The Effects of Herbal Treatments on Post-Delivery Pain

 The postpartum period is often accompanied by significant pain which affects maternal well-being and care of newborns. With an increasing interest in natural and safe alternatives to conventional pain management strategies, this study was performed with the aim to evaluate the efficacy of ginger extract and lavender oil capsules in managing postpartum pain.

 This single-blind, randomized clinical trial study was conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Iraq in 2023-2024. Ninety postpartum women were allocated to receive either ginger extract (250 mg per capsule) or lavender oil (100 μL per capsule) capsules orally (n=45 in each group). Pain was assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at baseline and one-hour post-intervention, with follow-up over the first 24 hours post-delivery. The changes in pain scores, maternal satisfaction, and the incidence of side effects were compared between the two groups.

 Both ginger extract and lavender oil capsules significantly reduced postpartum pain scores compared to baseline (P<0.001), with the lavender oil group experiencing a marginally greater reduction (from 6.1 ± 1.2 to 2.8 ± 1.0) compared to the ginger extract group (from 6.2 ± 1.3 to 3.4 ± 1.1) (P=0.035). Side effects were minimal and not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.29). Maternal satisfaction was significantly higher in the lavender oil group (91%) compared to the ginger extract group (82%) (P=0.044).

 Orally administered ginger extract and lavender oil capsules are effective in reducing postpartum pain, with lavender oil showing marginally higher efficacy and greater maternal satisfaction. These findings support the integration of these natural remedies into postpartum care, offering safe and effective alternatives for pain management.