Background and Aims: Nausea and vomiting induced by chemotherapy represent significant challenges for cancer patients, adversely affecting their quality of life. Aromatherapy, particularly utilizing peppermint essential oil, has garnered attention as a complementary approach. This study aims to investigate the effects of peppermint essential oil on alleviating these symptoms.
Methods: This meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-P 2015 guidelines and involved a comprehensive search of reputable databases, including MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane, up to August 1,2023.Only randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of peppermint essential oil on nausea and vomiting in cancer patients were included in the study. The quality of the studies was assessed, and data were extracted. Statistical analysis was performed using Stata V.17 software.
Results: The conducted meta-analysis demonstrated that the use of peppermint compounds significantly reduces the severity of nausea and vomiting in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (SMD: 0.643, 95% CI: 0.829-0.458). Evaluation of publication bias using Funnel Plot and Egger’s test indicated that there was no significant publication bias (P=0.125). However, a relatively high level of heterogeneity was observed in the combined studies (P=0.020, I²=60.1%), which necessitated the use of a random effects model (REM) for data analysis. These results underscore the efficacy of peppermint essential oil in mitigating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting symptoms.
Conclusion: Aromatherapy with peppermint essential oil may serve as an effective and cost-efficient treatment for alleviating nausea and vomiting symptoms resulting from chemotherapy. These findings could provide a foundation for future research and clinical application of this therapeutic approach.