過多的壓力反應會導致各類疾病的產生，市面雖有精油舒壓化粧品，但鮮少有研究證實其安全性及有效性。本研究利用心率變異率，檢測壓力指數，探討數種植物性精油之舒壓效果，測試材料包括：快樂鼠尾草、檸檬、薄荷、藍桉尤加利、薰衣草、馬鞭草、迷迭香及檸檬草等精油，結果顯示檸檬精油能顯著降低壓力指數，其他精油方面，馬鞭草、快樂鼠尾草、檸檬草及迷迭香等雖然在使用後，壓力指數有下降但未達顯著意義。將具有舒壓效能的快樂鼠尾草、檸檬及薄荷精油等，配製成複方精油並添加於身體乳液、沐浴乳、按摩油及芳香噴霧等，再利用溫度循環檢測、皮膚刺激性檢測及心率變異率分析等方法評估舒壓精油產品之穩定性、安全性及有效性。結果顯示在舒壓效能上，精油產品能有效降低受試者主觀壓力指數，及心率變異率中的壓力指數也呈現下降的趨勢。本論文使用添加檸檬、快樂鼠尾草及薄荷之複方精油產品，研究顯示其為是一種方便、安全及有效的舒壓方式，在使用後可以有效減少使用者自我壓力感受，適合現代忙碌的社會人所使用。過多的壓力反應會導致各類疾病的產生。因此有效舒解壓力能避免疾病的發生。 Stress overload may induce many mental and physical illnesses. Although many different essential oil-based products for stress relief have hit the market, there are very few studies that assess their stability, safety and effects. This research tested the stress relief effects of several essential oils, including Clary sage, Lemon, Peppermint, Eucalyptus globulus, lavender, Verbena officinalis, Rosemary and Lemongrass oil through the use of heart rate variability instruments. The results showed that the lemon essential oil has significant stress relief effect. Other essential oils such as Clary sage, Rosemary and Lemongrass oil also showed they have the trend to decrease PSI in the HRV test. Then the researcher tried to develop a series of new essential oil-based cosmetic products that contain Clary sage, Lemon and Peppermint oil. The stability, safety and stress relief effects of these products were evaluated by heat tolerance test, skin irritation test as well as heart rate variability test. The results showed our products proved significant decrease in perceived stress scores of subjects participating in this research after applying essential oil products. The PSI scores of the HRV test also showed mild decrease. This study indicates that the use of essential oil-based cosmetic products is an effective, safe and convenient method for stress relief, especially in the busy society. Stress overload may induce a lot of diseases, so stress relief is able to prevent these diseases.
