Essential oils are a type of complementary therapy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). While they aren’t a traditional treatment, some of these oils might help manage symptoms like sleep or anxiety while you’re undergoing treatment.
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common form of lung cancer, accounting for as
If you’ve received a diagnosis for NSCLC, your healthcare professional will create a comprehensive treatment plan of first-line treatments like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or targeted therapy. Your doctor will also consider palliative care, focusing on your comfort and quality of life.
Complementary therapies are often part of palliative care in cancer. Palliative care, which is focused on improving the overall quality of life of people with serious illness, is meant to be used along with the medical treatments your doctor prescribed, not in place of them.
In NSCLC, essential oils are a complementary therapy that may help with certain symptoms. Essential oils can’t treat NSCLC. Aromatherapy (smelling diluted essential oils) may help some people feel calmer or sleep a bit better, but studies are small and results are mixed. Although essential oils are natural, some have risks.
It’s important to understand the risks and benefits of any cancer treatment that you may opt for. Check with your healthcare team before trying essential oils or any other complementary therapy.
Essential oils are chemical extracts from whole plants or parts of plants, like the flowers, leaves, or roots. They keep the natural flavor and smell of their source and are typically gathered from the plant through a crushing or steaming process.
These oils are highly concentrated. For example, it takes about
Essential oils can be used therapeutically in different ways to promote health and well-being. Some people use them for their aroma, either by smelling them directly or by massaging them into the skin.
Aromatherapy is one of the
- emotional responses
- heart rate
- blood pressure
- breathing
Some people living with cancer use essential oils to relieve symptoms of cancer treatments.
There’s no evidence at this point that smelling, massaging, or eating essential oils
Some lab studies have found that certain essential oils can affect cancer cells in test tubes or animals. For example,
A 2024 systematic review on essential oils in cancer therapy noted that thymol, a compound in thyme essential oil, may have the ability to keep lung cancer cells from multiplying and may also trigger apoptosis.
Lavender essential oil has shown potential for killing several types of cancer cells, including those of the lung. In a 2022 study, researchers found lavender oil triggered apoptosis and also had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pain-relieving properties.
While this sounds promising if you’re considering adding essential oils to your complementary therapy plan, it’s important to understand that research results don’t necessarily translate directly to at-home use.
Most studies on essential oils in lung cancer are animal studies. Researchers use varying chemical concentrations and formulations that aren’t always available in commercial products.
While research is promising, we don’t yet know how essential oils might affect cancer cells in the human body or what doses and methods would be safe to use. Some essential oils, like lavender and tea tree, have the potential to act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), for example, which have been
There is preliminary evidence that essential oils
- anxiety
- nausea and vomiting
- pain
- sleep
- stress
However, the research so far has been mixed.
Many of the studies on aromatherapy for cancer in humans have been too small and not well-designed to draw any real conclusions from them. In one 2022 study, for example, lemon oil was found to improve cancer-related symptoms of nausea and vomiting. But the study had only 66 participants.
Larger and better-designed studies would help confirm whether, and how, essential oils might help with managing cancer symptoms.
Some of these are already underway. One 2022 meta-analysis, which included 933 participants from multiple randomized controlled trials, found aromatherapy with a single essential oil, like lavender, had a substantial benefit on sleep quality for people living with cancer.
There are hundreds of different essential oils. Some of the most commonly used in aromatherapy for complementary cancer treatment
- cedarwood
- eucalyptus
- frankincense
- ginger
- lavender
- lemon
- peppermint
- Roman chamomile
- sweet marjoram
- tea tree
Each one has a specific use. For example, Roman chamomile has been studied for
You can buy essential oils at drug stores or online. Look for products that are pure, with no added ingredients.
Most essential oils are sold undiluted, meaning they are highly concentrated. You need to add the oil to a lotion or another type of oil to dilute it before use.
There are four main ways to use essential oils:
- Breathe it in through the air: Add a few drops of essential oil to a room diffuser or vaporizer, which spreads the scent in a mist in the air.
- Inhale it directly: Smell it directly from the bottle, or add the oil to a bath or a bowl of hot water and breathe in the steam.
- Apply it to your skin: Add a few drops of oils to lotion or a carrier oil, like coconut oil, and rub it into your skin.
- Ingest (as directed): A few drops of some essential oils can be added to water or tea, but don’t ingest them unless the packaging for that specific product says it’s safe.
Some major cancer centers offer aromatherapy as part of a complementary care program. If you’re interested in trying this type of complementary therapy, ask your oncologist if your treatment center offers it.
Or you can ask for a referral to a qualified aromatherapist in your area.
Essential oils aren’t for everyone.
While they’re generally safe when used as directed, these products can cause side effects like allergic reactions and skin irritation, especially if your skin is already more sensitive due to radiation therapy. Applying citrus oils to your skin before going outdoors
Some of the most common side effects of essential oils include:
- skin irritation, redness, or other color changes
- coughing
- difficulty breathing
The specific risks depend on which essential oil you’re using and how you’re using it.
If you have allergies or sensitive skin, test out a very small amount of the diluted oil on your skin before applying it to a larger area. Keep essential oils away from your eyes. And only ingest oils that are approved for use in that way.
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with your cancer treatment, check with your oncologist before trying one of these products. It’s always safest to work with a trained aromatherapist when using essential oils for the first time.
Essential oils are plant-based chemicals that have shown potential for relieving cancer symptoms and treatment side effects such as nausea, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
These oils are meant to be used as an add-on to traditional NSCLC treatments like chemotherapy and radiation, not as a substitute.
Even though these products are natural, they can sometimes cause side effects. Check with your oncologist before trying essential oils or any other type of complementary therapy for NSCLC.