EVIDÊNCIAS CIENTÍFICAS SOBRE O USO DOS ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS DURANTE O TRABALHO DE PARTO: UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA
EVIDÊNCIAS CIENTÍFICAS SOBRE O USO DOS ÓLEOS ESSENCIAIS DURANTE O TRABALHO DE PARTO: UMA REVISÃO BIBLIOGRÁFICA
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Palavras-chave: Aromaterapia. Trabalho de parto. Terapias Complementares.
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Keywords: Aromatherapy. Labor. Complementary Therapies.
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Abstract: Alternative approaches, such as Traditional Medicine, emphasize the quality of the relationship between women in labor and healthcare professionals and employ practices such as aromatherapy, which uses essential oils to promote well-being. This study aims to analyze the scientific evidence on the use of essential oils during labor. It is an Integrative Literature Review conducted in three health-related databases: Scielo, CAPES Journals, and BVS. For article selection, the exact descriptors “Aromatherapy,” “Labor,” and “Complementary Therapies” were combined using the Boolean operator AND. Inclusion criteria were: full-text articles, available online, published in Portuguese, English, or Spanish between 2020 and 2024. Exclusion criteria were: duplicate articles and works classified as technical reports, opinions, editorials, or manuals. In the end, eight articles were included in this review. The scientific evidence indicates that the use of essential oils, especially lavender, during labor provides pain relief and reduces maternal anxiety, in addition to enhancing salivary oxytocin release. Furthermore, integrating aromatherapy into hospital protocols may improve obstetric care; however, further studies are still needed to assess its effectiveness, safety, and the subjective experience of parturients. It is concluded that randomized clinical trials and qualitative studies are essential for a broader and safer understanding of this practice in obstetric nursing.
- Anaisa Alves de Moura
- Maria Vitória Alcântara Carvalho
- Vanessa Mesquita Ramos
- Magda Elisa Turini da Cunha
- Lourdes Santos Rocha
- Adilio Moreira de Moraes