The Immediate Effect of Thai Herbal Steam on Heart Rate Variability and Stress

Pongmada  Damapong; Peerada  Damapong; Yaowana  Wongthaijaroen

Pongmada Damapong Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Peerada Damapong Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand
Yaowana Wongthaijaroen Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand

Keywords: The Immediate, Effect, Thai Herbal Steam, Heart Rate Variability, Stress

Abstract

The study evaluated the Immediate Effect of Thai Herbal Steam on Heart Rate Variability and Stress. The research was a Quasi-Experimental Research conducted on patients with stress. The volunteers were evaluated to have level 3 of stress or over. After the diagnosis, 30 participated in the study. The treatment group underwent a herbal steam therapy three times a week for four weeks. Each session lasted 30 minutes comprised of two 15-minute sessions separated by a 5-minute break. Before and following the experiment, the stress levels of the participants in both groups were assessed using an HRV measurement device. The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.
Comparisons of the HRV values before and following the experiment showed significant improvements in the values for the treatment group (P<0.05). In addition, comparisons of the HRV values between the Pretest and Posttest following the experiment revealed statistically greater improvements in the SDNN, RMS-SD, and LF values for the Pretest and Posttest (P<0.05).
The findings demonstrate that herbal steam is likely to be effective in reducing stress in patients, possibly because of its role in increasing the function of the parasympathetic nervous system.