In today’s hectic society, a phenomenon of out-dining arises with a trait of consuming food of high-sodium, high carbohydrate, high-oil, and high-protein. Such eating habit may cause not only nutritional inadequacy and irregular eating pattern, but also an increasing number of overweight citizens and colon cancer patient in Taiwan. This study aims to propose a method of aromatherapy to improve the intestinal health, by studying the progress of the constipation case applying the aromatherapy method, presenting the feasibility report regarding the relief of the symptom. The populations of the case are constipated adults in the age of 20-65 with out-dinning habit. Basing on the answers provided in the questionnaire, 60 samples qualified are picked up. A method of Quasi-experimental design is conducted and by issuing structured questionnaire to assess the efficacy of symptom improvement of the experiment. Samples are assigned to either the intervention group (30 people), or to the control group (30 people). For three weeks, participants in the intervention group are treated with belly acupoint massage and wet compress with patch using grapefruit essential oil, while, in the control group, the participants are treated with acupoint massage and wet compress with patch not using grapefruit essential oil. The result indicates that the intervention group shows significant progress on their “waistline size”, “defecation habit”, and “belly evaluation”. Comparing to control group, the efficacy of improving symptom of constipation of adults in intervention group is greater. This study validates the efficacy of the method of using belly acupoint massage and wet compress with patch using grapefruit essential oil in improving of the symptom of constipation. The result further shows that the method helps people improve the symptom of constipation and stimulate intestinal motility by a supplementary therapy instead of medication.
Keywords： Grapefruit essential oil、Adults、Constipation
