Abstract | OBJECTIVE: DESIGN: The study was a randomized placebo-controlled trial. SUBJECTS: The subjects were 67 female college students who rated their menstrual cramps to be greater than 6 on a 10-point visual analogue scale, who had no systemic or reproductive diseases, and who did not use contraceptive drugs. INTERVENTION: Subjects were randomized into three groups: (1) an experimental group (n = 25) who received aromatherapy, (2) a placebo group (n = 20), and (3) a control group (n = 22). Aromatherapy was applied topically to the experimental group in the form of an abdominal massage using two drops of lavender (Lavandula officinalis), one drop of clary sage (Salvia sclarea), and one drop of rose (Rosa centifolia) in 5 cc of almond oil. The placebo group received the same treatment but with almond oil only, and the control group received no treatment. OUTCOME MEASURES: The menstrual cramps levels was assessed using a visual analogue scale and severity of dysmenorrhea was measured with a verbal multidimensional scoring system. RESULTS: The menstrual cramps were significantly lowered in the aromatherapy group than in the other two groups at both post-test time points (first and second day of menstruation after treatment). From the multiple regression aromatherapy was found to be associated with the changes in menstrual cramp levels (first day: Beta = -2.48, 95% CI: -3.68 to -1.29, p < 0.001; second day: Beta = -1.97, 95% CI: -3.66 to -0.29, p = 0.02 and the severity of dysmenorrhea (first day: Beta = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.57, p = 0.02; second day: Beta = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.56, p = 0.006) than that found in the other two groups. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Sun-Hee Han, Myung-Haeng Hur, Jane Buckle, Jeeyae Choi, Myeong Soo Lee |
Journal | Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.)
(J Altern Complement Med)
2006 Jul-Aug
Vol. 12
Issue 6
Pg. 535-41
ISSN: 1075-5535 [Print] United States |
PMID | 16884344
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aromatherapy
(methods)
- Confidence Intervals
- Double-Blind Method
- Dysmenorrhea
(prevention & control, therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Odds Ratio
- Pain Measurement
- Patient Selection
- Treatment Outcome
- Women's Health
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