Shuo-Fei Chen1, Chia-Hui Wang2, Pi-Tuan Chan3, Hsiu-Wen Chiang3, Tsung-Ming Hu4, Ka-Wai Tam5, El-Wui Loh6. 1. Department of Future Studies and LOHAS Industry, Fo Guang University, Jiaosi, Yilan County, Taiwan. 2. Department of Nursing, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; School of Nursing, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 3. Department of Nursing, En Chu Kong Hospital, Sanxia District, New Taipei City, Taiwan. 4. Yuli Veterans Hospital, Yuli Township, Hualian County, Taiwan. 5. Center for Evidence-Based Health Care, Department of Medical Research, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Shared Decision Making Resource Center, Department of Medical Research, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. 6. Center for Evidence-Based Health Care, Department of Medical Research, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Shared Decision Making Resource Center, Department of Medical Research, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Cochrane Taiwan, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: lohelwui@tmu.edu.tw.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Aromatherapy is a treatment method that applies fragrant extracts from herbal plants, existed long ago in medical history as a major treatment approach and now used as an auxiliary treatment and sometimes a major treatment for pain and stress management, including those that occur in labour. AIM: We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of the effectiveness of aromatherapy on labour pain and duration reduction. METHODS: We searched the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and Clinicaltrials.gov for randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of aromatherapy on labour pain and duration. RESULTS: A total of 17 trials with low-risk labouring women were included for meta-analysis using the Review Manager 5.3. Meta-analyses showed that aromatherapy reduced labour pain in the transition phase and the duration of active phase and third stage labour; a trend toward shortened duration was observed in the second stage. Also, aromatherapy had no influences on emergency caesarean section, membrane rupture, and spontaneous labour onset. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that aromatherapy is effective in reducing labour pain and duration, and generally safe to the mothers. However, due to the heterogeneity across trials in some of the outcomes, further trials with device-based pain measurements, larger sample size, and more stringent design, should be conducted before strong recommendation.
BACKGROUND: Aromatherapy is a treatment method that applies fragrant extracts from herbal plants, existed long ago in medical history as a major treatment approach and now used as an auxiliary treatment and sometimes a major treatment for pain and stress management, including those that occur in labour. AIM: We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials of the effectiveness of aromatherapy on labour pain and duration reduction. METHODS: We searched the Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Google Scholar and Clinicaltrials.gov for randomised controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of aromatherapy on labour pain and duration. RESULTS: A total of 17 trials with low-risk labouring women were included for meta-analysis using the Review Manager 5.3. Meta-analyses showed that aromatherapy reduced labour pain in the transition phase and the duration of active phase and third stage labour; a trend toward shortened duration was observed in the second stage. Also, aromatherapy had no influences on emergency caesarean section, membrane rupture, and spontaneous labour onset. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that aromatherapy is effective in reducing labour pain and duration, and generally safe to the mothers. However, due to the heterogeneity across trials in some of the outcomes, further trials with device-based pain measurements, larger sample size, and more stringent design, should be conducted before strong recommendation.
Authors: P Helmer; T Skazel; M Wenk; C von Kaisenberg; M Abou-Dakn; M Papsdorf; F Abu Hmeidan; S Kehl; P Meybohm; Peter Kranke Journal: Anaesthesist Date: 2021-09-06 Impact factor: 1.041