Safety and Efficacy of Aromatherapy in Relieving Anxiety in Pregnant, Laboring, and Postpartum Women?: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background and Purpose: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to verify aromatherapy’s effectiveness and safety in reducing anxiety during pregnancy, labor, and the postpartum period. Methods: Relevant electronic databases were searched until February 31, 2024. The search generated 877 articles; 21 were included in the final review. Sixteen of these were meta-analyzed. Aromatherapy reduced maternal anxiety by 1.67. Results: Aromatherapy reduced anxiety by 0.57, 2.12, 1.69, and 0.81 during pregnancy, the active phase of labor, post caesarean section, and postpartum, respectively. Inhalation, massage, and inhalation or massage reduced anxiety by 1.98, 0.97, and 1.35, respectively. Apropos of aroma oils, anxiety was reduced by 6.79, 3.04, 0.54, and 1.35 with neroli, sage, lavender, and essential oil blends, respectively. Conclusion: Aromatherapy is effective for anxiety-relief in pregnant, laboring, and postpartum women. However, there was insufficient evidence on safety, such as side effects or toxic reactions in participants during aromatherapy intervention.