Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
e - ISSN - 2249-7722
Print ISSN - 2249-7730
ABSTRACT
The excessive blood loss during the menstrual period might affect quality of life and can lead to medical
problems. There are clinical reports suggesting that it is possible to reduce menstrual flow using lemon juice.
Probably the bioactive components with anti-inflammatory and vasoconstrictor properties such as flavonoids,
diosmin, hesperidin, coumarins and synephrine act on reducing menstrual flow and colics. However, as these
implications were still not confirmed, the objective became the evaluation of the citrus Phytotherapys capacity to
reduce menstrual flow and the collateral effects associated with its use. Then 47 women, between 18 and 40 years
old, were selected to answer two questionnaires. The first questionnaire was administered before using citrus
therapy to evaluate the baseline characteristics of the menstrual cycle. The second questionnaire was administered
after the use of one Tahiti lemon juice per day, during the first three days of menstrual flow and three consecutive
menstrual cycles, to evaluate phytotherapeutic effects in the cycle duration, intensity of menstrual flow, occurrence
of cramps and reduction of the presence of clots. Results showed significant reduction in the duration of the
menstrual flow in 23% of the participants and in the intensity of menstrual flow in 72% of them, reduction of the
presence of clots in 43% of them and complete disappearance of dysmenorrheal, in 21% of the women after citrus
therapy. Therefore, we conclude that the citrus therapy was able to promote the reduction of unfavorable effects
associated with the menstrual cycle.
Key words: Citrus Therapy, Lemon, Menstrual Flow.
INTRODUCTION
Ribeiro [1] emphasizes that the modern woman
experiences more menstrual cycles than her ancestors,
which experienced the menarche later in life, have passed
by multiple pregnancies and long periods of breastfeeding
which suppresses the menstruation. For some women, this
complex menstrual cyclic action, although natural, can
compromise the quality of life, even when the blood flow
is not excessive.
According to Souza [2], the coordination of all
systems which are involved in menstrual cycle, it is
considered one of the most notable. Women experience
an average of 400 menstruations throughout her lives.
Corresponding Author:- Prof. Dra. Priscila Maria De Andrade Borra Email: pmborra@gmail.com
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Frequency
11
35
1
47
Table 2. Proportion of patients with decreased presence of clots after citrus therapy.
Decrease in the presence of clots
Frequency
20
Yes
27
No (did not change or increased)
47
Total
Binomial test for expected ratio of 0% of patients with decreased presence of clots: p<0.01.
(%)
23.4
74.5
2.1
100.0
(%)
43%
57%
100.0
Table 3. Proportion of patients with decreased intensity of menstrual flow after citrus therapy.
Decreasing the intensity of the flow
Frequency
(%)
34
72%
Yes
13
28%
No (did not change or increased)
47
100.0
Total
Binomial test for expected ratio of 0% of patients with decreased intensity of flow: p<0.01.
Table 4. Proportion of patients with a reduction in the presence of cramps after citrus therapy.
Decreasing the intensity of the flow
Frequency
10
Yes
37
No (did not change or increased)
47
Total
Binomial test for expected ratio of 0% of patients with reduction in the presence of colic: p<0.01.
DISCUSSION
In the present study, it was observed a reduction
of menstrual flow in 72% of the volunteers, with the use
of citrus therapy. This reduction was observed in the
number of bleeding days, and in reducing the number of
(%)
21%
79%
100.0
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