Aromatherapy for outpatients with menopausal symptoms in obstetrics and gynecology.
OBJECTIVE
To introduce Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) into a hospital department of obstetrics and gynecology with the goal of achieving integrative medicine, the authors investigated the effectiveness of aromatherapy for outpatients with menopausal symptoms.


METHODS
The department of obstetrics and gynecology, St. Marianna University Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan.


METHODS
Participants in the aromatherapy trial received a 30 minute aromatherapy session performed by an aromatherapist that included a consultation, massage, and home care guidance. After they carried out approximately 1 month of home care, they received a second aromatherapy session. The patients' physical and mental health status was measured at the start and endpoint of the trial by use of the Kupperman index (KI), the self-rating depression scale, and consultation.


METHODS
Fifteen (15) outpatients (mean age, 54.3 +/- 7.4 years) with menopausal symptoms in the department of obstetrics and gynecology of St. Marianna University Hospital.


RESULTS
The mean value of the KI score was significantly lowered after the aromatherapy trial from 31.4 +/- 6.8 to 22.9 +/- 6.1 (p = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
This investigation shows that aromatherapy could be effective as a CAM method for menopausal symptoms in the setting of a hospital obstetrics and gynecology department.
Green Flask Laboratory, Green Flask Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan. lab@greenflask.com
Shio
S
Murakami
Takuhiko
T
Shirota
Shinichiro
S
Hayashi
Bunpei
B
Ishizuka
D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000592:standards; D001007:Anxiety / Q000517:prevention & control; D019341:Aromatherapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012063:Relaxation; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health
D010938:Plant Oils