The Effect of Peppermint on the Treatment of Nipple Fissure during Breastfeeding: A Systematic Review

Background: Considering,  the high prevalence of nipple fissures as well as the importance of neonatal health and, on the other hand, the increasing use of herbal medicines, we decided to conduct a systematic review on the effects of peppermint on nipple fissure. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, all clinical trials evaluating the effect of pepperminton healing of breast fissure in lactating mothers were searched on the online databases of Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Medline with no language or time restrictions till to Feb. 2019 using the combination related keywords of Mesh. The study selection was carried out by two reviewers. Results: Six studies (with a total 952-sample size) examined the effect of peppermint on nipple fissure. The first study showed that the lanolin, peppermint, and dexpanthenol medicines had similar therapeutic effects on the damaged nipple. The results of the second study revealed that there was a statistically significant difference between the three intervention groups (peppermint tea bag, peppermint cream, and breast milk) in the treatment of nipple cracking. The results of four other studies also showed a positive effect of peppermint on the treatment of nipple fissure. Conclusion: Peppermint can have beneficial effects on the treatment of nipple fissure disorders. Considering the patients' interest in complementary medicine and the low cost of this treatment, this useful herb can be used in improving the symptoms of nipple fissure.