The Potential Benefits of Therapeutic Treatment Using Gaseous Terpenes at Ambient Low Levels

The Potential Benefits of Therapeutic Treatment Using Gaseous Terpenes at Ambient Low Levels

Biological volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are emitted abundantly from the flora. Among BVOCs, monoterpenes (MTs) have been used for aromatherapy (e.g., forest bathing) to treat human physiological and psychological conditions. However, relatively little is known about the therapeutic effects of...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences Vol. 9; no. 21; p. 4507
Main Authors: Kim, Jo-Chun, Dinh, Trieu-Vuong, Oh, Hong-Keun, Son, Youn-Suk, Ahn, Ji-Won, Song, Kyu-Yong, Choi, In-Young, Park, Chan-Ryul, Szulejko, JanJan, Kim, Ki-Hyun
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Basel MDPI AG 01-11-2019
Subjects:
Aromatherapy
Bathing
Brain
brain wave
Experiments
forest bathing
Gases
Inhalation
Limonene
Mental health
monoterpene
Monoterpenes
Organic compounds
Physiology
Psychology
Questionnaires
Respiration
Stress
VOCs
Volatile organic compounds
United States > US
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Summary:Biological volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are emitted abundantly from the flora. Among BVOCs, monoterpenes (MTs) have been used for aromatherapy (e.g., forest bathing) to treat human physiological and psychological conditions. However, relatively little is known about the therapeutic effects of MTs at low part per billion by volume (ppbv) levels. The effects of artificial MTs on human subjects were assessed by both olfactory and therapeutic parameters (brain alpha waves and stress index). Gaseous standards of three monoterpenes (i.e., α-pinene, β-pinene, and d-limonene) prepared at low ppbv levels were used individually and as mixtures. Fifty-nine healthy and non-asthmatics volunteer university students were selected for the test. All human subjects inhaled low ppbv levels of monoterpene in the testing room. Brain alpha waves and stress index were investigated during the inhalation time. Questionnaires were also used after testing. It was found that the detection threshold of MTs was close to 5 ppbv. When the MT levels increased from 0 to 20 ppbv, the mean values of brain alpha waves derived from all participants increased from 9.8 to 15.1. In contrast, the stress index values declined from 46.2 to 34.7. The overall results suggest that MTs have great potential to positively affect the relaxation state of subjects in a manner similar to forest bathing in terms of short-term effect. They can thus be applied as potential therapeutic media for mental health care.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app9214507