• Investigating the effect of aromatherapy on reducing nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy
  • Vajihe Ghalenoei,1 Narges Salavati,2 Parvin Babaei,3,*
    1. BSc in Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Birjand, South Khorasan, Iran
    2. Student research committee, Shoushtar faculty of medical sciences, Shoushtar, Iran
    3. MSc Pediatric Nursing Student, Student Research Committee, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, Iran


  • Introduction: Chemotherapy, a vital cancer treatment, is often accompanied by serious side effects, with nausea and vomiting being among the most distressing for patients. These symptoms not only reduce quality of life but can also lead to non-compliance with treatment, which can compromise the full success of cancer therapies. However, despite improvements in antiemetic medications, approximately 40% of patients suffer from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in both the immediate and delayed phases of treatment, emphasizing the need for optional, relieving treatment options. Aromatherapy, which involves the therapeutic use of botanical oils, has emerged as an appropriate method for various endurance conditions. Early research suggests that aromatherapy can help alleviate the intensity of nausea and vomiting, providing a non-invasive and low-risk method of treating symptoms in cancer patients. Based on recent literature reviews, this article attempts to assess the effectiveness of aromatherapy as an adjunctive therapy to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
  • Methods: In this narrative review, an advanced search was performed using Boolean operators with a combination of MeSH and non-MeSH terms. Persian and English searches were conducted using the keywords "aromatherapy," "chemotherapy," "nausea and vomiting," and "cancer patients" in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar search engine, as well as national databases (SID and Magiran). The initial search yielded 39 articles. Based on the inclusion criteria (articles published between 2020–2025 in Persian or English with open-access full text) and exclusion criteria (grey literature, letters, and comments), 12 studies were ultimately included for analysis after removing duplicates and screening for relevance.
  • Results: Several studies have shown that aromatherapy can effectively alleviate chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). In 2020, Anh NH et al. in China investigated the effects of ginger and peppermint essential oils. Their study found that participants who used aromatherapy experienced significantly less chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV). The researchers also reported that nausea and vomiting scores were significantly reduced in participants who received cardamom aromatherapy. In another study looking at cancer patients, recipients of ginger aromatherapy had a lower mean level of nausea after chemotherapy compared to non-recipients. In addition, the study on aromatherapy with rose essence during the second cycle of chemotherapy found that participants in the treatment group had significantly lower levels of nausea and vomiting than those in the non-recipient group.
  • Conclusion: Based on the collected results, healthcare providers are advised to use aromatherapy as a complementary method to support the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in cancer patients. Essential oils such as ginger, lavender, and peppermint, which are known to combat nausea and promote relaxation, can significantly improve patient recovery and increase adherence to treatment. There is ample evidence of their effectiveness globally, complemented by research from developed countries. Moreover, studies from Asian countries such as China, Japan, and India support the cultural significance and effectiveness of the therapy in the field of oncology. There is a need for further research to understand the biological mechanisms of the benefits of aromatherapy and to develop the best administration methods and dosages.
  • Keywords: Aromatherapy, Chemotherapy, Nausea and Vomiting, Cancer Patients