Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation as aromatherapy in patients with breast cancer-related depression. Methods: In total, 144 patients with breast cancer-related depression who underwent postoperative chemotherapy were recruited. The participants in the control gro...

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Main Authors: Xiaofei Li, Zehui Xu, Mengting Dong, Yuelian Wang, Xinyue Zhou, Ke Jiang, Jiayu Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000535
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author Xiaofei Li
Zehui Xu
Mengting Dong
Yuelian Wang
Xinyue Zhou
Ke Jiang
Jiayu Sheng
author_facet Xiaofei Li
Zehui Xu
Mengting Dong
Yuelian Wang
Xinyue Zhou
Ke Jiang
Jiayu Sheng
author_sort Xiaofei Li
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation as aromatherapy in patients with breast cancer-related depression. Methods: In total, 144 patients with breast cancer-related depression who underwent postoperative chemotherapy were recruited. The participants in the control group (n = 52) were offered a placebo (sunflower oil) daily, whereas those in the essential oil group (n = 52) were administered Sanhua essential oil. This study evaluated depression improvement, Hamilton Depression Scale score, scores of symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quotient Index score, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and signal changes on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Depression improved by 48.1% and 21.2% in the essential oil and control groups, respectively (P = .010). The Hamilton Depression Scale score (P = .017), scores for symptoms in TCM (P = .002), and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the acute and delayed phases were lower in the essential oil group than in the control group (nausea in the acute phase, P = .017; nausea in the delayed phase, P = .039; vomiting in the acute phase, P = .008; vomiting in the delayed phase, P = .081). The Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quotient Index score was lower in the essential oil group than in the control group (P = .005). Significant differences existed between the two groups in the left superior parietal gyrus, right precuneus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, and right precentral gyrus according to functional connectivity on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: Inhalation of Sanhua essential oil alleviated depression in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, improved sleep quality, relieved TCM symptoms, reduced nausea and vomiting, and regulated activities in the brain regions.
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spelling doaj-art-c93cb7d79aaf4acfb1175c2c779a574b2025-08-20T03:31:37ZengElsevierJournal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences2095-75482025-07-0112334835710.1016/j.jtcms.2025.05.003Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trialXiaofei Li0Zehui Xu1Mengting Dong2Yuelian Wang3Xinyue Zhou4Ke Jiang5Jiayu Sheng6Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaYueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaYueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaYueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaYueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaYueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaCorresponding author.; Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, ChinaObjective: To evaluate the efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation as aromatherapy in patients with breast cancer-related depression. Methods: In total, 144 patients with breast cancer-related depression who underwent postoperative chemotherapy were recruited. The participants in the control group (n = 52) were offered a placebo (sunflower oil) daily, whereas those in the essential oil group (n = 52) were administered Sanhua essential oil. This study evaluated depression improvement, Hamilton Depression Scale score, scores of symptoms in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quotient Index score, incidence of nausea and vomiting, and signal changes on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Results: Depression improved by 48.1% and 21.2% in the essential oil and control groups, respectively (P = .010). The Hamilton Depression Scale score (P = .017), scores for symptoms in TCM (P = .002), and the incidence of nausea and vomiting in the acute and delayed phases were lower in the essential oil group than in the control group (nausea in the acute phase, P = .017; nausea in the delayed phase, P = .039; vomiting in the acute phase, P = .008; vomiting in the delayed phase, P = .081). The Pittsburgh Sleepiness Quotient Index score was lower in the essential oil group than in the control group (P = .005). Significant differences existed between the two groups in the left superior parietal gyrus, right precuneus, left dorsolateral superior frontal gyrus, and right precentral gyrus according to functional connectivity on functional magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusion: Inhalation of Sanhua essential oil alleviated depression in patients undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer, improved sleep quality, relieved TCM symptoms, reduced nausea and vomiting, and regulated activities in the brain regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000535Breast cancerChemotherapyCancer-related depressionAromatherapyEssential oilInhalation
spellingShingle Xiaofei Li
Zehui Xu
Mengting Dong
Yuelian Wang
Xinyue Zhou
Ke Jiang
Jiayu Sheng
Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medical Sciences
Breast cancer
Chemotherapy
Cancer-related depression
Aromatherapy
Essential oil
Inhalation
title Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
title_full Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
title_fullStr Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
title_full_unstemmed Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
title_short Efficacy of Sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer-related depression undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, single-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial
title_sort efficacy of sanhua essential oil inhalation in patients with breast cancer related depression undergoing chemotherapy a randomized single masked placebo controlled clinical trial
topic Breast cancer
Chemotherapy
Cancer-related depression
Aromatherapy
Essential oil
Inhalation
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000535
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