Abstract (eng)
The present investigation describes a placebo-controlled pilot study to examine the gender-specific impact of essential ginger oil (Zingiberis aetheroleum) after inhalation. For this purpose physiological parameters such as systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, as well as psychological parameters to assess the mental state were evaluated before and after inhalation. In total 30 participants were tested.
The procedure of each session was always the same, only the fragrances varied (pure water, ginger essential oil, Roman chamomile essential oil). The order of the fragrances was randomized.
Before and after inhalation blood pressure and heart rate of the participants were measured and the participants’ subjective emotional state was determined. At the end of the session, the participants had to assess the fragrance in terms of their subjective perception.
The statistical analysis of the collected data was performed by t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). In this work only the results were evaluated, that compared the effect of essential ginger oil with water.
There were both significant results as well as trends in the statistical analysis: After inhalation of ginger oil systolic blood pressure was barely sunken, whereas water induced more decrease. Furthermore ginger induced an increase of diastolic blood pressure in women compared to water (decrease of diastolic blood pressure). In men diastolic blood pressure decreased in the ginger condition compared to water (increase of diastolic blood pressure).
Good mood increased after inhalation of ginger, whereas it did not change during water-inhalation. Additionally, ginger stimulated participants more than water. Evaluation of the fragrance indicated that hedonic, familiarity and intensity of ginger were higher than of water. Men significantly evaluated ginger more familiar than women.