Investigating the effect of aromatherapy in patients with renal colic.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of rose essential oil as a supplementary and adjunctive therapy for the relief of renal colic, specifically because rose essential oil is soothing and can act as a muscle relaxant.


METHODS
Eighty patients who were diagnosed with renal colic in the emergency room were included in the study, with ages ranging from 19 to 64 years. Half of the patients (n=40) were treated with conventional therapy (diclofenac sodium, 75 mg intramuscularly) plus placebo (physiological serum, 0.9% NaCl), while the other half (n=40) were given aromatherapy (rose essential oil) in addition to conventional therapy. In each patient, the severity of pain was evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) (0 [no pain] to 10 [very severe pain]).


RESULTS
The VAS values prior to the start of therapy, and 10 and 30 minutes after therapy were 8.18 ± 1.36, 5.60 ± 2.02, and 3.75 ± 2.08 for the conventional therapy plus placebo group, while for the conventional therapy plus aromatherapy group, the VAS values were 8.63 ± 1.03, 4.25 ± 1.72, and 1.08 ± 1.07, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the starting VAS values of the two groups, but the VAS values 10 or 30 minutes after the initiation of therapy were statistically lower in the group that received conventional therapy plus aromatherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that rose essential oil therapy in addition to conventional therapy effectively reduces renal colic pain.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University, Tokat, Turkey. ayan421975@windowslive.com
Murat
M
Ayan
Ufuk
U
Tas
Erkan
E
Sogut
Mustafa
M
Suren
Levent
L
Gurbuzler
Feridun
F
Koyuncu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019341:Aromatherapy; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D056844:Renal Colic / Q000628:therapy*; D027824:Rosaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts; D004008:Diclofenac