The effect of Myrtus communis ointment, Camellia sinensis (green tea) and placebo on reducing perineal pain and healing episiotomy wound in nulliparous women: triple-blinded randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Introduction: Episiotomy is one of the common methods used to widen the pelvic outlet, and it is associated with complications such as pain and bleeding. Green tea and Myrtus communis are two medicinal plants with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties. The present study was conducted with aim to investigate the effect of Myrtus communis extract and green tea on pain reduction and episiotomy wound healing.Methods: This three-blind randomized clinical trial study was conducted in 2020-2021 on 90 primiparous women referred to the maternity ward of Shushtar Al-Hadi and Ganjovian Dezful hospitals. The samples were randomly treated in groups receiving green tea, Myrtus communis extract ointment and placebo for 14 days. Evaluation of the wound healing status was done with Rida index and pain intensity by VAS. Data analysis was done with SPSS software (version 23) and Mann-Whitney and Friedman tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There was a significant difference among the three investigated groups in the Rida index on the 14th day, and this index was lower in the Myrtus communis group than in the green tea group and the placebo group (P=0.001). VAS index on the 14th day had a significant difference among the three investigated groups, and this index was lower in the Myrtus communis group than in the green tea group and the placebo group (P=0.001).Conclusion: The use of Myrtus communis ointment and green tea extract can reduce pain intensity and improve heal episiotomy wound, and it seems that the effect of Myrtus communis ointment is more than green tea ointment and placebo.

Keywords

• episiotomy
• green tea
• myrtus communis