Massage shown to relieve menopause symptoms

A small number of massage sessions with scented oils may be enough to help ease menopause symptoms in some women, according to a new study.

The work by Iranian scientists at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences found the sessions could relieve symptoms such as irritability, depression and disruptive sleep problems and that the presence of the oil helped the massage to be more effective.

Dr Hilda Hutcherson, a clinical professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, who was not involved in the study, told Reuters Health that the results seemed logical.

With the symptoms the study measured it makes sense that massages could make some women feel better, she stated.

Lavender oil was found to be the most effective addition to a massage and Dr Hutchinson said the oil has an association with making people feel more relaxed.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some women may experience all the symptoms associated with the menopause, while others may not have any at all.