Effect of Sage Essential Oil Inhalation Aromatherapy on Premenstrual Syndrome and Quality of Life: A Randomized Controlled Study

The changes (mood changes, lethargy, irritability, etc.) that gradually disappear with the start of the menstrual period in women are called premenstrual syndrome. Anxiety, irritability, poor concentration, depression, mood swings, lethargy, sleep disturbance, breast tenderness, change in appetite, bloating, headache, weight gain, abdominal pain, fatigue, and gastrointestinal symptoms are seen in this syndrome. Safe and effective treatments are needed as these symptoms negatively affect both work and personal lives of women. Some women also turned to therapeutic approaches due to the high side effects of pharmacological treatment. One of these approaches is the aromatherapy method, which is widely used today. Aromatherapy is a therapy aimed at protecting and improving one's physical, mental and psychological health. Traditionally, aromatherapy has been used as one of the non-pharmacological methods for reducing premenstrual symptoms, releasing uterine cramps, and reducing pain and anxiety. Sage oil, with its ester components, regulates the menstrual cycle and hormonal components and alleviates climatic changes and symptoms in menopausal women. It is also recommended to use sage essential oil to reduce uterine tonics and to reduce fluid retention in the premenstrual period. In our country, no study was found in which aromatherapy was performed using sage oil in PMS. It is thought that the study to be conducted in this area will be beneficial in terms of evaluating the effectiveness of a non-pharmacological method in the treatment of PMS.