RESUMO
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. LOCATION: The department of obstetrics and gynecology, St. Marianna University Hospital, Kawasaki, Japan. DESIGN: 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. SUBJECTS: 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). CONCLUSION: 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.