THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CITRONELLA (Cymbopogon nadrus) AROMATHERAPY ON BLOOD PRESSURE IN THE ELDERLY IN KARET, PLERET, BANTUL

The elderly have hypertension due to an increase in arterial pressure. Hypertension that is not treated properly can cause complications such as stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, kidney failure and blindness. One of the non-pharmacological treatments for citronella aromatherapy. Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) contains monoterpene alcohol linalool geraniol, which function analgesics, calm balance stimulation, a vasodilator effect. Treatment at research site still limited administering drugs (pharmacological therapy). provision therapy treat has been carried out This study aimed determine differences effectiveness aromatherapy on blood pressure hypertensive older people Karet, Pleret, Bantul. used Quasy experimental pre-post without control group design method. In addition, researcher bivariate Wilcoxon signed-rank test. results obtained are p-value 0.00, meaning there significant difference mean value before after intervention was given. Therefore, it hoped this be reference reduce who hypertension.
 Keywords: Aromatherapy; Blood Pressure; Elderly