Steam sauna and mother roasting in Lao PDR: practices and chemical constituents of essential oils of plant species used in postpartum recovery

BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Research Article

Hugo J de Boer¹  Lars Björk¹  Vichith Lamxay² 

[1] Department of Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden;Department of Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-75236, Uppsala, Sweden;Department of Biology, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Vientiane, PDR, Laos;

关键词: Camphor;    Steam Bath;    Perineal Healing;    Puerperal Fever;    Fresh Plant Material;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-6882-11-128

 received in 2011-02-23, accepted in 2011-12-15,  发布年份 2011

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundFundamental in traditional postpartum recovery in Lao PDR is the use of hotbeds, mother roasting, steam sauna and steam baths. During these treatments medicinal plants play a crucial role, but little has been published about how the treatments are carried out precisely, which species are used, the medicinal properties of these species, and the medicinal efficacy of their chemical constituents.MethodsSixty-five interviews, in 15 rural villages, with women of 4 different ethnic groups were conducted to survey confinement rituals, and postpartum plant use and salience. Essential oils from the main species used were extracted using steam distillation and the main chemical constituents characterized using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).ResultsA total of 10 different species were used by three or more of the ethnic groups included in this study. All species were used in steam sauna and bath, but only 3 species were used in hotbed and mother roasting. Essential oils of Amomum villosum, Amomum microcarpum and Blumea balsamifera were found to contain significant amounts of the following terpenes: β-pinene, camphor, bornyl acetate, borneol, linalool, D-limonene, fenchone, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpinene.ConclusionsMany of these terpenes have documented antimicrobial and analgesic properties, and some have also synergistic interactions with other terpenes. The mode of application in hotbed and mother roasting differs from the documented mechanisms of action of these terpenes. Plants in these two practices are likely to serve mainly hygienic purposes, by segregating the mother from infection sources such as beds, mats, stools, cloth and towels. Steam sauna medicinal plant use through inhalation of essential oils vapors can possibly have medicinal efficacy, but is unlikely to alleviate the ailments commonly encountered during postpartum convalescence. Steam sauna medicinal plant use through dermal condensation of essential oils, and steam bath cleansing of the perineal area is possibly a pragmatic use of the reported medicinal plants, as terpene constituents have documented antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© de Boer et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2011