Investigating the effect of rose essential oil in patients with primary dysmenorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rose essential oil on primary dysmenorrhea. METHODS: One hundred patients were randomly divided into two groups; Group D received diclofenac sodium (75 mg/im) and Group A administered diclofenac sodium with aromatherapy (2% rose essential oil). The visual analog scale (VAS) scores in all subjects at baseline, 10th min, and 30th min were recorded. RESULTS: When the two groups were compared before and after the treatment, there were significant decreases in VAS values at the 10 min and 30 min compared to baseline values in both groups (p < 0.001). However, the 30th min mean VAS value in Group D was higher than in Group A (p = 0.019). CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that aromatherapy with rose essential oil, which is a nonpharmacologic treatment method, as an adjuvant to conventional treatment methods may be beneficial for pain relief in individuals with primary dysmenorrhea.

The Effect of Lavender Oil in Patients with Renal Colic: A Prospective Controlled Study Using Objective and Subjective Outcome Measurements.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usability of lavender oil as an adjuvant in the medical treatment of pain due to renal stones. METHODS: One hundred patients age 19-64 years diagnosed with renal colic were included in the study. Group 1 (n=50) received standard medical therapy (diclofenac sodium, 75 mg intramuscularly); group 2 (n=50) received aromatherapy (lavender oil) in addition to the standard medical treatment. In both groups, the severity of the pain was graded between 0 (no pain) and 10 (severe pain) by using the visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: The VAS values at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes in group 1 were 7.70±1.61, 5.02±2.20, and 2.89±1.96, respectively; in group 2, the values were 7.83±2.02, 4.42±2.46, and 2.20±1.74, respectively. The VAS values for the male patients in group 1 at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes were 7.61±1.47, 4.80±2.00, and 2.67±1.74; in the female patients, the values were 7.81±1.80, 5.40±2.41, and 3.72±1.94. For the male patients in group 2, the VAS values at the beginning and at 10 and 30 minutes were 8.25±2.01, 4.93±2.72, and 2.96±1.90, respectively; for the female patients, the values were 7.52±1.94, 4.15±1.95, and 1.21±0.91, respectively. Results are presented as mean±SD. Although there was no significant difference between the VAS values at the beginning and at 10 minutes in both groups, the VAS values at 30 minutes in the group receiving aromatherapy plus conventional treatment were statistically significantly low. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the use of aromatherapy, which is a nonpharmacologic treatment method, as an adjuvant to conventional treatment methods will help decrease pain, particularly in female patients.