Natural Treatments for Oral Disorders in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care and Natural Product Research
• Oral Health in Advanced Diseases
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Palliative care (PC) focuses on improving quality of life for patients with advanced diseases.
• Oral disorders (ODs) are prevalent in PC, impacting crucial functions like eating and communication.
• Natural treatments present a promising avenue for managing ODs in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the efficacy and safety of natural products for oral disorders in palliative care patients.
• To evaluate the acceptability and oral tolerability of these natural interventions.
• To identify potential adverse events associated with their use.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a systematic review adhering to PRISMA guidelines, registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews.
• Performed a comprehensive literature search across major biomedical databases.
• Included 7 studies (5 RCTs) involving 522 PC patients, assessed for quality using JBI tools and OCEBM levels of evidence.

Main Results:

• Glycerol, Salvia officinalis, and peppermint mini ice cubes demonstrated efficacy in relieving oral symptoms.
• Glycerol provided rapid but short-term relief; Salvia officinalis improved oral dryness compared to saline.
• Peppermint cubes reduced dry mouth and thirst, with a preference noted by patients.

Conclusions:

• Natural interventions show potential for managing xerostomia and enhancing comfort in palliative care patients.
• Generalizability of current findings is limited due to study designs and endpoints.
• Future research should prioritize randomized trials with oral-specific outcomes, clear dosing, and extended follow-up periods.