Hur, M.H., Yang, Y.S. and Lee, M.S. (2007)
This study investigated the effects of aromatherapy massage on menopausal symptoms in Korean climacteric women using Kupperman's menopausal index to compare an experimental group of 25 climacteric women with a waiting-list contrl group of 27 climacteric women.
Aromatherapy was topically applied to subjects in the experimental group in the form of massage on the abdomen, back and arms using lavender, rose geranium, rose and jasmine in almond and primrose oils once a week for 8 weeks.
The experimental group experienced significantly lower total menopausal index than the waiting-list control group, with significant intergroup differences in areas such as vasomotor, melancholia, arthralgia and myalgia.
This study would appear to suggest that aromatherapy massage may be an effective treatment for menopausal symptoms, however it is not possible to verify whether the positive effects were due to aromatherapy, massage, or a combination of the two. Further studies are needed to explore this, with more objective measures.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2007) eCAM Advance Access