The Effect of Combined Music Therapy and Lavender Aromatherapy on Brain Activity and Anxiety Reduction During Pregnancy: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Pregnancy is associated with significant physiological and psychological changes that can lead to anxiety and, consequently, complications for both the mother and the fetus. This systematic review aims to determine the impact of the combination of music therapy and lavender aromatherapy on brain activity and anxiety reduction during pregnancy. Search Strategy: This study is a systematic review that involved searching databases such as Google Scholar, Elmnet, Scientific Information Database, Magiran, PubMed, and Science Direct using keywords including pregnancy, Music Therapy, Aromatherapy, Lavender, and Anxiety from ۲۰۰۰ to ۲۰۲۴. From all retrieved articles, ۲۶ papers were selected based on the research objective. Articles that were inaccessible or irrelevant were excluded, resulting in a final evaluation of ۱۲ articles. Results: Based on the studies conducted, the complementary approaches of music therapy and aromatherapy are effective non-pharmacological interventions for managing anxiety during pregnancy, activating distinct neural mechanisms for anxiety reduction. Music stimulates neural networks related to reward, emotions, and memory, which can increase serotonin and dopamine levels while reducing cortisol secretion. Conversely, aromatherapy influences the limbic system through olfactory receptors, regulating neural activity in areas associated with emotions and autonomic responses. Active compounds in lavender essential oil, such as linalool and linalyl acetate, interact with GABA and serotonin receptors, providing calming and anxiolytic effects. Studies have shown that the simultaneous use of music and aromatherapy can have synergistic effects, leading to significant anxiety reduction, mood improvement, and increased feelings of relaxation. This is particularly beneficial for women in early labor or in the third trimester, potentially transforming high anxiety levels into mild or no anxiety. Conclusion and Discussion: To promote the use of music therapy and aromatherapy in prenatal care, comprehensive training for midwives and obstetric specialists is essential. Additionally, further research is necessary to better understand the mechanisms of action and optimize these methods.

کلیدواژه ها:

Pregnancy ، Music Therapy ، Aromatherapy ، Lavender ، Anxiety