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EXPLORING STRESS RELIEF FROM TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE AROMATHERAPY USING HERBAL SACHETS

Chuan-Hsiao Han (Primary Author)

Department of Management, Fo Guang University

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Chai-Jyi Kay

Pristine Baby Care Centre

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Abstract

Many people are in a state of sub-health due to social pressure in the current environment, and chronic diseases may develop over time. This study investigated the efficacy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) aromatherapy for stress relief and the satisfaction of using herbal sachets. We adopted a pre-test/post-test experimental design with the same group of research subjects over six weeks. The stress-relieving effects were compared between a control product herbal sachet and two types of stress-relieving herbal sachets. We established a Line group to remind the research subjects to use the herbal sachet during the experimental period. An electronic questionnaire (Stress Perception Scale) was distributed to the subjects to determine the differences in stress perception before and after the intervention of TCM aromatherapy. The number of questionnaires distributed was 87, which elicited a valid questionnaire response rate of 70. The results indicate a significant decrease in stress perception when Recipe 1 (p=0.048) and Recipe 2 (p=0.019) herbal sachets were used. There was no significant difference in stress perception when using the control herbal sachet (p=0.92). The overall order of purchase intention for the three types of herbal sachets was: Recipe 1 > Recipe 2 > control group. This confirms that the subjects’ satisfaction with the herbal sachets varied according to their stress-relieving effects. Further, among the two types of herbal sachets used, sachets with significant stress-relieving effects elicited higher satisfaction than the control. The study conclusions suggest that TCM aromatherapy can effectively relieve stress and that TCM herbal sachets can relieve stress quickly and conveniently.

Key Words: Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) aromatherapy, Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) herbal sachet, stress