Systematic review of complementary medicine in the treatment of breast engorgement in postpartum women.

MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems; BREAST care; CABBAGE; PUERPERIUM; HERBAL medicine; THERMOTHERAPY; LACTATION disorders; TREATMENT effectiveness; ACUPUNCTURE; SYSTEMATIC reviews; MEDLINE; COLD therapy; ACUPRESSURE; ALTERNATIVE medicine; MEDICAL databases; HYPEREMIA; COMPRESSION therapy; ONLINE information services; EVALUATION

Introduction Breast engorgement can lead to the early cessation of breastfeeding. The present study was conducted to review the effect of complementary medicine on the treatment of breast engorgement. Methods Domestic and international databases, including PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus, were systematically searched without time limits until September 10, 2022. All clinical trials and experimental studies evaluating the effect of complementary therapies on breast engorgement in latching mothers was included in systematic review. Cochrane Collaboration's tool was used for assessing risk of bias. Results 18 studies met the inclusion criteria and the overall quality of the studies was high. A trial reported that Oketani and warm compression in the form of massage were effective. Commiphora Mukul cream had higher effectiveness than the placebo cream, and the hot compress with herbal components such as hollyhock leaf and ginger was more effective than the warm compress alone. Another trial did not report any significant difference between cold compression and hot fomentation in relieving breast engorgement among postnatal mothers. The effect of cabbage leaves on breast engorgement relief was more effective than routine care and gel packs in improving breast engorgement. However, adding cabbage leaves to the warm compress did not increase the effect. Acupressure and acupuncture on HT3, GB21, SP6 and ST16, ST18, SP17, and CV17 acupoints can be efficient non-pharmacological methods. Conclusion Complementary medicine such as massage, acupuncture, acupressure, cold and hot compress, cabbage leaves, and herbal components are efficient to treat breast engorgement in postpartum women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Australian Journal of Herbal & Naturopathic Medicine is the property of National Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)