Fellowes, D., Barnes, K., & Wilkinson, S. (2005). Aromatherapy and massage for symptom relief in patients with cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2005, Art. No.: CD002287.

Databases searched were CENTRAL (Cochrane Library, Issue 1, 2002), MEDLINE (1966-May 2002), CINAHL (1982-April 2002), British Nursing Index (1994-April 2002), EMBASE (1980-week 25, 2002), AMED (1985-April, 2002), PsycINFO (1887-April, 2002), SIGLE (1980-March, 2002), CancerLit (1975-April, 2002), and Dissertation Abstracts International (1861-March, 2002). Reference lists of relevant articles were searched for additional studies.

Reviews were included if they

• Were randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
• Were controlled before-and-after studies or interrupted time-series studies.
• Studied aromatherapy or massage for patients with cancer.
• Measured changes in patient-reported levels of physical or psychological distress or quality of life (QOL) using reliable and valid tools.

• A total of 10 reports met inclusion criteria. Of these, 8 were RCTs, representing 357 patients.
• Most studies measured anxiety, depression, and pain; two demonstrated a reduction in nausea.

Two studies assessed the symptom of nausea. Both studies showed a reduction in nausea in hospitalized patients.

• Although the studies were RCTs, the sample sizes were small.
• Assessing the effect of aromatherapy was difficult because different essential oils were used.
• The degree to which variation in massage style affects outcomes is not known.

• Longer follow-up studies are needed with larger samples.
• No harm was involved, but evidence was mixed as to effect of aromatherapy enhancement to massage to a clinically significant level.