Aromatherapy and Essential Oils - National Cancer Institute

No. = number; QOL = quality of life.

^aPatients with cancer.

^bPatients with breast cancer undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

^cPatients with malignant brain tumors.

^dLavender (43%), rosewood (29%), rose (7%), and valerian (4%).


Purpose of This PDQ Summary


Overview


General Information


History


Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies


Human/Clinical Studies


Adverse Effects


Overall Level of Evidence for Aromatherapy and Essential Oils


Changes to This Summary (05/29/2008)


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Overall Level of Evidence for Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

To assist readers in evaluating the results of human studies of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) treatments for cancer, the strength of the evidence (i.e., the levels of evidence) associated with each type of treatment is provided whenever possible. To qualify for a levels of evidence analysis, a study must:

Be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Report on a therapeutic outcome or outcomes, such as tumor response, improvement in survival, or measured improvement in quality of life.
Describe clinical findings in enough detail that a meaningful evaluation can be made.

Separate levels of evidence scores are assigned to qualifying human studies on the basis of statistical strength of the study design and scientific strength of the treatment outcomes (i.e., endpoints) measured. The resulting two scores are then combined to produce an overall score. A table showing the levels of evidence scores for qualifying human studies cited in this summary is presented below. For an explanation of the scores and additional information about levels of evidence analysis of CAM treatments for cancer, refer to Levels of Evidence for Human Studies of Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Use of Aromatherapy as a Supportive Care Agent: Table of Clinical Studies

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Reference Citations	Type of Study/Essential Oil/Mode of Administration	No. of Patients Enrolled; Treated; Control	Condition Investigated	Primary Outcome	Secondary Outcome	Level of Evidence Score
[1]	Randomized nonblinded trial^a/lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller [synonyms: Lavandula spicata L.; Lavandula vera DC.]) and chamomile blend/massage	46; 11; 18	Mood, QOL, physical symptoms	No effect on mood, QOL, or physical symptoms	None	1ii
[2]	Randomized nonblinded trial^a/lavender/massage	42; 29; 13	Pain	No effect on pain	Improved sleep; reduced depression; no effect on QOL	1ii
[3]	Double-blind randomized control trial^a/lavender, bergamot (Citrus aurantium L. ssp. bergamia [Risso] Wright & Arn. [Rutaceae]; [synonym: Citrus bergamia Risso]), and cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica [Endl.] Manetti ex Carriere [Pinaceae])/indirect application	313	Anxiety	No effect on anxiety	No effect on depression or fatigue	1i
[4]	Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial ^b/lavender, eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Eucalyptus radiata Sieber ex DC. [Myrtaceae]), tea tree/topical application	16; 6; 10	Infection	No effect on incidence of infection	None	2
[5]	Nonrandomized controlled clinical trial ^b/geranium (Pelargonium species), German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L. [synonyms: Matricaria chamomilla L., Chamomilla recutita (L.) Rausch.]) , patchouli (Pogostemon cablin [Blanco] Benth. [Lamiaceae] [synonyms: Mentha cablin Blanco, Pogostemon patchouly Letettier]), and turmeric phytol/oral application	48; 24; 24	Gastrointestinal symptoms	No effect on gastrointestinal symptoms	None	2
[6]	Consecutive case series ^c/lavender or chamomile/massage	18; 8	Anxiety, depression	No reduction in anxiety or depression	Reduction in blood pressure, pulse, and respiration	3ii
[7]	Randomized nonblinded trial^a/chamomile/massage	103; 43; 44	Physical and psychological symptoms, QOL	Reduction in anxiety and in physical and psychological symptoms; improved QOL	None	1ii
[8]	Randomized nonblinded trial^a/chamomile/massage	52; 26; 25	QOL, physical symptoms, anxiety	Improved QOL, fewer physical symptoms, reduced anxiety	None	1ii
[9]	Randomized nonblinded trial^a/aromatherapy blend^d/massage	52; 34; 18	Anxiety, mobility	Decreased anxiety, pain; improved mobility	None	1ii
[10]	Consecutive case^a/various oils/massage	69	General symptoms	General improvement in symptoms reported by patients; no statistical analysis completed	None	3ii

References

Wilcock A, Manderson C, Weller R, et al.: Does aromatherapy massage benefit patients with cancer attending a specialist palliative care day centre? Palliat Med 18 (4): 287-90, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
Soden K, Vincent K, Craske S, et al.: A randomized controlled trial of aromatherapy massage in a hospice setting. Palliat Med 18 (2): 87-92, 2004. [PUBMED Abstract]
Graham PH, Browne L, Cox H, et al.: Inhalation aromatherapy during radiotherapy: results of a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized trial. J Clin Oncol 21 (12): 2372-6, 2003. [PUBMED Abstract]
Gravett P: Aromatherapy treatment for patients with Hickman line infection following high-dose chemotherapy. International Journal of Aromatherapy 11 (1): 18-9, 2001.
Gravett P: Treatment of gastrointestinal upset following high-dose chemotherapy. International Journal of Aromatherapy 11 (2): 84-6, 2001.
Hadfield N: The role of aromatherapy massage in reducing anxiety in patients with malignant brain tumours. Int J Palliat Nurs 7 (6): 279-85, 2001. [PUBMED Abstract]
Wilkinson S, Aldridge J, Salmon I, et al.: An evaluation of aromatherapy massage in palliative care. Palliat Med 13 (5): 409-17, 1999. [PUBMED Abstract]
Wilkinson S: Aromatherapy and massage in palliative care. Int J Palliat Nurs 1 (1): 21-30, 1995.
Corner J, Cawler N, Hildebrand S: An evaluation of the use of massage and essential oils on the wellbeing of cancer patients. Int J Palliat Nurs 1 (2): 67-73, 1995.
Evans B: An audit into the effects of aromatherapy massage and the cancer patient in palliative and terminal care. Complement Ther Med 3 (4): 239-41, 1995.

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