Effects of aromatherapy on chemotherapy-related symptom management

Aromatherapy holds promise for reducing chemotherapy-related symptoms, however, lacks robust clinical evidence. This study evaluates the feasibility and benefit of aromatherapy in managing chemotherapy-related symptoms.

This four-arm, randomized, blinded clinical trial enrolled 91 cancer patients (≥ 8 years) undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Participants were randomized into one of four arms (lavender, jojoba, orange, and ginger) for two chemotherapy cycles (Baseline-no aromatherapy and Cycle 2 - aromatherapy) with an optional third cycle. Participants used aromatherapy inhalers at least 4 times/day for 7 days and rated severity of 7 symptoms (i.e., nausea, vomiting, pain, anxiety, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and lack of appetite) from 0 to 10 daily during each cycle. Primary outcome was feasibility (i.e., retention and aromatherapy compliance through Cycle 2). Preliminary efficacy was evaluated using mean composite symptom severity scores (CSSS; sum daily scores of all individual symptoms for the seven days per cycle).

Of the 91 participants randomized, 84 participants started Baseline with 68 completing through Cycle 2. Aromatherapy demonstrated feasibility with overall retention rate of 81.0% (68/84) and high acceptability with 83.3% of all participants reporting use of their inhaler ≥ 21 times during Cycle 2, exceeding our targeted ≥ 75% threshold. The overall change in mean CSSS between Cycle 2 and baseline was on average -1.38 (SE = 0.54), showing reduced symptom severity with aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is a feasible and acceptable non-pharmacologic integrative modality for chemotherapy symptom management. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms of aromatherapy's effects.