Aromatherapy Massage Improves Neuropathic Pain in Diabetics

Written by Angeline A. De Leon, Staff Writer. Aromatherapy massage, using a combination of rosemary, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile essential oils, significantly reduced neuropathic pain in the participating diabetic patients compared to the control group.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy, involving damage to peripheral nerves as a result of chronically elevated sugar levels, is a condition affecting up to half of all diabetic patients ¹. Common symptoms of impaired sensation include numbness, tingling, weakness, or burning pain in several parts of the body, particularly the extremities. Studies on diabetes-related neuropathy highlight the negative impact of neuropathic pain on day-to-day activities, such as self-care, sleep quality, and employment ². Standard treatment for neuropathy relies on the use of anticonvulsants and opioids; however, the literature indicates that pain relief from pharmaceutical drugs is only partial and may be ineffective long-term ³. One of the most increasingly popular alternative therapies for neuropathy is aromatherapy, which incorporates the use of essential oils to alter the perception of pain. Several oils, including rosemary, lavender, geranium, chamomile, and eucalyptus, possess powerful analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and muscle-relaxing properties ⁴, and emerging research supports their therapeutic utility in alleviating neuropathic pain ⁵. In a clinical trial conducted by researchers at Hacettepe University in Turkey, the effects of aromatherapy massage were evaluated in relation to severity of neuropathic pain and quality of life in diabetic patients with neuropathy.

A total of 46 patients (aged 21 to 85 years) with self-reported painful diabetic neuropathy were recruited as participants in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Patients were randomized to receive aromatherapy massage three times weekly for four weeks, while control consisted of administered standard hospital care. Using coconut oil as a carrier oil, rosemary, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile were blended at a ratio of 1:1:1:1:1 and used as part of a classical massage that was repeatedly administered in 30-minute sessions (20 minutes on feet, 10 minutes on hands). During face-to-face interviews with patients, several questionnaires were administered, including the Douleur Neuropathique Questionnaire, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Neuropathic Pain Impact on Quality of Life Questionnaire (NePIQoL). 61% of patients in the intervention group and 64% of patients in the control group reported not receiving any form of treatment for neuropathic pain.

By the fourth week, a significant reduction in median pain score was observed for the aromatherapy group (from 6.5 to 2.0 on VAS, p = 0.000), relative to control (from 6.0 to 5.5). At the end of the intervention, the aromatherapy group also reported a significant increase in quality of life (from 116.0 to 141.0 on NePIQoL, p = 0.049), in comparison to control (from 122.0 to 120.0).

In general, results of the study validate the therapeutic value of aromatherapy massage in attenuating neuropathy-caused pain and improving quality of life for patients. It would be important for future research to further assess the efficacy of essential oil ingredients, individually as well as a blend, and compare the benefits of aromatherapy massage against classical massage for pain management of neuropathy symptoms.

Source: Metin ZG, Donmez AA, Izgu N, et al. Aromatherapy massage for neuropathic pain and quality of life in diabetic patients. Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 2017; 49, 4: 379-388. DOI: 10.2222/jnu.12300.

© 2017 Sigma Theta Tau International

Posted February 5, 2018.

Angeline A. De Leon, MA, graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2010, completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology, with a concentration in neuroscience. She received her master’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2013, where she studied clinical neuroscience within an integrative health program. Her specialized area of research involves the complementary use of neuroimaging and neuropsychology-based methodologies to examine how lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and meditation, can influence brain plasticity and enhance overall connectivity.

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