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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2021; 43(12): 968-979
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740210
Review Article

The Effect of Aromatherapy Alone or in Combination with Massage on Dysmenorrhea: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

O efeito da aromaterapia sozinha ou em combinação com massagem na dismenorreia: Uma revisão sistemática e meta-análise
Mona Najaf Najafi 
1   Clinical Research Development Unit, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran
,
Neshat Najaf Najafi 
2   Clinical Research Development Unit, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Imam Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran
,
Farzaneh Rashidi Fakari 
3   Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, School of Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
,
Somayeh Moeindarbary 
4   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Neonatal and Maternal Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
,
Fatemeh Abdi 
5   School of Nursing and Midwifery, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
,
Zeinab Sadat Hoseini 
6   Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran
,
Masumeh Ghazanfarpour 
7   Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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Abstract

Objective The aim of the present systematic review meta-analysis is to assess the effect of olfactory stimulation on reducing dysmenorrhea.

Methods Systematic search was conducted in several databases, such as PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus, to identify relevant research up to October 26, 2019. The identified studies were evaluated based on a modified Jadad scale. The intervention involves aromatherapy alone or in combination with essential oils. There was no restriction for the control group such as a placebo group or other common treatments. The Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2 (Bio stat, Englewood, NJ, USA) was used for meta-analysis. Cochran's Q and I2 tests were utilized.

Results The findings of our meta-analysis, which contained 13 trials (15 data), showed that dysmenorrhea decreased significantly in the group receiving aromatherapy with herbal compared with the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.795; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.922 to- 0.667; 17 trials O < 0.001); heterogeneity; I2 = 19.47%; p = 0.236). In addition, four studies with insufficient data were not included in our meta-analysis. The results of all studies suggested that aromatherapy with herbal medicine group compared with control group is effective.

Conclusion Aromatherapy with herbal medicine decreased dysmenorrhea. This treatment was particularly effective when aroma oil was combined with massage or when a mixture of aroma oil was used for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Resumo

Objetivo O objetivo desta revisão sistemática-metanálise é avaliar o efeito da estimulação olfatória na redução da dismenorreia.

Métodos Pesquisa sistemática foi realizada em várias bases de dados, como PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane e Scopus para identificar pesquisas relevantes até 26 de outubro de 2019. Os estudos identificados foram avaliados com base em uma escala de Jadad modificada. A intervenção envolve aromaterapia sozinha ou em combinação com óleos essenciais. Não houve restrição para o grupo de controle, como um grupo de placebo ou outros tratamentos comuns. O Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Version 2 (Bio stat, Englewood, NJ, EUA) foi usado para meta-análise. Os testes Q e I2 de Cochran foram utilizados.

Resultados Os resultados da nossa meta-análise, que continha 13 ensaios (15 dados), mostraram que a dismenorreia diminuiu significativamente no grupo que recebeu aromaterapia com ervas em comparação com o grupo de controle (diferença média padronizada [DMP] = -0,795; intervalo de confiança [IC] de 95%: -0,922 a- 0,667; 17 ensaios O < 0,001); heterogeneidade; I2 = 19,47%; p = 0,236). Além disso, quatro estudos com dados insuficientes não foram incluídos em nossa meta-análise. Os resultados de todos os estudos sugeriram que a aromaterapia com o grupo de fitoterápicos em comparação com o grupo de controle é eficaz.

Conclusão A aromaterapia com fitoterapia diminuiu a dismenorreia. Este tratamento foi particularmente eficaz quando o óleo aromático foi combinado com massagem ou quando uma mistura de óleo aromático foi usada para o tratamento da dismenorreia.

Keywords

dysmenorrhea - herbal medicine - aroma oil - aromatherapy

Palavras-chave

dismenorreia - fitoterapia - óleo de aroma - aromaterapia


Publication History

Received: 05 December 2020

Accepted: 03 September 2021

Article published online:
21 December 2021

© 2021. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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