Literature Review: Lemon Aromatherapy Affected the Emesis Gravidarum in First Trimester Pregnancy

Abstract

Emesis occurs in 60-80% of primigravida and 40-60% of multigravida. These symptoms become more severe in one hundred out of a thousand pregnancies. The feeling of nausea is caused by an increase in estrogen and HCG hormone levels in the serum. 40% of women have used lemon scent to alleviate nausea and vomiting, and 25% of them have acknowledged that citrus aromatherapy is an effective way to control these symptoms. This study was aimed to determine the effectiveness of lemon aromatherapy in reducing emesis gravidarum in the first trimester of pregnancy. The method used a literature review. Research articles were searched using Google Scholar by entering the keywords "Lemon Aromatherapy," "Emesis Gravidarum," and "First Trimester Pregnant Women" from 2019 to 2023. Out of 15 published journals identified from 2019 to 2023, 10 journals met the criteria. Based on the 10 reviewed journals, lemon aromatherapy had been proven effective in reducing nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy. Based on the results of the literature review, the administration of 2-3 drops of lemon aromatherapy for 5 minutes once a day for one week is effective in reducing the frequency of nausea and vomiting in the first trimester of pregnancy