J Korean Acad Nurs.  2011 Feb;41(1):26-35. 10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.26.

A Comparison between Effects of Aroma Massage and Meridian Massage on Constipation and Stress in Women College Students

• Chung M
• Choi E

• KMID: 1007006
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2011.41.1.26

Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was done to compare the effects of abdominal aroma massage and meridian massage on constipation and stress in college women with functional constipation.
METHODS
The participants were 38 college women, 18 were in the aroma group and 20 in the meridian group. The aroma massage was given using aroma oil which was a mixture of lemon, lavender, rosemary, and cyprus. The meridian massage was given at 9 accupoints which influence intestinal functions. The treatment was given 5 days a week for 4 weeks. A constipation severity score, weekly defecation frequency, and a stress response score were measured before and every week of 4 weeks of the experiment.
RESULTS
While there was no significant difference between two groups, there was a significant difference within the groups in the constipation severity (aroma group: 1st week, meridian group: except 4th week), defecation frequency (aroma group: 3rd week, meridian group: 2nd and 3rd week), and stress (aroma group: all weeks, meridian group: except 4th week) after different duration of experiment.
CONCLUSION
Based on these results, both abdominal massages relieved constipation and stress. Resorting to either types of massage will contribute to the reduction of use of stool softeners, suppositories, or enemas.

Keyword

Aromatherapy; Meridians; Massage; Constipation; Stress

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
*Acupressure
Acupuncture Points
Adult
*Aromatherapy
Constipation/nursing/*therapy
Female
Humans
*Massage
Questionnaires
Stress, Psychological/nursing/*therapy
Students/*psychology
Young Adult

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Research design. CSI = constipation severity instrument; SRI = stress response inventory.

• 

  Figure 2 Aroma massage.

• 

  Figure 3 Meridian massage.

Reference

1. Ayaş S, Leblebici B, Sözay S, Bayramoğlu M, Niron EA. The effect of abdominal massage on bowel function in patients with spinal cord injury. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2006. 85:951–955.

2. Castledine G, Grainger M, Wood N, Dilley C. Researching the management of constipation in long-term care: Part 1. British Journal of Nursing. 2007. 16:1128–1131.

3. Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang A, Buchner A. G*Power 3: A flexible statistical power analysis program for the social, behavioral, and biomedical sciences. Behavior Research Methods. 2007. 39:175–191.

4. Harrington KL, Haskvitz EM. Managing a patient's constipation with physical therapy. Physical Therapy. 2006. 86:1511–1519.

5. Jeong SY, Jung HM. The effects of abdominal meridian massage on constipation among CVA patients. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2005. 35:135–142.

6. Jun DW, Lee OY. A population-based study on bowel habits in a Korean community: Prevalence of functional constipation and self-reported constipation. Korean Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility. 2006. 12:181–182.

7. Kim DH. Introduction of meridian massage. 1997. Seoul: Korea Massage Institute.

8. Kim DS, Choi IJ, Ha WC, Lee HZ, Park NH. The effect of abdominal meridian massage on constipation and depression of hemiplegic patients. Clinical Nursing Research. 2004. 10(1):70–81.

9. Kim I, Cho YN. The effects of abdominal meridian massage on constipation in institutionalized psychiatric patients taking antipsychotic drugs. Journal of Korean Academy of Adult Nursing. 2007. 19:809–818.

10. Kim JH, Park JS. The effects of abdominal meridian massage on the degree of constipation among the patients with immobility after orthopedic surgery. Clinical Nursing Research. 2006. 12(2):63–72.

11. Kim JY, Kim OY, Yoo HJ, Kim TI, Kim WH, Yoon YD, et al. Effects of fiber supplements on functional constipation. The Korean Journal of Nutrition. 2006. 39:35–43.

12. Kim MA, Sakong JK, Kim EJ, Kim EH, Kim EH. Effect of aromatherapy massage for the relief of constipation in the elderly. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2005. 35:56–64.

13. Kim MJ, Jeon HJ. Oriental acupuncture. 2006. Seoul: Jungdammedia.

14. Kim YK. The effects of abdominal meridian massage on constipation. 2002. Busan: Pusan National University;Unpublished master's thesis.

15. Kim YS. Effects of meridian massage on the relief of stress. 2005. Gwangju: Kwang Ju Women's University;Unpublished master's thesis.

16. Klauser AG, Flashentrager J, Gehrke A, Müller-Lissner SA. Abdominal wall massage: Effect on colonic function in healthy volunteers and in patients with chronic constipation. Zeitschrift für Gastroenterologie. 1992. 30:247–251.

17. Koh KB, Park JK, Kim CH. Development of the stress response inventory. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. 2000. 39:707–719.

18. Lämås K, Lindholm L, Stenlund H, Engström B, Jacobson C. Effects of abdominal massage in management of constipation-a randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2009. 46:759–767.

19. Lee SH. Effects of back massage with lavender essence oil on the stress response of the ICU nurses. Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing. 2001. 31:770–780.

20. Liu Z, Sakakibara R, Osaka T, Uchiyama T, Yamamoto T, Ito T, et al. Mechanism of abdominal massage for difficult defecation in a patient with myelopathy. Journal of Neurology. 2005. 252:1280–1282.

21. Oh HG. Dr Oh's aromatherapy. 2000. Seoul: Yangmoom.

22. Preece J. Introducing abdominal massage in palliative care for the relief of constipation. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. 2002. 8:101–105.

23. Rao SS. Constipation: Evaluation and treatment of colonic and anorectal motility disorders. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Clinics of North America. 2009. 19(1):117–139.

24. Seo SY. A study on social-psychological analysis by SCL-90-R and complementary and alternative medicine used by patients with constipation. 2008. Seoul: Korea University;Unpublished master's thesis.

25. Shirreffs CM. Aromatherapy massage for joint pain and constipation in a patient with Guillian Barré. Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. 2001. 7:78–83.

26. Snyder M, Lindquist R. Complementary/alternative therapies in nursing. 2002. 4th ed. New York: Springer Publishing Company.

27. Thompson WG, Lonstreth GF, Drossman DA, Heaton KW, Irvine EJ, Müller-Lissner SA. Functional bowel disorders and functional abdominal pain. Gut. 1999. 45:II43–II47.

28. Varma MG, Wang JY, Berian JR, Patterson TR, McCrea GL, Hart SL. The constipation severity instrument: A validated measure. Diseases of the Colon and Rectum. 2008. 51:162–172.

29. Yang YH. The effect of aromatherapy-meridian massage on the relief of constipation and the reduction of stress in patients with stroke. 2006. Seoul: Kyung Hee University;Unpublished master's thesis.

30. Zhang Y, Zhang YL, Cheng YQ. Clinical observation of constipation due to deficiency of vital energy treated by massage and finger pressure method. Zhonghua Hu Li Za Zhi. 1996. 31(2):97–98.