Reduction of Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting with Spinal Anesthesia: Using Complementary Therapy Peppermint and Lavender Aromatherapy

Nausea and vomiting are common occurrences after surgery with spinal anesthesia, which can lead to complications and delay recovery. Hypotension associated with spinal, epidural, and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia was a significant factor contributing to PONV. This study aimed to determine the difference in effectiveness between peppermint and lavender aromatherapy in reducing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients with spinal anesthesia. The study used a one-group pre-posttest design with a control group. The research sample consisted of at least 12 respondents in each group, resulting in 36 respondents, selected using a random sampling technique with a spinner wheel. Inclusion criteria were respondents who experienced moderate to severe nausea and vomiting (scores 9–24). This study utilized the Rhodes Index Nausea, Vomiting & Retching (RINVR) instrument to measure the level of nausea and vomiting scores over 6 hours. Mann whitney test result, the P value of peppermint aromatherapy is smaller than alpha (0.003 <0.05), the P value of lavender aromatherapy is smaller than alpha (0.017 <0.05) and the P value of post aromatherapy peppermint and lavender is smaller than alpha (0.00 <0.05), which means there is a difference in effectiveness between peppermint and lavender aromatherapy on reducing nausea and vomiting. Peppermint aromatherapy is more effective than lavender in reducing nausea vomiting because the refreshing effect of peppermint is preferred by respondents, making them more relaxed and reducing nausea vomiting.