Guerrero-Rodríguez et al. (2026)
claro potencial para inducir un estado de relajación, atenuando las respuestas orgánicas
asociadas al estrés y ayudando a que los signos vitales del bebé se mantengan dentro de rangos
más equilibrados y armónicos. No obstante, al mirar esta evidencia con responsabilidad y rigor
profesional, nos encontramos con una realidad ineludible: la gran mayoría de las investigaciones
publicadas hasta el momento han sido realizadas en adultos, en niños de mayor edad o en
entornos experimentales de laboratorio. Por lo tanto, los datos específicos y contundentes
enfocados exclusivamente en la población neonatal son todavía escasos. En conclusión, la
aromaterapia con toronjil se perfila como un valioso abrazo aromático y una herramienta
coadyuvante capaz de enriquecer la atención del recién nacido, brindando confort en momentos
vulnerables. Sin embargo, para que esta práctica se consolide con total confianza en los entornos
clínicos, debe implementarse siempre bajo protocolos institucionales estrictos, con
concentraciones seguras y bajo la supervisión directa del equipo de enfermería. Para dar pasos
firmes hacia el futuro y proteger la vida que apenas comienza, es indispensable continuar
promoviendo ensayos clínicos con un rigor metodológico impecable que certifiquen sin lugar a
dudas tanto la eficacia como la absoluta seguridad de esta terapia en los más pequeños.
Palabras claves: Aromaterapia, toronjil, neonato, estabilidad fisiológica, signos vitales, estrés
neonatal, cuidado de enfermería.
Abstract
When a newborn enters the world, they face the monumental task of adapting to a completely
new environment outside the womb. During this delicate and vital transition, the stability of their
physiological signs acts as a precise compass, indicating how well they are responding to their
new reality. However, for babies who must spend their first days of life in the hospital, the journey
becomes significantly more complex. Bright ward lights, constant alarms, frequent handling, and
various nursing procedures—however necessary and carefully performed—inevitably create
stress and overstimulation for their fragile, immature nervous systems. It is precisely here that
warmth and empathy in hospital care take on profound significance. With a focus on the baby's
holistic well-being and the need to alleviate distress without resorting to medication or invasive
interventions, aromatherapy using *Melissa officinalis* (commonly known as lemon balm) has
emerged as a gentle, delicate, and non-pharmacological alternative. The concept of
complementing traditional medical care with soothing sensory stimuli aims to provide the newborn
with an environment where they feel protected, serene, and calm. With the firm aim of exploring
this approach, a comprehensive study was conducted to review and understand the true scope
of the scientific evidence available to date. The primary objective was to meticulously analyze
how lemon balm aromatherapy influences the physiological stability of newborns, paying close
attention to crucial parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation, and
body temperature. To this end, a methodical, descriptive, and documentary search was carried
out across prominent biomedical databases, including PubMed, SciELO, the Virtual Health
Library (BVS), and Google Scholar. Following a rigorous assessment of the quality and relevance
of each study to neonatal care, 24 research papers were selected to form the core of the analysis.
The findings of this review offer a highly promising outlook: the aromas of Melissa officinalis
possess clear potential to induce a state of relaxation, mitigating stress-related physiological
responses and helping to maintain the infant's vital signs within more balanced and harmonious
ranges. However, when examining this evidence with professional responsibility and rigor, we
face an unavoidable reality: the vast majority of research published to date has been conducted
on adults, older children, or in experimental laboratory settings. Consequently, specific, robust
data focusing exclusively on the neonatal population remain scarce. In conclusion, aromatherapy
with lemon balm emerges as a valuable "aromatic embrace" and a complementary tool capable
of enriching neonatal care by providing comfort during vulnerable moments. Nevertheless, for this
practice to be confidently established in clinical settings, it must always be implemented under
strict institutional protocols, using safe concentrations and under the direct supervision of the
nursing team. To move forward decisively and protect life at its very beginning, it is essential to
continue promoting clinical trials of impeccable methodological rigor that can confirm, beyond
doubt, both the efficacy and the absolute safety of this therapy for the youngest patients.
Keywords: Aromatherapy, lemon balm, neonate, physiological stability, vital signs, neonatal
stress, nursing care.