 |
customer@davidpublishing.com |
 |
3275638434 |
 |
 |
| Paper Publishing WeChat |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
HUANG Yun, PENG Zhu, TANG Jiazhi
Full-Text PDF
XML 24 Views
DOI:10.17265/2159-5836/2026.05.008
Yunnan Museum of Aromatics & Incense Culture, Kunming, China; Yuxi Normal University, Yuxi, China; Zhaotong Qihuang Traditional Chinese Medicine Technology Co., Ltd., China
Objective: To systematically evaluate the effect of aromatherapy on patients with sleep disorders, with a focus on the clinical value of integrating Chinese and Western aromatherapy approaches, and to elucidate its sleep-promoting mechanisms from an integrative medicine perspective. Methods: Databases including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP were searched from inception to June 2025. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on aromatherapy for sleep disorders were included. Literature screening, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted according to the PRISMA 2020 statement. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were performed using a random-effects model. Mechanisms were explored by integrating Chinese and Western theoretical perspectives. Results: Thirty-one RCTs involving 2,786 participants were included. Meta-analysis showed that aromatherapy significantly improved sleep quality (SMD = -0.82, 95% CI: -1.01 to -0.63, P < 0.001), shortened sleep latency, prolonged total sleep time, and reduced nocturnal awakenings. Subgroup analysis indicated that inhalation was superior to massage, and blended formulas were superior to single essential oils. The integrated Chinese-Western approach, which combined Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) syndrome differentiation, acupoint application, and tranquilizing theory, demonstrated more stable effects, lower heterogeneity, and higher patient compliance. The overall methodological quality of the included studies was moderate, with no serious adverse events reported. Conclusion: Aromatherapy is an effective and safe adjunctive intervention for sleep disorders. The integration of Chinese and Western aromatherapy successfully combines modern essential oil pharmacology with the holistic theory, cultural wisdom, and individualized principles of TCM—such as “calming the mind with fragrance, regulating Qi, and harmonizing Yin and Yang”. This fusion offers unique value and provides an important framework for developing culturally informed, personalized sleep health interventions.
aromatherapy, Traditional Chinese Aromatic Therapy (TCAT), integrative medicine, sleep disorders, insomnia, systematic review, meta-analysis
Chen, K. (2024). Strategic thoughts on the integrated development of traditional aromatic therapy and modern aromatherapy. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 44(1), 1-4.
Chinese Society of Psychosomatic Medicine. (2024). Chinese psychosomatic medicine consensus on diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders (2024). Chinese Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine, 28(1), 1-8.
Chinese Sleep Research Society. (2023). Chinese guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of insomnia disorder (2023 edition). National Medical Journal of China, 103(12), 888-896.
Lei, J., Smith, A. B., & Johnson, C. D. (2024). Effects of aromatherapy on sleep quality: A systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 80(2), 368-383.
Liu, Y., Li, H., & Wang, L. (2023). Effect of essential oil inhalation combined with acupoint massage on sleep structure in middle-aged and elderly insomnia patients. Chinese Journal of Nursing, 58(9), 1081-1086.
Oh, J. Y., Park, Y. S., & Kim, S. R. (2023). Aromatherapy for sleep disturbance in adults: Systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 142, 104456.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. BMJ, 372, n71. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Posadzki, P., Watson, L. K., & Alotaibi, A. (2023). Aromatherapy for health and well-being: An overview of systematic reviews. Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 67, 102890. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctim.2022.102890
Sterne, J. A. C., Savović, J., Page, M. J., Elbers, R. G., Blencowe, N. S., Boutron, I., … Higgins, J. P. T. (2019). RoB 2: A revised tool for assessing risk of bias in randomised trials. BMJ, 366, l4898. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l4898
Wang, J., Sun, W., & Chen, M. (2023). Application and mechanism exploration of the “calming the mind with fragrance” theory of traditional Chinese aromatic therapy in insomnia disease. China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 48(7), 1901-1907.
World Health Organization. (2024). Mental health and sleep disorders: Global evidence and action.
Zhang, M., Zhao, G., & Liu, F. (2024). Effects of integrated Chinese-Western aromatherapy on sleep and mood in perimenopausal insomnia patients. Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, 44(2), 189-193.