Effect of massage with aromatic oils on pruritus relief in hemodialysis patients

Pruritus is a common and troublesome side effect of end stage renal disease. It can directly influences on quality of life in affected patients. Unfortunately present treatment options are not successful in alleviating this symptom and yet kidney transplantation is the best option. Since one of the recent therapies in reducing pruritus is complementary medicine، the present study investigated the effect of massage with/without aromatic substances on alleviating pruritus. this study was a crossover clinical trial which has been performed in selected dialysis centers in Isfahan Medical University. Sampling was convenience and all hemodialyzed patients who were dialyzed three sessions a week for 3-5 hours، participated in the study. Subjects were randomly allocated in two groups. Participants in with/without aromatherapy massage group were delivered 6 sessions massage with aromatic substances firstly، and then after one week washout، delivered 6 sessions massage without aromatic substances، simultaneously In without/with aromatherapy massage group the order of interventions were vice versa. Each massage session took 7 minutes. 3-5 milliliters of aromatic substances (mixture of lavender، peppermint and tea tree oils which diluted to 5% by using sweet almond oil) or sweet almond oil were used in each session. in this study 40 patients participated in the investigation، were randomly allocated in two groups. The groups were matched in sex، age، underling diseases، degree of xerosis and physiologic parameters but the length of being treated with hemodialysis were significantly different between two groups (p= 0. 03). Analyses of data showed a statistically significant difference before and after both interventions in both periods (p<0. 05) but there was no significant difference between two interventions in both groups. use of massage regardless to be with or without aromatic substances can significantly alleviate pruritus in hemodialyzed patients.