Author(s):

Teresa DeGolier and Samuel Adamson

Abstract: Salvia sclarea, commonly known as clary sage, is a plant native to the Mediterranean basin. Essential oils from clary sage are highly aromatic and have been used in aromatherapy during labor, /*with the goal of reducing stress and anxiety, and increasing in uterine contractility. While there is growing evidence to suggest that some of the essential oils (linalyl acetate, linalool, α-terpineol) may be effective in the reduction of anxiety, other studies have shown that these same oils do not contract smooth muscle in vitro. It remains to be empirically determined whether other clary sage constituents can contract the uterus. The specific objective of this project was to determine whether an aqueous extract of clary sage had the ability to contract smooth muscle from isolated uterine tissues. Results showed that clary sage produced contractile responses at almost all concentrations applied and these were greater than the tissue’s own spontaneous motility (P< 0.0001). It is proposed that the amphipathic triterpenoid saponins, contained within the applied extract, are involved with the muscle contractions, and that the hydrophobic essentials oils involved are in the anxiolytic effects. Together, they provide some evidence that clary sage aromatherapy during labor can potentially allow the birthing process itself to be less impeded.

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