ISSN : 2663-2187

Comparision of Therapeutic Effects of Magic Mouthwash with Natural Products on Chemotherapy/Radiotherapy-Induced Oral Mucositis

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Nadia Naeem, Syed Mahboob Alam, Naheed Gohar, Sana Imran, Ghazala Panhwar, Syed Liaquat Ali
» doi: 10.48047/AFJBS.6.15.2024.15122-15132

Abstract

Oral Mucositis (OM) refers to the agonizing swelling and formation of sores to the lining of mucous membrane within the mouth cavity. It is a common complication experienced by patients having chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy for Head and Neck Cancer (HNC). Effective management of OM is crucial, as it can cause severe pain that, in some cases, leads to delays in cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiotherapy. While there are commercially available treatments, with the most common being "magic mouthwash," recent studies suggest that natural remedies may be more beneficial in decrease the occurrence and severity of OM. Among these natural therapeutic agents, honey and aloe vera have shown promising results. Research indicates that both can be used individually to manage OM due to their positive therapeutic effects. The current study, conducted as an randomizied controlled clinical trial at the Oncology Radiation Department of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Karachi in collaboration with the Basic Medical Sciences Institute (BMSI), aimed to evaluate whether a combination of honey and aloe vera is more effective than magic mouthwash in reducing OM severity among HNC patients undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The study involved 80 patients who were randomly assigned to two groups: the HA Group (honey and aloe vera treatment) and the Control Group (magic mouthwash treatment). Patients were assessed at baseline (week 0, the start of chemotherapy/radiotherapy) and at subsequent intervals every two weeks (weeks 2, 4, and 6) using the WHO OM grading scale. Statistical analysis was conducted, with a p-value of less than 0.05 regarded as statistically significant.By week 6, OM of Grade 3 or higher was observed in 16 patients (40%) from the Control Group compared to only 5 patients (12.5%) in the HA Group, a statistically significant difference (p-value = 0.031). The study concluded that the combination of honey and aloe vera is both effective and affordable, significantly reducing the severity and occurrence of OM in HNC patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. These findings provide reassurance that severe OM in such patients can be mitigated to a substantial extent through this natural and cost-effective solution.

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