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Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment for alopecia areata.

AbstractOBJECTIVE:
To investigate the efficacy of aromatherapy in the treatment of patients with alopecia areata.
DESIGN:
A randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of 7 months' duration, with follow-up at 3 and 7 months.
SETTING:
Dermatology outpatient department.
PARTICIPANTS:
Eighty-six patients diagnosed as having alopecia areata.
INTERVENTION:
Eighty-six patients were randomized into 2 groups. The active group massaged essential oils (thyme, rosemary, lavender, and cedarwood) in a mixture of carrier oils (jojoba and grapeseed) into their scalp daily. The control group used only carrier oils for their massage, also daily.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:
Treatment success was evaluated on sequential photographs by 2 dermatologists (I.C.H. and A.D.O.) independently. Similarly, the degree of improvement was measured by 2 methods: a 6-point scale and computerized analysis of traced areas of alopecia.
RESULTS:
Nineteen (44%) of 43 patients in the active group showed improvement compared with 6 (15%) of 41 patients in the control group (P = .008). An alopecia scale was applied by blinded observers on sequential photographs and was shown to be reproducible with good interobserver agreement (kappa = 0.84). The degree of improvement on photographic assessment was significant (P = .05). Demographic analysis showed that the 2 groups were well matched for prognostic factors.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results show aromatherapy to be a safe and effective treatment for alopecia areata. Treatment with these essential oils was significantly more effective than treatment with the carrier oil alone (P = .008 for the primary outcome measure). We also successfully applied an evidence-based method to an alternative therapy.
AuthorsI C Hay, M Jamieson, A D Ormerod
JournalArchives of dermatology (Arch Dermatol) Vol. 134 Issue 11 Pg. 1349-52 (Nov 1998) ISSN: 0003-987X [Print] United States
PMID9828867 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Topics
  • Adult
  • Alopecia Areata (therapy)
  • Aromatherapy
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Remission Induction

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