Positive Health Online
Your Country
![[Image: http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2836.df7d2315253110ff5b3a566f94871f99.jpg "http://www.abundanceandhealth.co.uk")
![[Image: https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/4046.12831f50177f8848ee87b8e94411d6b3.jpg "https://www.water-for-health.co.uk/")
![[Image: http://www.balens.co.uk]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/2148.50367fa908013fae0a7f1a171543ef92.jpg "http://www.balens.co.uk")
![[Image: http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer]](/img/original/BannerAvatar/1859.1296090fd8385e7ceff51c8011559097.jpg "http://www.drsgoodman.com/books-goodman/52-nutrition-and-cancer")
Research: FELLOWES and colleagues,
Listed in Issue 107
Abstract
FELLOWES and colleagues, Marie Curie Palliative Care Research and Development Unit, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, Royal Free and University College Medical School, Royal Free Campus, Rowland Hill Street, London NW3 2PF, UK, have reviewed (83 references) aromatherapy and massage for the relief of symptoms of cancer patients.
Background
Aromatherapy is a commonly used complementary therapy and is used in palliative care largely to reduce psychological distress and improve quality of life.
Methodology
The literature was searched for randomized controlled studies of aromatherapy in cancer patients that measured changes in physical and psychological distress and quality of life. Studies were examined by two researchers to assess study quality and extract data independently.
Results
10 reports representing 8 studies of a total of 357 patients met the inclusion criteria. The most consistently found effect of massage was on anxiety, reported in 4 studies with substantial reductions in anxiety post treatment. The evidence for additional effects of the aromatherapy oils used is contradictory. The evidence for an impact on depression was variable. Of the three trials (120 patients) that assessed this variable, only one found significant changes. Three studies (117 patients) found a reduction of pain, and two (71 patients) found a reduction in nausea.
Conclusion
There is evidence for a short-term effect of massage and aromatherapy to reduce anxiety in cancer patients. It is unclear whether the aromatherapy component is significant in this. Limited evidence suggests some benefits on pain and nausea, but clearly larger trials with longer treatment and follow-up periods are needed.
References
Fellowes D, Barnes K, Wilkinson S. Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (2):CD002287, 2004.
Comment
Essential oils have an array of powerful therapeutic properties. Much anecdotal and case study work has been done using aromatherapy to alleviate symptoms of many serious conditions, including Parkinson's disease, stroke and motor neurone disease. It is a shame that much of this clinical work is discarded in literature searches which only utilize randomised controlled trials as valid research evidence.
