文獻探討 - 香薰按摩對減輕經痛的作用

文獻探討

1. Tyseer M. F. Marzouk et al.
2. Myung-Haeng Hur et al.

多數婦女受經痛困擾。這兩項研究分別探討香薰按摩對減輕經痛的作用.

1.  一項是對比用香薰油按摩和單用杏仁油按摩對埃及女護士學生減輕經痛的效果
   • 芳香療法組月經前七天每日使用肉桂、丁香、玫瑰和薰衣草 (比例是1.5 : 1.5 : 1 : 1) 以甜杏仁油5%稀釋，在腹部接受10 分鐘按摩。而另一組只用杏仁油按摩 
   • 疼痛評估方法：利用一條實際為10cm的直線，一邊標出0 cm代表不痛，另一邊標出 10cm代表非常非常的痛，評估疼痛指數
   • 疼痛評估結果：有加入香薰去按摩的疼痛指數比只用甜杏仁油按摩的明顯降低


2. 另一項篇對比用香薰油按摩和口服止痛藥對韓國女高中生減輕經痛的效果。
   • 芳香療法組使用快樂鼠尾草、馬荷蘭、肉桂、薑、天竺葵(比例是1 : 1 : 0.5 : 1.5 : 1.5) 以甜杏仁油5%稀釋，接受一次 10 分鐘腹部按摩。而另一組只用止痛藥
   • 疼痛評估結果：接受香薰按摩後24小時經痛比無接受的對照群組明顯減輕 

兩份研究報告都顯示香薰治療可以減輕經痛, 而且沒有副作用, 是一種較安全的輔助治療。

Excerpt from Research Articles (Tyseer M. F. Marzouk et al. and Myung-Haeng Hur et al.)
Aromatherapy Abdominal Massage for Alleviating Menstrual Pain 

1. One of the studies compared the alleviating effects of massage using blend of essential oils and sweet almond oil only on menstrual pain in Egyptian nursing students.
   • Aromatherapy group received 10 minutes abdominal massage once daily for seven days prior to menstruation using cinnamon, clove, rose and lavender oils in a 1.5 : 1.5 : 1 : 1 ratio 5% diluted in sweet almond oil. 
   • The placebo group received the same intervention of aromatherapy group with sweet almond oil only. 
   • The level of pain was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS-pain), a simple assessment tool consisting of a 10 cm line with 0 on one end representing no pain, and 10 on the other end representing the worst pain. 
   • Outcome measures were evaluated on the first, second, and third days of menstruation, and the aromatherapy group have significantly lower average VAS-pain over all 3 day as compared to the group with sweet almond oil only 


2. The other study compared the alleviating effects of aromatherapy massage and acetaminophen (oral analgesic widely used for managing pain) on menstrual pain in Korean high school girls. 
• The aromatherapy massage treatment group received one 10 minutes abdominal massage using clary sage, marjoram, cinnamon, ginger, and geranium in a 1 : 1 : 0.5 : 1.5 : 1.5 ratio, 5% diluted in almond oil 
• The outcomes were measured before intervention and twenty-four hours afterwards with a VAS and the aromatherapy group showed greater reduction of pain after 24 hours as compared with the control group taken acetaminophen. 

Primary dysmenorrhea is one of the most common gynecologic disorders affecting majority of menstruating women, a cramping pain in the lower abdomen occurring just before or during menstruation, when pelvic examination and ovulatory function are normal. The pain is believed as the result of excessive prostaglandin release which causes vasoconstriction of uterine blood vessels and increases uterine smooth muscle contraction. It can be relieved by increased blood circulation and antispasmodics.

Aromatherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils derived from plants which can be absorbed into the body via the skin or the olfactory system. Topically applied diluted essential oils in combination with abdominal massage may be beneficial in improving blood circulation and reduces the spasms. When essential oils are inhaled, olfactory receptor cells are stimulated and the impulses are transmitted to the emotional centre of the brain, or “limbic system.” This may be effective in helping to alleviate menstrual pain.

There is no side effects reported, aromatherapy can be regarded as a safe and effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhea.