Peppermint drop effect on ileus following cesarean section

OBJECTIVE: Intestine dysfunction and ileus are one of the cesarean section complications. medicinal herbs have been used to restore the postoperative intestinal function. Therefore, we decided to use a mint drop to improve bowel function after cesarean section. METHODS AND MATERIALS: 102 women enrolled in the study. The patients were simply randomized and double blindly divided into two groups of 51 patients and giving them medication (mint drops) or placebo. Then, the initial evaluation included hearing the first bowel sound, having nausea and vomiting, the first gas passing feeling time, the first defecation feeling time, and duration of hospitalization was evaluated and compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The mean time to hearing the first intestinal sounds was 9/05 ± 2/44 hours in the placebo group and 5/78 ± 1/25 hours in the treatment group. The interval between surgery and the first gas passing feeling time in the placebo group was 12/24 ± 3/91 hours and in the treatment group was 7/87 ± 2/02 hours. None of the patients had nausea and vomiting. CONCLUSION: Considering the significant difference between two groups in the meantime interval to hearing the first intestinal sound, the first gas passing feeling time, and the first defecation feeling time, we conclude that the peppermint drop is more effective than placebo in improving bowel function.