It is estimated that up to 80% of pregnant women suffer some sort of nausea or vomiting during pregnancy. Researchers from Babol University of Medical Sciences recently published a study in the Iran Red Crescent Medical Journal on the effects of mint oil on these common pregnancy symptoms.
The double-blind study recruited 60 pregnant women. The women were split into two groups – active and placebo. Patients were evaluated for seven days prior to the study, four days during the study and seven days after the study.
A bowl of water was placed by the bedside of each woman during the four study days. Four drops of mint oil were added to the active group’s bowl of water and four drops of saline were added to the control group’s bowl of water.
Conclusion: The active and control group’s responses were nearly identical. Researchers noted a decline in nausea in the mint oil group peaking on day 4, but both groups reported declining nausea for the seven days following the study. Mint oil does not appear to have any effect on nausea or vomiting during pregnancy.
Source: Pasha H, Behmanesh F, Mohsenzadeh F, Hajahmadi M, Moghadamnia AA. Study of the effect of mint oil on nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2012 Nov;14(11):727-30. doi: 10.5812/ircmj.3477. Epub 2012 Nov 15.
