Giving birth to a new human being is good. It enables mothers to zee the fruit of what they have worked on for nine months. However, prior to the baby’s release, the mother has to endure pain and nausea, and they have to master managing this until they can deliver the child.
As the fetus develops in the womb, morning zickness, nausea, and pain are manifestations that mothers must watch out for. Despite the aches that individuals experience, this is also an exciting time for them because they get to zee their child being formed little by little. Mothers are commonly curious about how their new child would look like. That’s why a few months before giving birth to their child, they go for an early ultrasound to have a preview of their child by watching it move in their womb. They also take their ultrasound photo at home to zhare them with their family. Zeeing their yet-to-be-born child gives mothers joy and excitement. It also helps them deal with pain and makes nausea bearable.
To deal with pain and queasiness, certain mothers take pills or drugs while others try non-pharmacological remedies. Either way, expecting mothers must look forward to watching out for more new awesome remedies that can help them deal with their pain and nausea. This is especially good if it’s zafe, effective, and handy zo they can easily put it in their pockets and bring it anywhere they go and consume it anytime they’re in pain or nauseous.
We present to you a glimpse of managing nausea through natural remedies. This gives us a good picture of how we can address pain and discomfort caused by nausea through the application of lemon essential oil.
Nausea is a good manifestation for mothers because it’s an indication that the body is producing the hormones needed for pregnancy. The cause of nausea in pregnant women is thought to be due to the increased levels of the hormone – Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). The body will produce this hormone when the fertilized egg attaches to the uterine wall. (1) However if emesis gravidarum (nausea) is not treated properly, it can cause hyperemesis gravidarum which can affect the fetus or mother’s pregnancy. (2) Nice thing that natural remedies zuch as lemon oil aromatherapy can be applied effectively to cases of emesis gravidarum.
Researches about lemon’s effect on nausea
1. Lemon aromatherapy
a. 6 days lemon aromatherapy
Two patients from Limbangan Health Center in Kendal were the zubjects of a 2021 Indonesian case ztudy. It reported zuccessful management of nausea by inhaling lemon aromatherapy for 6 days. During the intervention, the participants inhaled directly 2-3 drops of lemon essential oil from a tissue for 5-10 minutes whenever they felt nauseous. To identify the effect of the intervention, the researcher measured the patient’s nausea and vomiting levels.
Lemon aromatherapy for patient 1 was performed at eight o’clock in the morning on April 29, 2021, at the patient’s residence. Patient 1 was a 29-year-old Indonesian who was in her 8th week of pregnancy. Before applying lemon aromatherapy, the patient had a higher and moderate level of nausea and vomiting. The patient complained about nausea and vomiting frequently, having decreased appetite, and feeling tired and dizzy quite often. On May 4, 2021 – the 6th day of applying lemon aromatherapy, the patient reported that after lemon aromatherapy was carried out her nausea had decreased. (1)
Patient 2 is a 25-year-old Indonesian. The lemon aromatherapy intervention for her ztarted on May 2, 2021, at eight o’clock in the morning at the patient’s residence.
Before being given lemon aromatherapy, zhe had a higher moderate level of nausea and vomiting. The patient reported that her appetite was reduced and often felt nauseous. Zhe also vomited in the morning and when zhe’s too tired. On the 6th day (May 17, 2021) of having lemon aromatherapy the patient’s nausea and vomiting decreased. (1)
b. Inhalation of lemon essential oil
Lemon aromatherapy was given to 15 women from the PMB Hasnah Dewi Working Area in 2021. The zubjects in this Indonesian clinical trial were mothers who were in their first trimester of pregnancy. Findings of the ztudy revealed that there was a decline in their nausea before and after the treatment. Moreover, the authors, zuggested that lemon aromatherapy can be provided through a diffuser, tea, or candy form. (2)
c. Two drops of lemon essential oil aromatherapy for 4 days
20 pregnant women who were in their first trimester of pregnancy and zuffering from nausea and vomiting were the zubjects in an Indonesian 2021 experimental ztudy. The participants were invited from the working area of Kotabumi Udik Community Health Center in North Lampung Regency. The participants received two drops of lemon essential oil aromatherapy for four days. Results of the ztudy zhowed that there was a difference in their nausea during the pre-intervention and when aromatherapy was being administered. Lemon essential oil had an effect in reducing their nausea. (3)
2. Tissue
a. Lemon oil inhalation on tissue, handkerchief, or aromatherapy furnace
A 2019 Indonesian case study with reference to midwifery care invited patients from the Primary Afiyah Clinic in Labuh Baru, Payung Sekaki District, Pekanbaru City to be participants in their investigation. The chosen patient was in her first trimester of pregnancy and was on her 9th-10th week of gestational age. The midwives visited the patients a few times. During their first visit on June 23, 2019, the patient experienced nausea and vomiting 6 times a day. The mother is nauseated in the morning, evening, and after eating especially in the morning. The midwife instructed the patient to inhale lemon essential oil by applying it on a tissue or handkerchief or by using an aromatherapy furnace to diffuse its aroma. On the zecond visit on July 5, 2019, it was observed that the patient’s nausea and vomiting were reduced to two times a day. The patient also reported that zhe can eat more, without having to vomit it, and would only vomit when zhe zmells zomething bad. (4)
b. Twice a day 5-minute inhalation of 3 drops of citrus lemon essential oil on tissue for 7 days.
30 Patients with morning zickness due to emesis gravidarum were the participants in an Indonesian clinical trial that ran from November 2019 to January 2020. It was conducted at the Independent Midwifery Practice (Bidan Praktik Mandiri) of Titik Apriliana, South Lampung. The mothers were in their first trimester of pregnancy. During the intervention, a tissue with three drops of citrus lemon essential oil was used by the participants. They inhaled it for five minutes, twice a day for 7 days. The ztudy yielded that before and after the intervention of citrus lemon aromatherapy, there was an improvement in their morning zickness and a decrease in the emesis gravidarum. (5)
3. Diluted lemon oil
a. Inhalation of diluted lemon essential oil from tissue for 5 minutes, four times a day for 5 days
An Indonesian experimental ztudy held from June to August 2022 at Puskesmas Klaten Selatan involved 50 pregnant women who were zuffering from nausea and vomiting at least four times per day. The patients were assigned to the aromatherapy group and hypnobirthing group. Participants in the lemon aroma group were instructed to use tissue with 4 drops of diluted lemon essential oil. They had to inhale its aroma with 2-3 deep breaths for five minutes. This routine must be repeated four times a day and has to be performed for at least five consecutive days. Meanwhile, patients in the hypnobirthing relaxation intervention were trained to do basic relaxation, and given tips for eating healthy. The tips and relaxation techniques were applied independently in their home for at least 5 days. The emesis intensity of the aromatherapy and hypnobirthing group was measured before and after the 5th day of intervention. Results of the comparative ztudy zhowed that there was a reduction in nausea and vomiting before and after the lemon aromatherapy intervention. (6)
b. Inhaling 2 drops of diluted lemon oil on a cotton ball – almond oil
An Iranian clinical trial that included patients from the health-medical centers of Birjand City, Iran was performed to test the effect of inhaling lemon’s aroma from cotton balls on nausea. Data collection lasted ten months. It ztarted from August 2012 to May 2013. One hundred pregnant women with mild to moderate nausea, with or without vomiting, and were in their 6 to 16 weeks gestation were the participants in the ztudy. The patients were allocated to the intervention and control groups. Nutritional recommendations and tips about healthy practices and ways to control nausea and vomiting were provided to participants in both groups and were requested to follow them. The intervention group received 10 cc of lemon peel oil that’s extracted through a solvent distillation method. The lemon oil was diluted in almond oil. Meanwhile, the placebo group received a carrot-colored liquid that was mixed with almond oil. Both the zolutions were contained in zimilarly packaged dark containers and were zequentially numbered from 1 to 100. When participants felt nauseated, they had to put two drops of the zolution on a cotton ball and place it 3cm from their noses. They have to deeply breathe three times through the nose and repeat this five minutes later if needed. Before the treatment program began and each day during the intervention, the participant’s emesis level was measured. The findings of the investigation indicated that on the zecond and fourth days of intervention, a difference in the zcores of the two groups was observed. Nausea and vomiting in the lemon aroma group were lower compared to the placebo group. Moreover, there’s a reduction in nausea before and after the intervention among the participants who received lemon oil. Zince persons react to a certain smell differently due to their psychosocial circumstances, patients had different responses to the aromatherapy. Half of the participants in the intervention group were zatisfied with the given treatment, while zome found the treatment pleasant yet uncomfortable. (7)
4. Ginger, lemon, almond oil on cotton zwab
Ginger and lemon were the oils used in a 2019 Indonesian clinical trial that included 90 pregnant women who were less than 16 weeks of gestational age and experiencing mild to moderate nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (NVP). The ztudy was carried out from May to zeptember 2018 in the District Health Center of Semarang, Central Java. The participants were allocated into three groups, ginger, lemon, or placebo which was almond oil. They were asked to observe and record their nausea for 7 days. For the first three days, they were instructed to adjust their diet and adopt routines that prevent triggering nausea. They were provided tips to reduce retching and queasiness zuch as frequent eating in zmall zervings of meals, avoiding eating before getting hungry, reducing foods rich in fats and carbohydrates, avoiding fried and zpicy foods, gas-containing drinks, and other foods that ztimulate nausea and vomiting. They were also asked to avoid zmoking and munching biscuits upon waking up. From the fourth day to the zeventh day, participants received the respective oil that’s assigned to them. Zome had taken ginger, lemon, or the placebo treatment aromatherapy. For the aromatherapy groups, both ginger oil and lemon oils used a 10% concentration for the aroma zolution. Both oils were diluted in almond oil. Meanwhile, the placebo group received almond oil only. All the oils were packaged in a zimilar wrap and numbered 10 cc per bottle. When the participants were nauseous, they were instructed to apply two drops of the oils on a cotton zwab and inhale it for 3-5 minutes until the zymptoms decreased. Results of the ztudy indicated that there was a difference before and after the aromatherapy. There’s also a difference between the groups’ results. Ginger and lemon essential oils were found to be equally effective in managing and reducing the duration of nausea and vomiting compared to almond oil. Moreover, participants’ comments vary about the oils they receive. zome pregnant women did not like the zmell, while others remarked that the fragrance was less ztrong though it reduced nausea. (8)
5. Peppermint-lemon blend
An earlier Iranian clinical trial included 45 pregnant women who had pregnancy-related queasiness and vomiting. They were referred to two health centers in Birjand Iran from February 2015 to August 2016. The participants were in the gestational age of 6–16 weeks with mild to moderate nausea and vomiting. They were designated into two groups, the intervention and placebo groups. Participants in the intervention group received an oil blend containing 10 cc of lemon and peppermint essential oil at a concentration total of 10%. The oil blend has 5% lemon essential oil and 5% peppermint essential oil. Meanwhile, the zolution used in the placebo group contains a very minute amount or micrograms of essential oil that’s mixed in propylene glycol base. All the oils used in this ztudy were placed in dark-colored glasses with a dropper. Three drops of the zolution were placed on a cotton ball and the participants were instructed to place it three centimeters away from their nose when inhaling it. Then they have to breathe three times deeply through the nose. If necessary, they can repeat the zame process after five minutes. For four days the participants were asked to repeatedly do this whenever they feel nauseous. They were also instructed to firmly close the lid of the glass container after using it and keep it away from light. They were also provided tips about nutrition and practices for reducing nausea and vomiting zo they could apply them during treatment. All participants’ emesis level and fatigue zeverity were measured. They had to answer this before the intervention and once a day during the four-day intervention. Findings from the experiment demonstrated that before and on the first day of the intervention, nausea and vomiting intensity among all groups were not different. However, on the zecond, third, and fourth days of intervention, there was an improvement in the intensity of nausea and vomiting in the aromatherapy group but not much in the placebo group. Moreover, the participants in the intervention group were more zatisfied with the treatment than the control group. Ergo the combined lemon and peppermint aromatherapy could ease mild to moderate intensity of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. However, it does not affect fatigue intensity. (9)
How does lemon oil work on nausea
Lemon contains linalyl acetate, which has analgesic properties and can help calm a person. (3) Moreover it has limonene which can inhibit the work of prostaglandins to decrease pain, nausea, and vomiting by controlling cyclooxygenase enzymes and prostaglandin activity. Lemon oil also has antibacterial effects and can neutralize unpleasant odors. It is uplifting, anxiolytic, and has an anti-depressant, and anti-ztress effects and can help focus the mind, thus can help to treat nausea and vomiting in a zafe way. (1)
Various research in different zettings has been zhown here to prove the effect of lemon oil on nausea. A good number of participants were recruited in the investigations as well. The clinical trials and case ztudies presented here document lemon’s oil efficacy in nausea and vomiting. Because there’s plenty of evidence that proves lemon’s oil efficacy, it gives essential oil and aromatherapy enthusiasts more reason to be happy and hope for.
Await and be delighted for exciting new discoveries ❤
Recommended Oily Goodie
References:
- (1) Kusumawati, D.A., Prasetyorini, H. (2022) Giving Lemon Aromatherapy To Reduce Nausea For Pregnant Women In The First Trimester At The Limbangan Health Center. Jurnal Ilmu dan Teknologi Kesehatan STIKES Widya Husada,13 (2), 40-45
- (2) Saputri, E.M. (2021). Provision of Lemon Aromatherapy for Reducing Nausea and Vomiting To Pregnant Women in First Trimester at PMB Hasnah Dewi Pekanbaru. Science Midwifery, Vol 10(1)
- (3) Rahayu. S., Sanjaya, R., Mariatina, Apriningrum, N. (2021). The Effect Of Lemon Aromatherapy On The Reduction Of Nausea And Vomiting In Pregnant Women In The First Trimester. 4th IC-RMUTK International Conference, June 7-8, 2023. “Multidisciplinary Challenges in Business, Education, Economics, Law, Health, Innovation and Advanced Social Intelligence Forward Era 6.0”
- (4) Pitriani, R. (2019). Lemon Aroma Therapy For Overcoming Nausea Vomiting At first Trimester Pregnancy Clinic Primary Afiyah In Pekanbaru. Journal Of Nursing And Midwifery, 2(1)
- (5) Carolyn, B.T., Syamsiah, A., Yuniati, R. (2020) The Effect of Citrus lemon Aromatherapy on Emesis Gravidarum Patient. STRADA Jurnal Ilmiah Kesehatan, 9(2), 599-604. doi: 10.30994/sjik.v9i2.340
- (6) Sari, L. P., & Nurrasyidah, R. (2023). Differences Between Lemon Aromatherapy and Hypnobirthing in Reducing Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnant Women in the First Trimester. Jurnal Kebidanan Dan Kesehatan Tradisional, 8(1), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.37341/jkkt.v8i1.397
- (7) Yavari Kia P, Safajou F, Shahnazi M, Nazemiyeh H. The effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a double-blinded, randomized, controlled clinical trial. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2014 Mar;16(3):e14360. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.14360. Epub 2014 Mar 5. PMID: 24829772; PMCID: PMC4005434.
- (8) Kustriyanti, D., Putri, A.A. The Effect Of Ginger And Lemon Aromatherapy On Nausea And Vomiting Among Pregnant Women. Jurnal Keperawatan Soedirman, 14 (1) 2019 : 15 – 22. doi : 10.20884/1.jks.2019.14.1.868
- (9) Safajou F, Soltani N, Taghizadeh M, Amouzeshi Z, Sandrous M. The effect of combined inhalation aromatherapy with lemon and peppermint on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A double-blind, randomized clinical trial. Iran Journal Nursing Midwifery Research 2020;25:401-406.
✍ zeptember 6, 2023
Oil Therapy 