Comparison of the Effects of Thyme Infusion Compress and Chamomile Infusion Compress on the severity of breast fissures during breastfeeding: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background and Objective: Nipple fissures are a common issue during breastfeeding that can cause pain and discomfort for mothers and complicate the breastfeeding process. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effects of thyme infusion compress and chamomile infusion compress on the severity of nipple fissures in breastfeeding women. Materials and Methods: This randomized clinical trial was carried out at Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, with 102 breastfeeding women in 2022-2023. Participants were divided into three groups: two groups used tea bag compresses (thyme and chamomile), and the third group used expressed breast milk to reduce nipple fissures. Treatments were applied at least four times daily for 14 days. The severity of nipple fissures was assessed on days 4, 8, and 14 post-treatment using a checklist, and data were analyzed with SPSS (version 21) software. The significance level was set at P<0.05. Results: In the between-group comparison, the improvement in nipple fissure severity on days 4, 8, and 14 post-intervention showed a statistically significant difference among the three groups (P=0.001). The thyme tea bag group exhibited a greater reduction in nipple fissure severity compared to the other two groups, while the expressed breast milk group showed the least reduction. Conclusion: Thyme tea bags were more effective than chamomile tea bags and expressed breast milk in improving the severity of nipple fissures in breastfeeding women. Therefore, the use of these harmless herbal methods alongside other approaches is recommended.