Essential Oil Study - Cancer Patients

http://content.herbalgram.org/ogdenpress/HerbClip/review.asp?i=44756

Re: Essential Oil Preparation Provides Palliative Relief to Cancer Patients

Warnke PH, Sherry E, Russo PAJ, et al. Antibacterial essential oils in malodorous cancer patients: clinical observations in 30 patients. Phytomed. 2006;13:463-467.

Necrotic ulcers are dead skin lesions often associated with a strong foul smell due to superinfection with anaerobic bacteria. Patients with cancer of the head and neck often experience these ulcers on the skin near the tumors. The strong smell and physical deformity associated with these ulcers often leads to increased social isolation and decreased quality of life for the patients. This case series examines the efficacy of topical essential oil therapy as an adjunct to traditional wound treatment and oral antibiotics.

The authors have previously found that the application of tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) relieved tumor-related malodor. In this case series, the authors have tested the application of Klonemax® (KM-PT 70, Central Tilba, NSW, Australia) a eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) essential oil mixture. The custom-made mixture contains 70 mg eucalyptus oil, 50 mg tea tree oil, 45 mg lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus), 45 mg lemon oil (Citrus limon), 7 mg clove leaf oil (Syzygium aromaticum), 3 mg thyme oil (Thymus vulgaris) in a 40% ethanol base. Patients seem to prefer eucalyptus oil mixtures because of their pleasant scent. The authors have observed that the clinical use of essential oils is associated with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, and with re-epitheliazation of the neoplastic face ulcers. The authors have used essential oil therapy in 30 patients and report on three typical patient cases in this paper.

Patient 1 was a 75-year-old man with squamous cell cancer of the left buccal mucosa (cancer of the mucous membranes in the cheek). The cancer had spread though to the skin on his cheek, producing a superinfected fistula with a foul smell. After three days of treatment with the eucalyptus oil mixture and an oral antibiotic, the malodor had disappeared. After two and a half weeks the inflammation and pus was markedly reduced. After six weeks, the fistula had closed; but by the eighth week, the tumor had eaten through to the skin surface. However, the superinfection and malodor did not recur, and the patient was able to spend the last few weeks of his life at home with his family.

Patient 2 was a 49-year-old woman with a large squamous cell carcinoma on the floor of her mouth that had destroyed her left mandible. The tumor had eroded through to her skin and caused foul-smelling tumors and fistulae. The patient was treated with topical applications of the eucalyptus oil mixture and oral antibiotics. After three days, the foul smell had disappeared. After one week, swabs taken from the skin ulcers showed no bacteria. After three weeks, some of the fistulae had begun to heal, and compete re-epthelialization had occurred at four weeks. The patient was moved into a room with another patient, and her quality of life and mood greatly improved. She also reported that the essential oil therapy resulted in pain relief. She agreed to palliative irradiation therapy and died seven weeks after her initial presentation.

Patient 3 was a 76-year-old homeless man with an inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the lateral pharynx. The tumor had eroded through to the side of his neck and produced a large ulcer below his ear. The ulcer was treated topically with the eucalyptus oil mixture and with oral antibiotics. After four days, the foul smell of the ulcer had resolved completely. After three weeks, the ulcer "appeared much cleaner" with very little redness and a complete fibrin layer at the base. He was able to enjoy the company of other patients in a four-bed room until his death six weeks later.

This case series has shown that topical essential oil therapy may be an effective treatment in the palliative care of cancer patients with superinfected fistulae and ulcers in the skin. The authors write that "the greatest benefit of this treatment is the improved quality of life associated with the reduction in foul smells associated with neoplastic ulcers." The reduction in malodor resulted in improved moods and social interactions for the patients, who were able to spend more time with friends, family, and other patients. No allergic reactions were observed by the authors in the 30 patients treated with the essential oil therapy. The authors also observed re-epthelialization and pain relief possibly due to the tea tree oil, which merits further research. The authors suggest that essential oil therapy should "have a significant place in modern Palliative Care and Oncology."

—Marissa Oppel, MS