The effect of dry-cupping combined with lavender oil massage on postpartum perineal pain: a case study.

AbstractBackground: Perineal pain is an important complaint in the postpartum period for several weeks. This study aimedto examine the effect of dry cupping therapy with lavender oil massage on the intensity of postpartum perineal pain. Methods: A 33 years old female had suffered with postpartum perineal pain. She experienced bilateral episiotomyon the third birth. Dry cupping therapy was administrated on selected areas two times. Before giving cuppingtherapy , at the 4th and 24th hours of birth was investigated effectiveness of dry cupping therapy on postpartumperineal pain based on the short-form of McGill pain scale. Results: According to the McGill pain scale, the meanof postpartum perineal pain intensity decreased from 37.9 ± 10.5 before the dry cupping therapy with lavender oilmassage to 12.1 ± 5.3 in 4th hour, and 6.3 ± 1.3.2 in 24th hour after delivery. The patient on cupping therapy withlavender oil message showed better results terms of pain intensity (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The study confirmedthat dry cupping therapy with lavender oil massage reduced postpartum perineal pain. In this regard, thisintervention may be considered as affective method for reducing postpartum perineal pain. However, further trialsare required to identify the effectiveness of this therapy regiment. Keywords: Dry cupping therapy, Lavender oil massage, Postpartum perineal pain