Complementary Medicine Journal
Year:2012 | Volume:1 | Issue:1|Papers Count:13

Background: The increase in life expectancy in women, the presence of complications and hardships associated with menopause, and the side effects of hormonal treatment have led to endeavors for improving the quality of life in women during the menopause period. Due to the therapeutic properties of geranium and its positive effects on menopausal complications, and noticing the use of geranium leaves in flavoring tea, this study was done to investigate the effects of geranium tea on menopausal symptoms.Materials and Methods: This clinical trial, with a before/after design, was done on 30 menopausal women through convenience sampling. Before conducting the study, some menopausal symptoms (anxiety, hot flashes, insomnia, headache, palpitations, lethargy, and so forth) were registered for one week. The intervention included consuming two cups of geranium a day for three weeks. After this period, menopausal symptoms were evaluated at two stages (two and three weeks after the intervention). Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and paired t-test using SPSS software.Results: The subjects’ mean of age was 49.92 years and all of them were married. Also, 95.8% of the subjects were housewives and 80.1% of them had primary school education. The menopausal symptoms score showed a reduction after the intervention (17.1% before the intervention and 16.8% after the intervention); however, it was not significant.Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that although geranium tea decreases menopausal symptoms, this decrease is not significant.

Introduction: Nausea and vomiting, are the most prevalent chemotherapy induced side effects, acupressure is one of the methods of non-pharmacologic approach which used for reducing nausea and vomiting. this study was carried out to investigate the effect of acupressure on Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting (SINV) in School age children with ALL.Methods: This research was a randomized controlled clinical trial study. 120 school age child randomly divided to experimental and placebo groups. the subject's intensity of nausea was measured by Visual Analogue Scales (VAS). Then the intervention (finger acupressure) was applied on P6 (true points) in the experimental group, and on SI3 (sham points) in the placebo group. We evaluated the symptoms of nausea intensity immediately and one hour after the intervention. Then the variable of Nausea and Vomiting was measured at 12 hours after intervention by the instruments of Adapted Rhodes Index of Nausea and Vomiting for Pediatrics by Child (ARINVc(.Results: the mean score of nausea intensity immediately and one hour later in experimental group (P=0.02), (P£0.001)was lower than the placebo group. Whereas there was no significant difference between the experimental and placebo groups regarding nausea/vomiting rate (12 hour after the intervention, (P=0.064).Conclusion: The result showed that, applying one time acupressure leads to reducing the intensity of nausea one hour after the intervention in the experimental group. Therefore, acupressure should be recommended as an effective, non-pharmacologic method for CINV control.

Background: Half of the pregnant women suffer from the excruciating degrees of labor pain. Nowadays, however, the use of painkillers for decreasing labor pain due to their adverse effects on the mother and child is less common and attention has been shifted towards non-medical methods and complementary medicine such as message therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and herbal medicine. One of the branches of complementary medicine is hydrotherapy with herbal essences. Breathing techniques, on the other hand, have been used for decreasing pain for many years but they have not received much consideration in Iran. Hence, the present study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of aromatherapy with lavender and breathing techniques on the reduction of labor pain.Materials and Methods: This randomized trial was done to consider the effect of lavender essence through aromatherapy on labor pain.. In the breathing group, the conducted cool lavender vapor (1.5%) was used during the active phase while breathing technique was used in the other group. There were 60 subjects in each group that were sampled through convenience sampling in the OR. However, the subjects were randomly allocated to each group. After obtaining written consent from all subjects, pain score were measured once before the intervention and three times after intervention in three different dilations (4-6, 6-8, and 8-10 cm) through VAS (visual analogue scale). The results were analyzed through t-test and Chi 2.Results: The results indicated that the differences between pain scores before and after intervention in the lavender (81%±2.48) and breathing technique group (1.88±0.27) were significant (P=0.01(.Conclusion: This study showed that aromatherapy can be used as a good alternative for the other varieties of complementary medicine. Such substances through their mechanisms can decrease patients’ anxiety and awareness of the pain. Moreover, they can be used in different ways including massage and absorption through skin, breathing, and aromatherapy bathing so that the mother is not forced to choose only one method.

Background and Objective: Recently, this hypothesis suggests that increased consumption of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid (unsaturated fatty acids with long-chain omega-3) a notable effects on the outcome of pregnancy, but evidence about the effects of this acid on the duration of pregnancy and birth weight is limit and contradictory. Therefore the present study aimed to examine the effect of supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid on the gestational length and birth weight.Methods: In this clinical trial study, 120 healthy pregnant women were randomly divided into two groups of 60 persons. Prenatal care, while the same for both groups was performed, only the intervention group , from 16 weeks to the end of pregnancy, a daily fish oil capsules 1000 mg Salm Containing 180 mg eicosapentaenoic acid and 129 mg docosahexaenoic acid was given. Samples until delivery for the gestational length and birth weight were followed. Birth weight and gestational length, by geram and week day was recorded in list. Then data using the software SPS, with T Test and Mann-Whitney test analysis, parametric tests were analyzed in comparison.Results: In 48 control samples and 44 intervention samples group, the average gestational length in the control group, 39.13±1.20 weeks and days, in the intervention group was 39.12±0.93. T test showed no significant difference between the two groups. Average birth weight infants in the control group 3367.08±441.07 g and intervention group 3083.64±452.43 g. T-test showed significant differences between the two groups (P=0.003). So average weight of infants in the intervention group, 284 g less of controls.Conclusion: The results of this study showed that adding supplements docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid in the diet of pregnant mothers was associated with reduce birth weight and has not effect on the gestational length.

Abstract Objective: One of the most common problems in menopausal women is sleep disturbance, that the difficulty with breathing problems during sleep, including coughing and snoring be intensified. Women in this age intended to use Herbal supplements in order to solve these problems. The aim of this study was to investigate effect valerian and starch on Uncomfortable Breathing, Coughing and Snoring during Usual Sleep Habit in 50- 60 years old women in Tehran.Methods: In this study a randomized controlled trial design was employed. Participants consisted of 100 women with menopause aged 50-60, who suffered from insomnia. Instrument included demographic data form and Pittsburg sleep quality index. Descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test) were used to analyze the data. Results: Most of the women were in the 50-52 year group (66%), menopause age was 45-49 (50%), and number of children was 3-4 and age difference with their spouse was1-4 year (36%). Most of them were illiterate and at medium economic class. So by means of PSQI determined using valerian and starch uncomfortable Breathing during sleep reduced and improved Quality of sleep.Discussion: The Findings of this study showed that the effect of valerian and Starch on uncomfortable breathing during sleep. Althogh the effect of valerian was more than starch. In addition, the absence of negative side effect, commonly seen with prescribed hypnotics, suggests that traditional herbal supplement may be a suitable alternative for treatment of insomnia.

Background and objective: According to high prevalence of diabetes mellitus in societies and public attention to using complementary medicine in disease treatment, this survey be accomplished with the purpose validating effects of Tribulus terrestris Extract, Allium schoenoprasum extract and Walnut leaves aqueous extract on serum glucose of diabetic rates in comparison of Glibenclamide.Methods: In this exprimental study, 72 male wistar Rats (250-300 g) were divided into 6 groups equally and at the same maintenance condition. strptozotosin (60mg/kg) was used for diabetes induction 2-6 groups and then feed all of groups with usual food and water freely and we give them the Tribulus terrestris Extract, Allium schoenoprasum and Walnut leaves aqueous extract, mixture of 3 extracts and Glibenclamide orderly and daily after 72 hour in 2-6 groups additional food and water. serum glucose were determined before the study, and at 1th and 4th weeks after the study.Results: serum glucose was significantly lower in diabetic Rats of 2-6 groups (P<0.001) but Walnut leaves aqueous extract had maximum effects (P=0.002). Also the results show that using mixture of 3 extract wont have more effects on decreasing serum glucose. Conclusion: In spite of better effects of Walnut leaves aqueous extract on serum glucose rather than Tribulus terrestris Extract and Allium schoenoprasum, we can use them just as complemented common Diabetic medicine. Also not only consume more than one medicine can have better effect on control of serum glucose but also due to medicinal mixed and inconsistent effects.

Perineal trauma particularly from routine episiotomy is painful. That is associated with short and long term morbidity for women. It seems massage particularly with lavender essence effective in reducing episiotomy and lacerationMaterial & Method: This was a randomized control trial study with 3 groups. At 38-42 weeks of gestation, 266 nulliparous women with singleton fetus were asked join to research. They were randomly participating in massage with lavender essence oil, just massage or control group. In case group massage was done with two fingers inside vagina in a sweeping gently motion with or not lavender essence oil 5up to 10 minute, in and between mothers’ pushing in second stage of labor. In control group just Ritgen Maneuver was done. We compared rate of intact perineum, episiotomy, laceration, duration of second stage of labor among groups.Results: In lavander group, intact perineum, episiotomy and laceration: 60.2, 8, 8, 31.8, in just massage 43.5, 16.5, 40 and in control group: 2.4, 80, 17.6% were respectively. These differences were statistically significant (PV=0.001). In Lavender essence group, first and second degree laceration were 27.3 and 8%, in just massage: 28.2, 11.8% respectively. In control group, first, second and third degree laceration were 4.7, 7.1 and 5.9% respectively Difference was statistically significant (PV=0.001).Conclusion: It seems perineal massage especially with Lavender essence in second stage of labor increases incidence of intact perineum. Lavender essence oil and lesser just massage probably rise blood flow, elasticity, softness and relaxation of perineal tissue.