Blood Pressure Changes Following Lavender Aromatherapy in Patients with Hypertension: A Pre-Experimental Study

Abstract

Hypertension requires sustained blood pressure control, and complementary non-pharmacological interventions may provide additional support alongside conventional management. Lavender aromatherapy is a relaxation-oriented intervention that may influence physiological responses associated with cardiovascular regulation. This study aimed to evaluate changes in systolic and diastolic blood pressure following lavender aromatherapy among patients with hypertension at Nayaka Husada 02 Pahlawan Clinic, Palembang. A quantitative pre-experimental study with a one-group pretest–posttest design was conducted from April to May 2026. The study included 36 patients with hypertension who met the eligibility criteria and were selected using total sampling. Lavender aromatherapy was administered using a diffuser containing 150 mL of water and 5 drops of lavender essential oil for 15 minutes. Blood pressure was measured before and immediately after the intervention using a digital sphygmomanometer. Data normality was assessed using the Shapiro–Wilk test, followed by paired-samples t-tests for pre–post comparisons. Mean systolic blood pressure decreased from 157.89 ± 10.52 mmHg to 131.67 ± 12.60 mmHg, with a mean reduction of 26.22 mmHg. Mean diastolic blood pressure decreased from 96.56 ± 4.30 mmHg to 84.19 ± 4.11 mmHg, with a mean reduction of 12.37 mmHg. Both changes were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Lavender aromatherapy was associated with short-term reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure among patients with hypertension. However, the absence of a control group limits causal interpretation, and the observed changes cannot be attributed exclusively to the intervention. Lavender aromatherapy may be considered a potential complementary relaxation-based approach to support short-term blood pressure management. Further studies using controlled designs with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are required to confirm its effectiveness.