Volume 7, Issue 4 (10-2025)
pbp 2025, 7(4): 1-2 |
Back to browse issues page
Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:
Alizade Aghdam H, Khosravi R. Medicinal Plants with Analgesic Effects in Paediatric Surgery: From Traditional Evidence to Scientific Perspectives. pbp 2025; 7 (4) :1-2
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-298-en.html
URL: http://pbp.medilam.ac.ir/article-1-298-en.html
1- Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
2- Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran ,rkhosravi@ymail.com
2- Assistant Professor of Pediatric Surgery, School of Medicine, Shahid Motahari Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran ,
Abstract: (497 Views)
Objective: For centuries, medicinal plants, essential oils, and natural extracts have been used as alternative therapies to alleviate pain, particularly in the context of post-operative care for children. Despite their historical use, many of these treatments have not been rigorously examined through modern scientific inquiry. However, initial findings and classical sources of traditional medicine suggest that certain herbal remedies may offer significant analgesic benefits. This observation underscores the necessity of a more structured and evidence-based approach to their evaluation. The aim of this review is to explore the longstanding application of natural therapies—especially medicinal oils and herbs—in the relief of post-surgical pain, with a particular focus on their efficacy and safety in paediatric populations.
Methodology: This study adopts a narrative review methodology, drawing upon authoritative sources within Iranian traditional medicine, including Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh Kharazmshahi, Tohfeh-ye Hakim Momen, and Makhzan al-Adviah, among others. Supplementary data were retrieved from indexed academic databases using keywords such as “pain,” “surgery,” “children,” and “medicinal plants.”
Results: The review identified a range of medicinal plants traditionally used to mitigate surgical pain. These include borage (Borago officinalis), turmeric, ginger, chamomile, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, parsley, black seed (Nigella sativa), clove, sage, rose, marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), castor, olive, and aloe vera. These have been applied in various forms—such as oils, gels, essential oils, and aromatherapy—according to traditional practices.
Conclusion: The evidence reviewed highlights a rich tradition of employing medicinal plants to ease post-operative pain in children, with specific emphasis on chamomile, lavender, marshmallow, aloe vera, and peppermint as both safe and frequently utilised agents. While traditional sources and preliminary scientific data support their potential efficacy, the absence of rigorous clinical trials remains a significant obstacle to their full integration into evidence-based paediatric care. Further experimental and clinical research is strongly recommended.
Methodology: This study adopts a narrative review methodology, drawing upon authoritative sources within Iranian traditional medicine, including Avicenna’s Canon of Medicine, Zakhireh Kharazmshahi, Tohfeh-ye Hakim Momen, and Makhzan al-Adviah, among others. Supplementary data were retrieved from indexed academic databases using keywords such as “pain,” “surgery,” “children,” and “medicinal plants.”
Results: The review identified a range of medicinal plants traditionally used to mitigate surgical pain. These include borage (Borago officinalis), turmeric, ginger, chamomile, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, parsley, black seed (Nigella sativa), clove, sage, rose, marshmallow (Althaea officinalis), castor, olive, and aloe vera. These have been applied in various forms—such as oils, gels, essential oils, and aromatherapy—according to traditional practices.
Conclusion: The evidence reviewed highlights a rich tradition of employing medicinal plants to ease post-operative pain in children, with specific emphasis on chamomile, lavender, marshmallow, aloe vera, and peppermint as both safe and frequently utilised agents. While traditional sources and preliminary scientific data support their potential efficacy, the absence of rigorous clinical trials remains a significant obstacle to their full integration into evidence-based paediatric care. Further experimental and clinical research is strongly recommended.
Keywords: Post-operative pain, paediatrics, herbal medicine, aromatherapy, essential oils, Iranian traditional medicine
Type of Study: Review/Systemtic review |
Subject:
Phytochemistry
Received: 2024/12/17 | Accepted: 2025/01/29 | Published: 2025/01/29
Received: 2024/12/17 | Accepted: 2025/01/29 | Published: 2025/01/29
References
1. Aslanabadi S, Aghdam HA, Jamshidi M, Badebarin D, Zarrintan S. Outcome of children operated for congenital anorectal malformations: A prospective single center study. Iran J Pediatr Surg. 2017;3(2):58-68. https://doi.org/10.22037/irjps.v3i2.18213
2. Boric K, Dosenovic S, Jelicic Kadic A, Batinic M, Cavar M, Urlic M, et al. Interventions for postoperative pain in children: An overview of systematic reviews. Pediatr Anesth. 2017;27(9):893-904.
3. Aslanabadi S, Badebarin D, Yazdanpanah F, Jamshidi M, Aghdam HA, Zarrintan S. Is there any correlation between duration of vomiting before pyloromyotomy and eradication of symptoms after pyloromyotomy in hypertrophic pyloric stenosis? Iran J Pediatr Surg. 2015;1(2):55-7. doi: 10.1002/bjs.1800730529.
4. Mather L, Mackie J. The incidence of postoperative pain in children. Pain. 1983;15(1-4):271-82.
5. Batoz H, Semjen F, Bordes-Demolis M, Bénard A, Nouette-Gaulain K. Chronic postsurgical pain in children: prevalence and risk factors. A prospective observational study. Br J Anaesth. 2016;117(4):489-96. doi: 10.1093/bja/aew260.
6. Gehdoo RP. Post operative pain management in paediatric patients. Indian J Anaesth. 2004;48(5):406-14.
7. Brennan TJ. Pathophysiology of postoperative pain. Pain. 2011;152(Suppl 3):S33-40.
8. Khosravi R, Alizade Aghdam H. A review of medicinal plants effective in the treatment of umbilical hernia in children based on traditional and herbal medicine sources of Iran. Plant Biotechnol Persa. 2025;7(4):0.
9. Verghese ST, Hannallah RS. Postoperative pain management in children. Anesthesiol Clin North Am. 2005;23(1):163-84. doi: 10.1016/j.atc.2004.11.008.
10. Sadatsune EJ, Leal PD, Clivatti J, Sakata RK. Chronic postoperative pain: pathophysiology, risk factors and prevention. Rev Dor. 2011;12:58-63.
11. Neergheen-Bhujun VS. Underestimating the toxicological challenges associated with the use of herbal medicinal products in developing countries. Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:804086.
12. Holtmann G, Schrenk D, Madisch A, Allescher HD, Ulrich-Merzenich G, Mearin F, et al. Use of evidence-based herbal medicines for patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders: a conceptional framework for risk-benefit assessment and regulatory approaches. Dig Dis. 2020;38(4):269-79. doi: 10.1159/000504570.
13. Jorjani SI. Zakhireh Kharazmshahi (The Treasure of Kharazmshah). 1st ed. Tehran: Dar al-Kutub; 1995.
14. Razes (Razi) MZ. Jawahir al-Tibb (The Jewels of Medicine). Mashhad: Mashhad University Press; 2001.
15. Ibn Sina. Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb (The Canon of Medicine). Ghulam Sarwar, translator. 1st ed. New Delhi: Jamia Hamdard Printing Press; 1972.
16. Hossein ibn Ali. Al-Fiadh (The Fruitful Knowledge). Mashhad: Mashhad University Press; 1998.
17. Ibn Sina. Al-Nahj al-Tibbi (The Medical Approach). Tehran: Institute of Persian Medical Sciences; 2004.
18. Sahl ibn Abd Allah. Mafatih al-Tibb (The Keys of Medicine). Tehran: Isfahan University Press; 1998.
19. Aghili Khorasani M. Makhzan al-Adwiyah (The Storehouse of Medicaments). 1st ed. Tehran: Tehran Univ Med Sci Press; 2001.
20. Ibn Sina. Al-Risalah al-Faqihiyyah (The Juridical Treatise). Qom: Islamic Publications; 2001.
21. Momen H. Tuhfat al-Mu'min (The Gift of the Believer). 1st ed. Tehran: Tehran Univ Press; 2000.
22. Razes (Razi) MZ. Kitab al-Hawi (The Comprehensive Book on Medicine). Yassir A, translator. Cairo: Dar al-Ma'arif; 1999.
23. Ali ibn Abbas al-Majusi. Kamil al-Sina'ah al-Tibbiyyah (Complete Book of the Medical Art). Leclerc L, translator. Paris: Imprimerie Nationale; 1877.
24. Jorjani SI. Al-Dastur (The Code of Medicine). Tehran: Dastan Publications; 1999.
25. Ibn Sina. Kitab al-Shifa (The Book of Healing). Beirut: Dar al-Mashriq; 1995.
26. Noonan K, Arensman RM, Hoover JD. Herbal medication use in the pediatric surgical patient. J Pediatr Surg. 2004;39(3):500-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2003.11.017.
27. Ahmadi MS, Alipour M, Poorolajal J, Moradkhani S, Akbarpour M. Assessment of the effect of aromatherapy with lavender and chamomile essential oils on postadenotonsillectomy pain in paediatric patients: double blind, randomised clinical trial. J Herb Med. 2023;41:100728. doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2023.100728
28. Czarnecki ML, Michlig JR, Norton AM, Stelter AJ, Hainsworth KR. Use of aromatherapy for pediatric surgical patients. Pain Manag Nurs. 2022;23(6):703-10. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2022.08.003.
29. Asaad GF, Redai AQ, Hakami AO, Ghazwani FY, Nomier YO, Alshahrani SA. Potential analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of Cuminum cyminum and Borago officinalis in rats and mice. Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2020;13(1):216-8.
30. Eke‐Okoro UJ, Raffa RB, Pergolizzi JV Jr, Breve F, Taylor Jr R, NEMA Research Group. Curcumin in turmeric: Basic and clinical evidence for a potential role in analgesia. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2018;43(4):460-6. doi: 10.1111/jcpt.12703.
31. Farsani HA, Heidari-Soureshjani S, Sherwin CM, Tafrishinejad A, Azadegan-Dehkordi Z. The analgesic effect of ginger on postoperative pain: A systematic review of clinical trials. Nat Prod J. 2024;14(2):81-9.
32. Soltani R, Soheilipour S, Hajhashemi V, Asghari G, Bagheri M, Molavi M. Evaluation of the effect of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on post-tonsillectomy pain in pediatric patients: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2013;77(9):1579-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2013.07.014.
33. Shulman RJ, Chumpitazi BP, Abdel‐Rahman SM, Garg U, Musaad S, Kearns GL. Randomised trial: Peppermint oil (menthol) pharmacokinetics in children and effects on gut motility in children with functional abdominal pain. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2022;88(3):1321-33. doi: 10.1111/bcp.15076.
34. Mahmud Hussen B, Noori M, Sayad B, Ebadi Fard Azar M, Sadri Nahand J, Bayat M, Babaei F, Karampour R, Bokharaei-Salim F, Mirzaei H, Moghoofei M. New potential MicroRNA biomarkers in human immunodeficiency virus elite controllers, human immunodeficiency virus infections, and coinfections with hepatitis B virus or hepatitis C virus. Intervirology. 2023 Dec 20;66(1):122–135.
35. Ghanbari A, Nouri M, Darvishi M. Evaluation of relationship between serum hemoglobin A1C level and severity of diabetic foot ulcers based on Wagner criteria. J Med Chem Sci. 2023;6:2234–2241.
36. Darvishi M, Nouri M, Zahir M, Asli M, Hejripoor SZ, Karimi E. Overview of human papillomavirus infection. Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2024 Mar 1;24(2):65–76.
37. Nouri M, Kamakifar P, Khodabandehlou N, Nahand JS, Tavakoli A, Norooznezhad F, Sorayyayi S, Babaei F, Mostafaei S, Moghoofei M. Association between Parvovirus B19 and anemia in HIV-infected patients. Med J Islam Repub Iran. 2019 Dec 16;33:137.
38. Darvishi M, Noori M, Nazer MR, Soleiman-Meigooni S, Forootan M. The relationship between Helicobacter pylori and extra-gastrointestinal infections. Iran J Med Microbiol. 2020 Nov 10;14(6):543–565.
39. Darvishi M, Hashemi Rafsanjani SMR, Nouri M, Abbaszadeh S, Heidari-Soureshjani S, Kasiri K, Rahimian G. Biological mechanisms of polyphenols against Clostridium difficile: A systematic review. Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2025 May;25(3): 18715265313944. doi: 10.2174/0118715265313944240726115600
Send email to the article author
| Rights and permissions | |
 |
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |