The Effect of Aromatherapy on Equine Facial Expression, Heart Rate, Respiratory Tidal Volume and Spontaneous Muscle Contractures in M. Temporalis and M. Cleidomastoideus
The ability to calm horses affects both the safety
and well-being of human-horse relationships. However, not many natural
calmatives are known, nor the efficacy of these in supporting a state of
calmness in horses. This study used both qualitative and quantitative methods
to test whether aromatherapy has a measurable and calming effect on equine
facial expression and a range of physiological parameters. Nine horses of
different ages, genders and breeds were included in a crossover design with
humidified essential oils to determine the calming effect of vetiver (Vetiveria
zizanioides), spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi) and roman chamomile
(Anthemis nobilis) in relation to water (negative control) and lavender
oil (positive control) in horses standing still. The results revealed
significantly lowered heart rate (P < 0.05 - <0.001) and respiratory
tidal volume (P < 0.05 - <0.001) for the tested essential oils, while
spikenard oil was best at inducing a relaxed facial expression (60% of the
full-time scale for 8 horses; 75% of the full-time scale for 7 horses) and
roman chamomile oil was statistically most successful at reducing the incidence
of spontaneous muscle contractures in M. Temporalis (P < 0.001) and M.
Cleidomastoideus (P < 0.05) compared to the other aromatherapy treatments.
It is concluded that aromatherapy has both qualitative and quantitative effects
on physiological parameters in static horses, and moreover, that essential oils
appear to have a calming effect.
Moss, M., Howarth, R., Wilkinson, L. and Wesnes, K. (2006) Expectancy and the Aroma of Roman Chamomile Influence Mood and Cognition in Healthy Volunteers. The International Journal of Clinical Aromatherapy, 16, 63-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijat.2006.04.002
[3]
Baldwin, A.L. and Chea, I. (2018) Effect of Aromatherapy on Equine Heart Rate Variability. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 68, 46-50. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2018.05.213
[4]
Ferguson, C.E., Kleinman, H.F. and Browning, J. (2013) Effect of Lavender Aromatherapy on Acute-stressed Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 33, 67-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.04.014
[5]
Heitman, K., Rabquer, B., Heitman, E., Streu, C. and Anderson, P. (2018) The Use of Lavender Aromatherapy to Relieve Stress in Trailered Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, 63, 8-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.12.008
[6]
Pouteraud, A., Guilloteau, L., Gros, C., Lobstein, A., Meziani, S., Steyer, D., Moisan, M., Foury, A. and Lansade, L. (2018) Lavender Essential Oil Decreases Stress Response of Horses. Environmental Chemistry Letters, 16, 539-544. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-017-0681-8
[7]
Lv, X.N., Liu, Z.J., Zhang, H.J. and Tzeng, C.M. (2013) Aromatherapy and the Central Nerve System (CNS): Therapeutic Mechanism and its Associated Genes. Current Drug Targets, 14, 872-879. https://doi.org/10.2174/1389450111314080007
[8]
Tsang, H.W.H., Lo, S.C.L., Chan, C.C.H., Ho, T.Y.C., Fung, K.M.T., Chan, A.H.L. and Au, D.W.H. (2012) Neurophysiological and Behavioural Effects of Lavender Oil in Rats with Experimentally Induced Anxiety. Flavour and Fragrance Journal, 28, 168-173. https://doi.org/10.1002/ffj.3148
[9]
Coelho, L.S., Correa-Netto, N.F., Masukawa, M.Y., Lima, A.C., Maluf, S., Linardi, A. and Santos-Junior, J.G. (2018) Inhaled Lavandula angustifolia Essential Oil Inhibits Consolidation of Contextual—Nut Not Tone-Fear Conditioning in Rats. Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 215, 34-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2017.12.038
[10]
Hawken, P.A.R., Fiol, C. and Blache, D. (2012) Genetic Differences in Temperament Determine whether Lavender Oil Alleviates or Exacerbates Anxiety in Sheep. Physiology & Behavior, 105, 1117-1123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2011.12.005
[11]
Graham, L., Wells, D.L. and Hepper, P.G. (2004) The Influence of Olfactory Stimulation on the Behavior of Dogs Housed in a Rescue Shelter. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 91, 143-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2004.08.024
[12]
Cruz, A.B., Kim, T.H. and Park, S.B. (2011) Effects of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and Peppermint (Mentha cordifolia Opiz.) Odors on Anxiety and Sport Skill Performance. Asia Life Sciences, 20, 323-329.
[13]
Liu, C.-W., Wang, C.-S., Chuang, K.-J., Lo, C.-C. and Chen, C.-T. (2013) Electroencephalographic Study of Essential Oils for Stress Relief. Applied Mechanics and Materials, 43, 1085-1088. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.437.1085
[14]
Kusumawardani, S.R., Fitri, L.L. and Suprijanto (2017) Theta Brainwave Activity as the Response to Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia) Aromatherapy Inhalation of Postgraduate Students with Acasdemic Stress Condition. IOP Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 180, Article ID: 012271. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/180/1/012271
[15]
Tabatabaeichehr, M. and Mortazavi, H. (2020) The Effectiveness of Aromatherapy in the Management of Labor Pain and Anxiety: A Systematic Review. Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences, 30, 449-458. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejhs.v30i3.16
[16]
Bikmoradi, A., Seifi, Z., Bazrafshan, M., Poorolajal, J., Araghchian, M., Kashfi, S.H., Kavi, E. and Jokar, M. (2018) Effect of Inhalation Aromatherapy with Lavender Essential Oil on Pain Severity of Patients after Coronary Artery Bypass surgery: A Single-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 12, LC01-LC05.
[17]
Xu, J., et al. (2015) Vanillin-Induced Amelioration of Depression-Like Behaviors in Rats by Modulating Monoamine Neurotransmitters in the Brain. Psychiatry Research, 225, 509-514. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.056
[18]
Draaisma, R. (2018) Language Signs and Calming Signals of Horses—Recognition and Application. Strous, S., Translator, Taylor & Francis Group, Abingdon-on-Thames. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315265667
[19]
Ladewig, J. (2019) Body Language: Its Importance for Communication with Horses. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 29, 108-110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2018.06.042
[20]
Crowell-Davis, S.L., Houpt, K.A. and Carnevale, J. (1984) Feeding and Drinking Behavior of Mares and Foals with Free Access to Pasture and Water. Journal of Animal Science, 60, 883-889. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas1985.604883x
[21]
Keeling, L.J., Jonare, L. and Lanneborn, L. (2009) Investigating Horse-Human Interactions: The Effect of a Nervous Human. Veterinary Journal, 181, 70-71. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.013
[22]
Houpt, K.A. and Mills, D.S. (2006) Why Horse Behaviour Is Important to the Equine Clinician. Equine Veterinary Journal, 38, 386-387. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406778400538
[23]
Forkman, B., Boissy, A., Meunier-Salaün, M.-C., Canali, E. and Jones, R.B. (2007) A Critical Review of Fear Tests Used on Cattle, Pigs, Sheep, Poultry and Horses. Physiology & Behavior, 92, 340-374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2007.03.016
[24]
Christensen, J.W., Malmkvist, J., Nielsen, B.L. and Keeling, L.J. (2008) Effects of a Calm Companion on Fear Reactions in Naive Test Horses. Equine Veterinary Journal, 40, 46-50. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516408X245171
[25]
Sándor, Z., Mottaghipisheh, J., Veres, K., Hohmann, J., Bencsik, T., Horváth, A., Kelemen, D., Papp, R., Barthó, L. and Csupor, D. (2018) Evidence Supports Tradition: The in Vitro Effects of Roman Chamomile on Smooth Muscles. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 9, 323. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2018.00323
[26]
Semin, G.R., Scandurra, A., Baragli, P., Lanatà, A. and D’Aniello, B. (2019) Inter- and Intra-Species Communication of Emotion: Chemosignals as the Neglected Medium. Animal, 9, 887. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110887
[27]
Smith, A.V., Proops, L., Grounds, K., Wathan, J. and McComb, K. (2015) Functionally Relevant Responses to Human Facial Expressions of Emotion in the Domestic Horse (Equus caballus). Biology Letters, 12, Article ID: 20150907. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2015.0907
[28]
Proops, L. and McComb, K. (2012) Cross-Modal Individual Recognition in Domestic Horses (Equus caballus) Extends to Familiar Humans. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 279, 3131-3138. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0626
[29]
Murphy, J. (2009) Assessing Equine Prospective Memory in a Y-Maze Apparatus. Veterinary Journal, 181, 24-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.03.028
[30]
Tunley, B.V. and Henson, F.M.D. (2004) Reliability and Repeatability of Thermographic Examination and the Normal Thermographic Image of the Thoracolumbar Region in the Horse. Equine Veterinary Journal, 36, 306-312. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044890652