The Effect of Lemon Inhalation Aromatherapy on Nausea and Vomiting of Pregnancy: Double –Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is one of the most common complaints that effects on both the physical and mental conditions of women. Due to the increasing tendency of women to use herbal medicines during pregnancy, the effect of lemon inhalation aromatherapy on nausea and vomiting of pregnancy has been investigated in this study. Material and Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial study in which 100 pregnant women in 6-16 gestational ages with nausea and vomiting of pregnancy were randomly divided into intervention and control groups according to the inclusion criteria, based on 4 and 6 random block sampling method. Lemon essential oil was given to the intervention group and placebo was given to the control group to inhale it as soon as they nausea. The nausea, vomiting and retch intensity in members of each group, were investigated 24 hours before and during the fourth days of treatment by means of PUQE-24 (24-hours Pregnancy Unique Quantification of Emesis). Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean scores of nausea and vomiting on the second and fourth days between two groups (p=0.017 and p=0.039); so that, the nausea and vomiting intensity means in the second and fourth days in the intervention group were significantly lower than the control group. Also, in intra group comparison with ANOVA with repeated measures, the nausea and vomiting mean in the 5 time periods, showed a statistically significant difference in two groups (p<0.001 and p=0.049). Conclusions: Use lemon scent is effective in reducing nausea and vomiting and can be used as a complementary treatment.