Effect of inhalation aromatherapy with neroli oil on pain reduction of the primary dysmenorrhea: A clinical trial study

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea, characterized by abdominal pain during menstruation resulting from uterine contraction and ischemia, affects approximately ۵۰% of women.   Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of inhalation aromatherapy with neroli oil on the pain reduction of dysmenorrhea. Methods: This two-group randomized clinical trial (non-blinded due to odor) was conducted in ۲۰۲۱ among ۷۰ students of Zanjan University of Medical Sciences with primary dysmenorrhea. Participants were randomly assigned to the neroli oil or placebo group using numbers ۱–۷۰ generated at www.graphpad.com. Each was followed over four menstrual cycles: during the first two, pain intensity was recorded using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) without treatment; during the next two, inhalation aromatherapy with ۲% neroli oil or placebo was applied once daily for ۳۰ minutes on the first two days of menstruation. Data were analyzed in SPSS ۲۶ using repeated measures ANOVA and independent t-tests. Results: A significant difference in pain severity was observed between the two groups following the intervention, during both the first (t = ۳.۷۷, p = .۰۰۱) and second cycles (t = ۴.۰۷, p < .۰۰۱). In the intervention group, the mean pain intensity (SD) decreased from ۶.۵۸ (۰.۹۵) and ۶.۱۹ (۰.۹۸) before the intervention to ۲.۸۳ (۰.۶۸) and ۲.۳۲ (۰.۷۹) afterwards. Similarly, in the control group, pain scores reduced from ۶.۲۹ (۱.۱۸) and ۶.۱۶ (۱.۰۳) to ۳.۶۴ (۱.۱۴) and ۳.۳۵ (۱.۱۷), respectively. Conclusion:  In conclusion, Neroli oil aromatherapy appears to be effective in reducing the pain intensity associated with primary dysmenorrhea (PD).

کلیدواژه ها:

Dysmenorrhea ، Aromatherapy ، Aurantium Citrus ، Citrus ، Neroli Oil