a randomized, controlled trial.
No significant long-term benefits of aromatherapy or massage were demonstrated in terms of improving pain control, anxiety, or quality of life (QOL). Sleep scores improved significantly in the massage and the combined massage groups.