Aromatherapy as an adjunctive therapy for neonatal abstinence syndrome: A pilot study

John M. Daniel, IV, MD, MS; Lesley N. Davidson, MD, MS; Jennifer R. Havens, PhD, MPH; John A. Bauer, PhD; Lori A. Shook, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2020.0558

Authors

John M. Daniel, IV, MD, MS
Lesley N. Davidson, MD, MS
Jennifer R. Havens, PhD, MPH
John A. Bauer, PhD
Lori A. Shook, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2020.0558

Keywords:

NAS, aromatherapy, neonate

Abstract

Objective: To determine if aromatherapy added to the current standard of care for opioid withdrawal syndrome decreases hospitalization and need for opioid replacement in neonates.

Design: Nonblinded, randomized control trial.

Setting: Level 4 neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Patients and participants: Thirty eight patients met inclusion criteria of greater than or equal to 36 weeks of gestation, history of intrauterine opioid exposure, primary diagnosis of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and parental permission to participate.

Interventions: Infants were randomized to either a standard therapy group or a standard therapy plus aromatherapy.

Main outcome measure(s): Duration of therapy and length of stay.

Results: Our pilot study showed that the use of aromatherapy in conjunction with standard therapy reduced the duration of medication treatment by 41 percent and hospital length of stay in the NICU by 36 percent.

Conclusions: The use of aromatherapy appears to help mitigate symptoms of NAS and offers to be a viable treatment modality when used with conventional therapy.

Author Biographies

John M. Daniel, IV, MD, MS

Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri; University of Missouri-Kansas City, School of Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri

Lesley N. Davidson, MD, MS

Neonatologist, Pediatrix Medical Group of Kentucky, PSC, Lexington, Kentucky

Jennifer R. Havens, PhD, MPH

Associate Professor of Behavioral Science, Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky; Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

John A. Bauer, PhD

Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, College of Medicine, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Lori A. Shook, MD

Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, College of Medicine, Kentucky Children’s Hospital, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

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