Effects of herbal gel innovation on pain scores and satisfaction among women of reproductive age with primary dysmenorrhea
Keywords:
Herbal gel, Primary dysmenorrhea, Women of reproductive ageAbstract
Dysmenorrhea is very common among women of reproductive age, with moderate to severe pain substantially affecting academic performance and daily activities. This study aimed to compare menstrual pain intensity and satisfaction levels among women of reproductive age before and after an innovative herbal gel between an experimental group and a control group. A quasi-experimental study with a randomized pretest–posttest control group design was conducted. The participants were 84 nursing students from the first to the fourth year, randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=42) and a control group (n=42). The intervention instrument was an innovative herbal gel formulated from a traditional herbal compress listed in the National List of Essential Medicines and methyl salicylate oil. Data collection instruments included a pain measurement scale and a post-intervention satisfaction questionnaire. The satisfaction questionnaire demonstrated high content validity (content validity index=0.93) and high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient= .86). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests for within-group comparisons, and independent t-tests for between-group comparisons. The results showed that after the intervention, the experimental group reported significantly lower menstrual pain scores and significantly higher mean satisfaction scores compared with the control group (p<.01). These findings suggest that the developed herbal gel innovation may serve as an effective alternative for alleviating moderate primary dysmenorrhea by reducing menstrual pain and enhancing user satisfaction.
References
Aly, S. H., El-Hassab, M. A., Elhady, S. S., & Gad, H. A. (2023). Comparative Metabolic Study of Tamarindus indica L.’s Various Organs Based on GC/MS Analysis, In Silico and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Wound Healing Activities. Plants, 12(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010087
among nursing students. Songklanagarind Journal of Nursing, 39(1), 41–52.
Butsripoom, B., & Wittayapun, Y. (2019). Prevalence, impact and self-management of dysmenorrhea
Chaiyana, W., Anuchapreeda, S., Leelapornpisid, P., Phongpradist, R., Viernstein, H., & Mueller, M. (2017). Development of microemulsion delivery system of essential oil from Zingiber cassumunar Roxb rhizome for improvement of stability and anti-inflammatory activity. American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists PharmSciTech, 18(4), 1332–1342. https://doi.org/10.1208/s12249-016-0603-2 (in Thai)
Chansuk, P. (2021, March 24-25). Innovative herbal compress bags for knee pain relieve [Paper presentation]. The 2nd Health Region Academic Conference: Developing Health Innovations toward Smart Service, Regional Health Promotion Center 2, Phitsanulok, Thailand, 1-9. https://hpc2appcenter.anamai.moph.go.th/academic/web/files/2564/innovation/MA2564-002-04-0000000669-0000000659.pdf (In Thai)
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Ditprasert, P., & Sanmee, U. (2022, May 1). Dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps), Lanna Obstetrics. https://w1.med.cmu.ac.th/obgyn/lecturestopics/46837/
Fernández-Martínez, E., Onieva-Zafra, M. D., & Parra-Fernández, M. L. (2019). The impact of dysmenorrhea on quality of life among Spanish Female University Students. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(5), 713-726. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30818861/
Hassan Nagy, H., Carlson, K., & Khan, M., AB. (2023). Dysmenorrhea. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560834/
Herbal Products Division, Food and Drug Administration. (2023). National Primary Drug Account for Herbs 2023. Minnie Group Company Limited, Pathumthani.
https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nur-psu/article/view/181303 (in Thai)
Indrabua, K., Kaentan, J., Kijanukul, S., Chiangdee, P., & Chanpetchaburi, C. (2020, May 23). A comparison between herbal compress and herbal poultice on pain relief in primary dysmenorrhea [Paper presentation]. The 7th National Conference Nakhonratchasima College, pp. 357–368. http://journal.nmc.ac.th/th/admin/Journal/2563Vol11No1_39.pdf (in Thai)
Jaibal, S., Ruangpuk, S., & Saetang, N. (2016). The suitability of time for applied hot pack, physiotherapy department, Hua Hin Hospital. Hua Hin Sook Jai Klai Kangwon Journal, 1(2), 66–77. https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/hhsk/article/view/175092/125265 (in Thai)
Kawanig, C., Viriyavejchakul, A., & Fakkam, S. (2016). Factors affecting acceptance in using traditional Thai massage the uterus service of the service users in Pomprabsattrupai, Bangkok [Paper presentation]. The 7th National and International Conference on Science, 2738–2751. http://journalgrad.ssru.ac.th/index.php/5-01/article/view/670 (in Thai)
Kidarn, S., Saenjum, C., Hongwiset, D., & Phrutivorapongkul, A. (2018). Furanocoumarins from kaffir lime and their inhibitory effects on inflammatory mediator production. Cogent Chemistry, 4(1), 1529259. https://doi.org/10.1080/23312009.2018.1529259 (in Thai)
Kongkum, C., & Kongkum, A. (2017). Comparison of chemical composition of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels and Zingiber cassumunar Roxb, a substitute herb according to Thai traditional medicine. Journal of Science & Technology MSU, 36(3), 360–367. https://www.thaiscience.info/Journals/Article/JSMU/10986643.pdf (in Thai)
Krasinhorm, S., Kansorn, T., & Luangmongkholchai, N. (2022). Effectiveness of herbal hot compression to pain on dysmenorrhea among female nursing students at Buriram Rajabhat University. Institute for Urban Disease Control and Prevention Journal, 7(1), 61–74. https://he01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/iudcJ/article/view/255688/174317 (in Thai)
Laimek, S., Tassaneesuwan, S., Vetcho, S., Chukaew, O., & Aphichato, A. (2018). The practice of yoga in releasing menstruation discomforts. Songklanagarind Journal of Nursing, 38(1), 154–162. https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/nur-psu/article/view/117415/90175 (in Thai)
Pojpanichphong, S., Danthaiwattna, S., & Siriyothin, N. (2021). Treatments of perimenopausal syndrome from traditional Chinese medicine point of view. Regional Health Promotion Center 9 Journal, 15(38), 659–670. https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/RHPC9Journal/article/view/252009/172583 (in Thai)
Sukwanitsilp, N. (2019). Joint pain relievers, arthritis-NSAIDs. https://pharmacy.mahidol.ac.th/th/knowledge/article/472/ปวดข้อกับยาเอ็นเสด (NSAIDs)/ (in Thai)
Tadić, V. M., Žugić, A., Martinović, M., Stanković, M., Maksimović, S., Frank, A., & Nešić, I. (2021). Enhanced skin performance of emulgel vs. cream as systems for topical delivery of herbal actives (Immortelle extract and hemp oil). Pharmaceutics, 13(11), 1919. https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmaceutics13111919
Talat, M., Zaman, M., Khan, R., Jamshaid, M., Akhtar, M., & Mirza, A. Z. (2021). Emulgel: An effective drug delivery system. Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 47(8), 1193–1199. https://doi.org/10.1080/03639045.2021.1993889
Thanonkaew, A., et al. (2022). Gummies help relieve menstrual pain. TLO TSU Intellectual Property Mission, Thaksin University. https://www.thailandinnovationportal.com/info/innovation/item/62958
Thomudtha, A., & Thomudtha, P. (2023). Development of medicinal herbs from the extract of Chili and Phlai in emulgel. Mahasarakham hospital journal, 20(2), 149-164. https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/MKHJ/article/view/261383/180421 (in Thai)
Uthairung, A., Rattaromand, R., & Mekjaruskul, C. (2020). Cosmeceutical applications of essential oils of Amomum biflorum Jack from whole plant and rhizome. Thai Journal of Science and Technology, 9(5), 680–692. https://li01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/tjst/article/view/248277/169743 (in Thai)
Wachum, K., Tanpetch, P., Chantasen, O., Sangwang, T., Srinoikhao, R., Sararangsiwut, R., & Iamgak, T. (2021). The effectiveness of herbal patches in primary menstrual pain relief [Research report]. Abhi Phu Bet College of Thai Traditional Medicine. (in Thai)
Yincharoen, K., Jitjum, S., Laohaprapanon, S., Changthae, C., & Hayeeyahya, W. (2022). Effect of applied herbal gel and herbal poultice recipe on relieving dysmenorrhea in primary dysmenorrhea students. Journal of Traditional Thai Medical Research, 8(2), 1–12. https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ttm/article/view/257522/178051 (in Thai)
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Nursing and Health Research
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
