A Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Evaluating the Efficacy of Commiphora Mukul Cream in Improving Breast Engorgement in Breastfeeding Women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Students Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iranool of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, Midwifery and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Biostatics, Faculty of Paramedical, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22034/ijps.2020.111889.1592

Abstract

Breast engorgement is a common problem during breastfeeding that can lead to early discontinuation of breastfeeding. Commiphora Mukul (C. Mukul) is a medicinal plant with analgesic and anti-inflammatory compounds. The present study was conducted to determine the effect of C. Mukul on improving breast engorgement in breastfeeding women. This study was a double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial conducted with 100 breastfeeding women, whose symptoms of breast engorgement were randomly allocated to C. Mukul cream group or placebo. Both groups were to rub one fingertip of cream on each breast after nursing 8 times a day for 2 days. The breast engorgement symptoms) severity index = erythema + tension + pain) were assessed by the validated breast engorgement checklist. The severity of breast engorgement before the intervention was not significantly different between the two drug and placebo groups (breast erythema (P=0.78), tension (P=0.85) and pain (P=0.06)), but two days after the intervention, 60% of women in the drug group and 22% of them in the placebo group scored zero in breast engorgement checklist, though there was a significant difference between the groups (P<0.001). No side effects were observed or reported in either group. According to the findings, Commiphora Mukul cream can improve breast engorgement.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Volume 16, Issue 1
January 2020
Pages 61-72

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