Lavender aromatherapy for rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder: a retrospective case series

Introduction Some patients with rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) remain refractory to pharmacological treatment. Lavender aromatherapy has been reported to improve sleep quality, but its effects on RBD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the potential role of lavender aromatherapy as an adjunctive treatment for RBD. Methods We retrospectively reviewed nine patients with difficult-to-manage RBD who had been informed about lavender aromatherapy as a complementary option. All patients underwent polysomnography (PSG) before the initiation of pharmacological treatment to confirm the diagnosis of RBD. Clinical outcomes were assessed using the Patient Global Impression of Change (PGI-C) scale and follow-up clinical interviews. Results Improvement (i.e., PGI-C score of 1–3) was observed in seven of nine patients (78%). Reported benefits included reduced dream-enactment behaviors and improved sleep quality. Olfactory dysfunction was common, although some patients with impaired olfaction also showed clinical improvement. Conclusion Lavender aromatherapy may serve as a simple adjunctive treatment option for RBD. Further studies are warranted to determine its potential therapeutic role.