The Effect of Orange Peel Essential Oil on Postpartum Depression and Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background Mothers are vulnerable to mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, in the 6-week postpartum period after delivery. Objectives This study was performed to determine the potential effect of orange peel essential oil on postpartum depression and anxiety. Patients and Methods This double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial consisted of 96 postpartum women. Qualified samples were assigned to intervention and control groups using randomized blocking. The intervention group drank a glass of water containing 10 drops of orange peel essential oil, and the control group drank a glass a water containing 10 drops of placebo, 3 times a day, after each meal for 8 weeks. The subjects completed depression and anxiety questionnaires before and after the intervention. A general linear model was used to analyze the data. Results There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of sociodemographic characteristics and depression and anxiety scores before and after the intervention (P > 0.05). At the end of the 8th week, the mean depression score (standard deviation [SD]) was 6.7 (4.7) in the orange peel essential oil group and 6.7 (4.9) in the placebo group (P = 0.956). The mean state anxiety score was 47.6 (3.8) in the orange peel essential oil group and 48.4 (4.1) in the placebo group (P = 0.197). The mean trait anxiety score was 45.6 (3.5) in the orange peel essential oil group and 45.9 (3.8) in the placebo group (P = 0.726). Conclusions Orange peel essential oil did not reduce postpartum depression and anxiety.