Effect of Topical Chamomile Oil (Matricaria chamomile L.) as a Supplementary Method on Colic Symptoms in Infants: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Vasei Hospital, Clinical Research Development Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

2 Student Research Committee, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

3 Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

4 Traditional and Complementary Medicine Research Center, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

5 Department of Traditional Medicine, School of Traditional Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the topical use of chamomile oil as a complementary method in the improvement of infantile colic symptoms.
Methods: This randomized controlled trial was carried out on 74 infants with colic at Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences in Sabzevar, Iran. The infants were randomly allocated into two groups. In the intervention group, chamomile oil was applied topically on the abdominal region three times a day for 14 days. The placebo group received paraffin oil in a similar manner. A data collection form was daily filled out for all infants by their parents. Number and duration of crying episodes and duration of sleep were assessed at the baseline and on the 7th and 14th days of the intervention.
Results: Results showed that there was a significant difference in the crying time of the two groups on days 7 and 14 as compared to that at the baseline (P=0.03 and P=0.002, respectively). There was a significant increase in sleep duration only on the 14th day of treatment as compared with that at the baseline (P=0.01). Although the number of crying episodes in both groups decreased, there was no significant difference between the two groups (P=0.08). Based on the regression test, although the values obtained on days 1 and 7 were not statistically significant, compared to those at the baseline, the number of crying episodes decreased on the 14th day (95% CI: -115.39 to -15.04; P=0.012).
Conclusion: Topical consumption of chamomile oil may be used as a complementary, safe, and cost-effective way to improve and reduce the symptoms of infantile colic.

Keywords

References

1. Cunningham NR, Jensen P. ADHD. In: Kliegman RM, Stanton BF, Geme III JW, Schor NF, Behrman RE, editors. Nelson textbook of pediatrics. 19th ed. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2011. P. 108-12.
 2. Rhoads JM. Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri effective in treating infantile colic and is associated with inflammatory marker reduction. J Pediatr. 2018; 196:324-7.
 3. Talachian E, Bidari A, Rezaie MH. Incidence and risk factors for infantile colic in Iranian infants. World J Gastroenterol. 2008; 14(29):4662-6.
4. Ghorat F, Gafarzadeh R, Jafarzadeh Esfehani R. Perinatal mortality and associated risk factors: a study in north east of Iran. Iran J Neonatol. 2016; 7(1):47-51.
5. Harb T, Matsuyama M, David M, Hill RJ. Infant colicwhat works: a systematic review of interventions for breast-fed infants. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2016; 62(5):668-86.
 6. Icke S, Genc R. Effect of reflexology on infantile colic. J Altern Complement Med. 2018; 24(6):584-8.
 7. İnce T, Akman H, Çimrin D, Aydın A. The role of melatonin and cortisol circadian rhythms in the pathogenesis of infantile colic. World J Pediatr. 2018; 14(4):392-8.
 8. Sheidaei A, Abadi A, Zayeri F, Nahidi F, Gazerani N, Mansouri A. The effectiveness of massage therapy in the treatment of infantile colic symptoms: a randomized controlled trial. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2016; 30:351.
9. Nahidi F, Gazerani N, Yousefi P, Abadi AR. The comparison of the effects of massaging and rocking on infantile colic. Iran J Nurs Midwifery Res. 2017; 22(1):67-71.
 10. Dobson D, Lucassen PL, Miller JJ, Vlieger AM, Prescott P, Lewith G. Manipulative therapies for infantile colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012; 12:CD004796.
11. Sung V, Hiscock H, Tang M, Mensah FK, Heine RG, Stock A, et al. Probiotics to improve outcomes of colic in the community: protocol for the Baby Biotics randomised controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2012; 12(1):135.
12. Landgren K, Hallström I. Effect of minimal acupuncture for infantile colic: a multicentre, threearmed, single-blind, randomised controlled trial (ACU-COL). Acupunct Med. 2017; 35(3):171-9. 13. Azizkhani M, Ghorat F, Soroushzadeh SM, Karimi M, Yekaninejad S. The effect of cupping therapy on nonspecific neck pain: a systematic review and metaanalysis. Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2018, 20(7):e55039.
14. Perry R, Hunt K, Ernst E. Nutritional supplements and other complementary medicines for infantile colic: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2011; 127(4):720-33.
 15. Çetinkaya B, Başbakkal Z. The effectiveness of aromatherapy massage using lavender oil as a treatment for infantile colic. Int J Nurs Pract. 2012; 18(2):164-9.
16. Khadem E, Shirazi M, Rahimi R, Bioos S, Ghorat F. Perception of paralytic ileus on viewpoint of Avicenna. Iran J Public Health. 2017; 46(1):150-2.
17. Sheidaei A, Abadi A, Nahidi F, Zayeri F, Gazerani N. Effect of massage on severity of cries and sleep duration among infants who suffer infantile colic: a randomized clinical trial. Pajoohandeh J. 2015; 20(3):141-8.
18. Martinelli M, Ummarino D, Giugliano FP, Sciorio E, Tortora C, Bruzzese D, et al. Efficacy of a standardized extract of Matricariae chamomilla L., Melissa officinalis L. and tyndallized Lactobacillus acidophilus (HA122) in infantile colic: an open randomized controlled trial. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017; 29(12):13145.
19. Ali B, Al-Wabel NA, Shams S, Ahamad A, Khan SA, Anwar F. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: a systemic review. Asian Pac J Trop Biomed. 2015; 5(8):601-11.
20. Savino F, Cresi F, Castagno E, Silvestro L, Oggero R. A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a standardized extract of matricariae recutita, foeniculum vulgare and melissa officinalis in the treatment of breastfed colicky infants. Phytother Res. 2005; 19(4):335-40.
21. Gardiner P. Complementary, holistic, and integrative medicine: chamomile. Pediatr Rev. 2007; 28(4): e16-8.
22. Srivastava JK, Shankar E, Gupta S. Chamomile: a herbal medicine of the past with a bright future. Mol Med Rep. 2010; 3(6):895-901.
23. Zargaran A, Borhani-Haghighi A, Faridi P, Daneshamouz S, Kordafshari G, Mohagheghzadeh A. Potential effect and mechanism of action of topical chamomile (Matricaria chammomila L.) oil on migraine headache: a medical hypothesis. Med Hypotheses. 2014; 83(5):566-9.
 24. Anheyer D, Frawley J, Koch AK, Lauche R, Langhorst J, Dobos G, et al. Herbal medicines for gastrointestinal disorders in children and adolescents: a systematic review. Pediatrics. 2017; 139(6):e20170062.
25. Rhoads JM. Probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri effective in treating infantile colic and is associated with inflammatory marker reduction. J Pediatr. 2018; 196:324-7.
26. Indrio F, Miqdady M, Al Aql F, Haddad J, Karima B, Khatami K, et al. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of pediatricians on infantile colic in the Middle East and North Africa region. BMC Pediatr. 2017; 17(1):187.
27. Biagioli E, Tarasco V, Lingua C, Moja L, Savino F. Pain-relieving agents for infantile colic. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016; 9:CD009999.
 28. Camilleri M, Park SY, Scarpato E, Staiano A. Exploring hypotheses and rationale for causes of infantile colic. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2017; 29(2):12943.
 29. Golami A, Tabaraei Y, Ghorat F, Khalili H. The effect of inhalation of matricaria chamomile essential oil on patients’ anxiety before esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Govaresh. 2018; 22(4):232-8.
 30. Arikan D, Alp H, Gözüm S, Orbak Z, Cifçi EK. Effectiveness of massage, sucrose solution, herbal tea or hydrolysed formula in the treatment of infantile colic. J Clin Nurs. 2008; 17(13):1754-61.
31. Bahrami H, Kiani MA, Noras M. Massage for infantile colic: review and literature. Int J Pediatr. 2016; 4(6):1953-8.
32. Mosavat SH, Masoudi N, Hajimehdipoor H, Emami Meybodi MK, Niktabe Z, Tabarrai M, et al. Efficacy of topical Linum usitatissimum L. (flaxseed) oil in knee osteoarthritis: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2018; 31:302-7.
 33. Villa-Rodriguez JA, Kerimi A, Abranko L, Tumova S, Ford L, Blackburn RS, et al. Acute metabolic actions of the major polyphenols in chamomile: an in vitro mechanistic study on their potential to attenuate postprandial hyperglycaemia. Sci Rep. 2018; 8(1):5471.
Iranian Journal of Neonatology
Volume 10, Issue 1
March 2019
Pages 15-22

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics