Aromatherapy abdominal massage 7 days before menstruation
The use of cinnamon and lavender in combination with aromatherapy massage for pain relief caused by dysmenorrhea has been investigated in a 2015 clinical trial. 100 medical sciences student of Iranshahr University with primary dysmenorrhea had been enrolled in this study. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with an abdominal aromatherapy massage using cinnamon and lavender essential oil with almond oil as a base. The intervention was performed seven days before the participants’ menstruation. It was done every day, once a day. Meanwhile, the second group received the placebo oil which was almond oil. (1)
To identify the effectivity of the oils and aromatherapy massage on pain severity, the pre-intervention cycle and two cycles post-intervention were compared. Results of the study showed that there was a pain reduction in the two cycles after interventions in both groups. Interestingly, the pain reduction was more in the group that received abdominal aromatherapy massage with cinnamon and lavender oil that’s diluted with sweet almond oil. Thus proving that the above-mentioned oils in combination with aromatherapy massage can help in alleviating pain caused by dysmenorrhea. (1)
Abdominal massage with blended oils in cream from last date of their menstruation to the beginning of their next menstruation
The influence on menstrual cramps of lavender (Lavandula officinalis), clary sage (Salvia sclarea), and marjoram (Origanum majorana) mixed in cream was verified from the yielded result of the randomized clinical trial conducted in 2012. (2)
48 patients that were diagnosed with primary dysmenorrhea were recruited to participate in the study. The respondents were designated into two groups, namely, the essential oil group and the synthetic fragrance group. The essential oil group was instructed to apply a cream containing the oils lavender, clary sage, and marjoram with an oil ratio of 2:1:1. The blended oils were then incorporated in an unscented cream at 3% concentration. The essential oil volunteers were instructed to use the oil with cream every day while massaging their lower abdomen. This has to be done from the last date of their menstruation to the beginning of their next menstruation. Meanwhile, the other group took the synthetic fragrance. (2)
The findings demonstrated that after one menstrual cycle intervention, the pain duration of the patients in the essential oil group was reduced from 2.4 to 1.8 days. The researchers have concluded that the efficacy of the blended oil was due to their analgesic constituents such as linalyl acetate, linalool, eucalyptol, and β-caryophyllene. (2)
References:
- (1) Salehian T. Safdari DF. The effect of aromatherapy abdominal massage on alleviating primary dysmenorrhea in students. Iranian Journal of Nursing Research. 2015;9(4):29–35.
- (2) Ou, M. C., Hsu, T. F., Lai, A. C., Lin, Y. T., & Lin, C. C. (2012). Pain relief assessment by aromatic essential oil massage on outpatients with primary dysmenorrhea: a randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The journal of obstetrics and gynecology research, 38(5), 817–822. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1447-0756.2011.01802.x
Oil Therapy 