Formulation and evaluation of herbal anti-stress nasal inhaler

Stress is a major health concern in today’s fast-moving and competitive lifestyle, affecting both physical and mental well-being. Continuous stress may lead to anxiety, depression, insomnia, headache, fatigue, reduced concentration, and other psychological disorders. Although synthetic medications are commonly used for stress management, prolonged use of these drugs may produce side effects such as drowsiness, dependency, and reduced mental alertness. Therefore, there is an increasing demand for safe, natural, and effective herbal alternatives for stress relief. Aromatherapy is one of the most widely accepted natural therapies that utilize essential oils extracted from medicinal plants to promote relaxation, improve mood, and reduce stress through inhalation. The present study focuses on the formulation of an herbal aromatherapy inhaler for stress relief using essential oils of sweet orange, rosemary, peppermint, and tulsi. These selected herbal oils possess significant therapeutic properties that contribute to mental relaxation and emotional balance. Sweet orange essential oil is known for its anxiolytic and uplifting effects that help prevent nervous tension and enhance positivity. Rosemary oil enhances mental clarity, concentration, and memory while reducing mental fatigue. Peppermint oil gives a cooling, refreshing, and energizing effect that helps reduce stress, headache, and tiredness. Tulsi (Holy Basil) is a well-known adaptogenic herb that helps the body cope with stress and provides calming and rejuvenating effects. The developed formulation demonstrated pleasant aroma, good stability, easy usability, and satisfactory stress-relieving effects. The synergistic combination of herbal essential Oils showed potential in reducing mental stress, improving mood, and promoting relaxation without causing harmful side effects. Thus, the herbal aromatherapy inhaler can be considered a safe, economical, convenient, and natural alternative to synthetic stress-relief therapies for daily use.