The Effect of Medicinal Plants on Gynecological and Obstetric Hemorrhages: A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

 Every woman during her life may experience life-threatening bleeding such as bleeding during pregnancy, childbirth and after delivery, or bleeding which is less life-threatening but overshadows the woman's life, such as abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Regarding to the importance of preventing and controlling the obstetrics bleeding and the need to find an effective and low-complication treatment method, this systematic review was conducted with aim to determine the effect of herbal medicines on gynecological and obstetric hemorrhages.

In this systematic review study, all the related studies (based on PRISMA) were searched in databases of clinical randomized registration center and PubMed, Magiran, Medlib, SID, IranMedex, Scopus, and Google scholar using the key words of ( Plantago major, plantain, Plantago (lanceolate), Punica granatum, Persian gulnar, Ginger, Zingiber officinale, Chamomile, Achillea millefolium, Grape Seed, cumin (cuminum), Anethum graveolens (dill), Foeniculum (Fennel), Vitex (Chasteberry), postpartum hemorrhage, Menstrual bleeding, bleeding, menorrhagia, randomized clinical trial, and traditional medicine without time limitation until Nov 2021. Data were analyzed qualitatively.

Results:

 In this study, 148 articles were extracted. Also, 28 clinical trials which received Jedad score ≥ 3 and met the inclusion criteria entered the study. The articles related to 10 types of medicinal plants with a sample size of 2666 people were studied. According to the results, the studied plants were effective in reducing gynecological and obstetric hemorrhages.

 The medicinal plants studied in this study can be used for preventing and controlling bleeding in women. However, judging the definite effect of these interventions definitely requires more extensive studies.