Lumbar Disc Herniation (LDH), which is one of the conditions causing radicular pain and low back pain, develops as the degenerated spinal disc puts pressure on the lumbar spinal root and constricts it1. LDH accounts for a significant part of low back pain cases, and in certain studies, the percentage of adults diagnosed with LDH was found to be 15-56%2,3. The prevalence of low back pain was reported as 15-45%, and low back pain affects approximately 30% of the general population4,5.

Surgery is one of the preferred treatment methods for patients diagnosed with LDH1. Lumbar discectomy is one of the most frequently used surgical procedures for the treatment of LDH, and it is the removal of the herniated disc or disc parts to relieve the pressure on the nerve root6,7. Following LDH surgery, both pain and anxiety become crucial problems for the patient8,9.

Analgesics and anxiolytics are generally used for the prevention of pain and anxiety. However, on account of the side effects of these drugs used in the management of pain and anxiety in the postoperative period, as well as their cost for the country, it is recommended that nurses also use non-pharmaceutical methods to treat pain and discomfort10,11. Today, numerous non-pharmaceutical methods such as relaxation techniques, acupuncture, acupressure, massage, music therapy, hypnosis, biofeedback, aromatherapy, and distraction are used for the management of pain and anxiety in the postoperative period12.

Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils, which are obtained from plants, to relax and control the body and mind12. Peppermint (Mentha Piperita) essential oil is one of the essential oils used in the management of pain and anxiety. Peppermint oil is an aromatic herbal oil with analgesic and tranquilizing effects. The analgesic effect of peppermint stems from its main components such as Carvone, Limonene, and Menthol13. Menthol affects kappa opioid receptors, blocks the transmission of pain signals, and reduces pain. Peppermint also affects the hypothalamus by stimulating olfactory pathways, and it reduces the release of the corticotropin-releasing hormone that lowers the release of cortisol from the adrenal gland, ultimately reducing anxiety14.

In the literature review, it was seen that some studies were conducted to examine the effects of peppermint oil on pain and anxiety levels12, 13, 14. However, no study examining the effects of peppermint oil on pain and anxiety levels in lumbar discectomy patients was found in the literature. This study was conducted as a randomized controlled trial to research the effects of the inhaled administration of peppermint oil after lumbar discectomy surgery on the pain and anxiety levels of patients diagnosed with LDH. Considering the analgesic and tranquilizing effects of peppermint oil, it was assumed that peppermint oil would reduce pain and anxiety levels in this group of patients. Thus, it was aimed to reduce the side effects of drugs normally used in the management of pain and anxiety in the postoperative period, contribute to the country's economy, and if this intervention is made along with drug administration, increase the effect of these drugs on patients.