The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility

The Effect of Lemon aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: A randomized clinical trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Fahimeh Ezzati Arasteh 1
Fatemeh Shobeiri 2
Bayan Mafakheri 1
Younes Mohamadi 3
Parisa Parsa 4
1 M.Sc. in Midwifery Consultation, Student Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
2 Professor, Department of Midwifery, Mother and Child Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics and Epidemiology, Modeling of Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
4 Associate Professor, Department of Midwifery, Chronic Diseases (Home Care) Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
10.22038/ijogi.2019.12852
Abstract
Introduction: Nausea and vomiting are common complaints of women in the first half of the pregnancy. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy significantly affect the quality of life of pregnant women. This study was performed with aim to evaluate the effect of lemon aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy.
Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 88 pregnant women with nausea and vomiting referred to the health centers of Hamadan in 2017. The research tools was demographic questionnaire and pregnancy-unique quantification of emesis and nausea -24 questionnaire. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups of 44 women (lemon and placebo) and received lemon essence and placebo (distilled water) for four days. The severity of nausea and vomiting before and after the study were assessed. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 21) and Chi-square, independent t-test and Repeated Measures analysis. P Results: The groups were homogeneous for demographic information and pregnancy characteristics. After the aromatherapy intervention, the mean total score of nausea and vomiting decreased in the two groups of test and control, but in the experimental group, the mean score of nausea and vomiting significantly decreased over time compared to the control group (P = 0.007).
Conclusion: The lemon essence is effective in reducing the nausea and vomiting of pregnant women, and it can be used as an effective and safe intervention in reducing nausea and vomiting in pregnant women.
Keywords
Nausea and Vomiting
Aromatherapy
Lemon
Pregnancy
  1. Koren G, Maltepe C, Gow R. Therapeutic choices for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: a critical review of a systematic review. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2011; 33(7):733-5.
  2. Cunningham F, Leveno K, Bloom S, Spong C. Williams obstetrics. 24th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2014. P. 227-8.
  3. Soltani A, Kajuri MD, Safavi S, Hosseini F. Frequency and severity of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy and the related factors among pregnant women. Iran J Nurs 2007; 19(48):95-102. (Persian).
  4. Tan A, Lowe S, Henry A. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy: effects on quality of life and day-to-day function. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol 2018; 58(3):278-90.
  5. Shobeiri F, Tehranian N, Nazari M. Amniotomy in labor. Int J Gynecol Obstet 2007; 96(3):197-8.
  6. Saberi F, Sadat Z, Abedzadeh-Kalahroudi M, Taebi M. Effect of ginger on relieving nausea and vomiting in pregnancy: a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Nurs Midwifery Stud 2014; 3(1):e11841. (Persian).
  7. Yazdani S, Bourzoi Z. Evaluating complications of pregnancy in patients with hyperemesis gravidarum. Feyz 2010; 14(4):426-30. (Persian).
  8. Ozgholy G, Gharayagh Zandi M, Nazem Ekbatani N, Allavi H, Moattar F. Cardamom powder effect on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Complement Med J Facul Nurs Midwifery 2015; 5(1):1065-76.
  9. Akbarzadeh M, Shobeiri F, Mahjub H, Ebrahimi R. Investigating the factors influencing the duration of beginning delivery to hospital discharge using cox regression model. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2014; 17:1-9. (Persian).
  10. Khadivzadeh T, Ghabel M. Complementary and alternative medicine use in pregnancy in Mashhad, Iran, 2007-8. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res 2012; 17(4):263.
  11. Ghani RM, Ibrahim AT. The effect of aromatherapy inhalation on nausea and vomiting in early pregnancy: a pilot randomized controlled trial. J Nat Sci Res 2013; 3(6):10-22.
  12. Perry N, Perry E. Aromatherapy in the management of psychiatric disorders. CNS Drugs 2006; 20(4):257-80.
  13. Leggio A, Leotta V, Belsito EL, Di Gioia ML, Romio E, Santoro I, et al. Aromatherapy: composition of the gaseous phase at equilibrium with liquid bergamot essential oil. Chem Cent J 2017; 11(1):111.
  14. 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; 16(3):e14360.
  15. Smith J, Refuerzo J, Ramin S. Treatment and outcome of nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Waltham, MA: UpToDate; 2014.
  16. Jahromi MM, Pasalar M, Afsharypuor S, Choopani R, Mosaddegh M, Kamalinejad M, et al. Preventive care for gastrointestinal disorders; role of herbal medicines in traditional persian medicine. Jundishapur J Nat Pharm Prod 2015; 10(4):e21029.
  17. Khalili Z, Khatiban M, Faradmal J, Abbasi M, Zeraati F, Khazaei A. Effect of cardamom aromas on the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients. Sci J Hamadan Nurs Midwifery Facul 2014; 22(3):64-73.
  18. Nazari SA, Shayan A, Shobeiri F, Tabesh RA. Comparison of the effects of ondansetron, vitamin B6 and ginger rhizome in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy in pregnant women referred to health centers in Hamadan, 2017: a randomized clinical trial. Iran J Obstet Gynecol Infertil 2018; 21(7):29-35. (Persian).
  19. Lane B, Cannella K, Bowen C, Copelan D, Nteff G, Barnes K, et al. Examination of the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy on nausea in women post C-section. J Holist Nurs 2012; 30(2):90-104.
  20. Pasha H, Behmanesh F, Mohsenzadeh F, Hajahmadi M, Moghadamnia AA. Study of the effect of mint oil on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Iran Red Crescent Med J 2012; 14(11):727-30.
  21. Mohammadbeigi R, Shahgeibi S, Soufizadeh N, Rezaiie M, Farhadifar F. Comparing the effects of ginger and metoclopramide on the treatment of pregnancy nausea. Pak J Biol Sci 2011; 14(16):817-20.

The Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility
Volume 22, Issue 1
March 2019
Pages 46-52