THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMBINED CANANGA ODORATA (YLANG-YLANG), CITRUS LIMON (LEMON), AND JASMINUM SAMBAC (SAMPAGUITA) AS AN AROMATHERAPEUTIC SLEEP-PROMOTING SPRAY

Abstract

Sleep difficulties remain a prevalent health concern globally and in the Philippines, leading to a continuous rise in the use of sleep medications. Consequently, the adverse side effects associated with sleep aids require attention. Aroma inhalation therapy, as a natural and cost-effective complementary approach to managing sleep difficulties, is considered one of the fastest and most efficient methods of delivering therapeutic effects. This study explored the effectiveness of an aromatherapeutic sleep-promoting spray derived from a combination of Cananga odorata (ylang-ylang), Citrus limon (lemon), and Jasminum sambac (sampaguita), formulated using a 3:5:2 ratio corresponding to top note, middle note, and base note. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest research design was employed. Nine (9) Grade 12 STEM students aged 17–19 years with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) pretest scores of ≥5 across three sections at General De Jesus College participated in the study. The participants practiced proper sleep hygiene and inhaled the aromatherapy spray before sleep for two weeks. Data were collected using a modified PSQI questionnaire and follow-up questions administered before and after the intervention. Statistical analysis was conducted using a paired-samples t-test to compare pretest and posttest results. The findings showed that sleep latency was significantly shorter after the intervention (p = 0.007). Sleep duration significantly increased (p = 0.002), and sleep efficiency was significantly higher in the posttest (p = 0.034). Sleep disturbance (p = 0.004) and daytime dysfunction (p = 0.00002) were significantly reduced following the intervention. A significant improvement in overall sleep quality was observed (p = 0.001). However, no significant difference was found in subjective sleep quality (p = 0.09). Qualitative responses indicated that most participants reported positive experiences, including relaxation, faster sleep onset, and the absence of adverse side effects. The results demonstrate the beneficial effects of the aromatherapeutic spray as an adjunct intervention for students experiencing sleep difficulties. The study suggests that future research involving larger sample sizes and longer intervention periods may provide more conclusive evidence regarding its effectiveness.