Investigating the effects of herbal medicines in episiotomy wound healing

Introduction: Episiotomy or cutting of the vulva is the most common cut in midwifery, which facilitates the exit of the fetus and needs care like any other operation. Despite many benefits, episiotomy has complications such as pain, paronychia, and infection, so that patients report pain in the episiotomy area more severe than during childbirth.Although comprehensive statistics of episiotomy have not been published in Iran, this incision is a common practice in Iranian hospitals. Many factors such as age, blood circulation and oxygen supply to the wound, nutritional status, wound status, mother's health and economic and social status are effective in the treatment process. One of the usual methods of episiotomy care is to use a sitting bath and use an antiseptic. It is also effective to observe perineal hygiene, keep the wound dry and use medicinal and non-medicinal methods. At present, the use of herbal medicines with minimal side effects and high efficiency is more and more the attention of researchers.Methods: This article is written in the form of a review of articles extracted from Google scholar and sid sites.Findings: Based on the extracted articles, lavender essential oil with olive oil base reduces inflammation and reduces infection and episiotomy pain. Bromelain and chamomile cream accelerate episiotomy wound healing. The use of gerbera flower ointment and thirst-quenching plant reduces the intensity of pain in the wound. The cream of the plant also reduces pain while healing the wound. Alpha ointment (Fandermol) is a ۱۰۰% herbal ointment and a combination of several different herbs, but it has not shown any effect on episiotomy wound healing.Conclusion: Some herbal medicines are effective in healing episiotomy wound and while reducing pain and inflammation, they accelerate the process of pain recovery.

Keywords:

Episiotomy , herbal medicines , wound healing