Aromatherapy, as the name suggests, uses the aroma of essential oils or concentrated oils made from the fruit, seeds, flowers, bark, leaves, or root of certain plants. Aromatherapists believe that these oils have certain beneficial properties when applied massaged into the skin or even by just inhaling their aroma. Among other benefits, aromatherapy is known to relieve anxiety/ stress, promote well-being, and refresh the body
Aromatherapy and Cancer
As complementary and supportive therapies are being sought by most cancer patients, aromatherapy is being preferred by many for the therapeutic properties of essential oils used. Among other methods, three major ways of utilizing these oils in aromatherapy include:
- Inhalation
- Massage or local application
- Essential Oil baths
Theoretically speaking, the chemical components in essential oils bind to the receptors in the olfactory bulb which in turn impact the brain’s limbic system which primarily deals with functions like emotion and memory. Topical application can also have anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects.
Many cancer patients use Aromatherapy along with treatments like massage, acupuncture, etc. to manage symptoms. These patients have shown improvement in mood, anxiety/ stress levels, nausea, and pain. There is no reported study of aromatherapy being used to treat cancer.
Studies
| Year | Diagnosis | Significant results | Comments |
| 2008 | Terminally ill patients
with various cancer types |
showed more significant
changes in pain and depression scores |
Aromatherapy hand
massage had positive effect on pain and depression |
| 1995 | Various types of cancer | Anxiety scores were
significantly reduced over time in the massage with essential oils group only |
Patients
improved over time according to the symptom distress scale |
| 2001 | Malignant Brain Tumor | Decrease in systolic and diastolic
blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate |
Semi-structured
interviews carried out one week after treatment revealed that patients felt more ‘relaxed’ and ‘less tense’ |
A word of caution: Since there are hundreds of essential oils, it is difficult to list all of them. Further, some people might be allergic to certain oils. Also, cancer treatment can make your skin weaker. Therefore, it is necessary to visit a trained and experienced aromatherapist before you start this treatment.
References & More Information
- Credit: Beyond Conventional Care Therapies
- ZenOnco.io Integrative Oncology Cancer Care
- Aromatherapy. Cancer Research UK.
- Ali B, Al-Wabel NA et al. Essential oils used in aromatherapy: a systemic review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine. 2015 Aug;5(8):601-611
- Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ®)–Patient Version. National Cancer Institute.
- Katja Boehm, Arndt Büssing, and Thomas Ostermann. Aromatherapy as an Adjuvant Treatment in Cancer Care — A Descriptive Systematic Review. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2012; 9(4): 503–518. Table 3.
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Aromatherapy.
- The Story of Aromatherapy in India. How Aromatherapy is Entwined in Our Culture.
