Examination of the effectiveness of peppermint aromatherapy on nausea in women post C-section.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the effect of peppermint spirits on postoperative nausea in women following a scheduled C-section.


METHODS
A pretest-posttest research design with three groups was used. The peppermint group inhaled peppermint spirits, the placebo aromatherapy control group inhaled an inert placebo, green-colored sterile water, and the standard antiemetic therapy control group received standard antiemetics, usually intravenous ondansetron or promethazine suppositories.


METHODS
Women were randomly assigned to a group on admission to the hospital. If they became nauseated, nurses on the mother-baby unit assessed their nausea (baseline), administered the assigned intervention, and then reassessed participants' nausea 2 and 5 minutes after the initial intervention. Participants rated their nausea using a 6-point nausea scale.


RESULTS
Thirty-five participants became nauseated post-operatively. Participants in all three intervention groups had similar levels of nausea at baseline. The nausea levels of participants in the peppermint spirits group were significantly lower than those of participants in the other two groups 2 and 5 minutes after the initial intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Peppermint spirits may be a useful adjunct in the treatment of postoperative nausea. This study should be replicated with more participants, using a variety of aromatherapies to treat nausea in participants with different preoperative diagnoses.
Clayton State University, Morrow, GA 30260, USA. bettylane@clayton.edu
Betty
B
Lane
Kathi
K
Cannella
Cathy
C
Bowen
David
D
Copelan
Grace
G
Nteff
Katrina
K
Barnes
Melanie
M
Poudevigne
Jacqueline
J
Lawson
D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D000932:Antiemetics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019341:Aromatherapy; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D036142:Mentha piperita; D017294:Ondansetron / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020250:Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011398:Promethazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015144:Southeastern United States; D055815:Young Adult
D000932:Antiemetics; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017294:Ondansetron; D011398:Promethazine