A new study suggests that combined touch care and aromatherapy is a safe and feasible supportive approach for patients hospitalized with thoracic cancers.
Researchers evaluated the intervention in 87 patients, most with advanced-stage non-small cell lung cancer. The treatment paired a 20-minute foot touch session with an aroma bead sachet placed on the chest, avoiding direct skin contact to prevent irritation during chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
All patients completed the study. Only five (5.7%) reported minor issues, including one case of fatigue and four instances of aroma-related discomfort, resolved by repositioning the sachet.
Among patients with pre-existing symptoms, pain improved in 75.7% and fatigue in 74.1%. Improvements were also noted for cold feet, heaviness, and insomnia. Objective measures, such as decreased heart rate and increased parasympathetic activity, indicated a physiological relaxation response.