Mentha piperita (otherwise known as peppermint oil), when taken orally, was shown to reduce the intensity of cesarean section pain in the first two hours after surgery compared to a placebo.
Cumin essential oil, when taken orally, decreased pain associated with postcesarean bloating.
Lavender aromatherapy decreased postoperative pain but not to the same degree as a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit.
St. John's wort ointment sped up cesarean wound healing and decreased pain.
Calendula and St. John's wort ointment reduced the area of episiotomy incision compared to wheat germ ointment.
Honey gel, when applied topically, reduced cesarean scar redness and edema and reduced pain compared to a placebo gel, but this effect was not supported by one study that found no difference in wound healing.
Dill essential oil, when taken orally, reduced intestinal and postoperative pain associated with cesarean section
Grape seed extract ointment accelerated cesarean wound healing but only at a higher concentration (5% vs. 2.5%) as compared to petroleum jelly.
Orange blossom and sage aromatherapy reduced postcesarean anxiety equally compared to saline.
Aloe vera gel applied to the cesarean wound improved healing in the short term (24 hours) but not at day 8 compared to a dry dressing. It was also found to delay wound healing by 30 days in another study as compared to standard wound management.
Rosehip extract supplementation, when taken 15 minutes before anesthesia, reduced postoperative pain and reduced the need for pain-relieving drugs.
Chamomile aromatherapy reduced postoperative cesarean pain.
Turmeric cream improved wound healing time when applied the day after surgery.
Flaxseed oil applied topically improved wound healing time.
Hand and foot massage decreased the intensity of postoperative pain.
Acupressure showed mixed results on postcesarean section pain.

Herbs, aromatherapy, and massage for postoperative cesarean pain and healing Original paper