2. Materials and methods
2.1. Materials
An essential oil blend of rose otto .25 (Rosa damascena, Bulgaria)
and lavender .75 (Lavandula angustifolia, France) 2 drops of the
rose/lavender blend combined with 5 ml of carrier lotion or oil to
create a 2% dilution was used in all treatments. The essential oils
were sourced from Arlys, Ft Lauderdale Florida, USA, which
provides gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/MS)
analysis to validate chemical composition and purity. The carriers
for the essential oil blend were unscented white lotion in the hand
m’technique and jojoba oil for the inhalation blend. The blend was
compounded at Wellspring pharmacy, Indianapolis. A cosmetic
cotton pad, cost effective and readily available, was infused with 8
drops of the 2% blend for the inhalation group.
mentioned studies, which suggested that further work exploring
the effects of aromatherapy on anxiety and depression in the high
risk postpartum woman might be beneficial.