A randomized controlled trial evaluating the role of honey in reducing pain due to radiation induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients

Abstract

Background:There are various drugs tried for relieving pain associated with radiation-induced mucositis. This paper aims to study role of honey in relieving pain due to radiation induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients receiving concomitant chemoradiation.Materials and Methods:A randomized controlled trial on 78 subjects (40 in test group and 38 in control group) was undertaken to study the analgesic effect of honey, but the analysis of 69 patients was done as nine patients (four in test and five in control group) were lost to follow-up or left treatment in between the study. All patients were advised to do salt-soda and benzydamine mouth gargles, alternatively every 3 hours. Test group patients additionally received 20 ml honey three times a day during the entire course of radiation treatment and 3 months following radiation therapy (RT).Results:Honey significantly reduced the severity of mucositis associated pain and resulted in lesser treatment gaps and a decrease in overall radiotherapy treatment duration. None of the test group and majority of controls (51.5%) had severe pain score during the 7th week of RT. The same pattern was seen in the post-RT period. Mean pain score was significantly different in both groups during all weeks during and upto 6 weeks post-RT (mean score of 3.08 and 6.54 for test and control respectively at 7th week RT, P < 0.001).Conclusion:Honey being a cheap, palatable, and natural medicament can be used for decreasing pain associated with radiation-induced mucositis in cancer patients.

The Effect of Gargling Cold Normal Saline in Comparison to Normal Saline Mixed with Honey on Postoperative Pain Relief in Tonsillectomy or Adenotonsillectomy: A Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Samdariya et al investigated the role of honey in lessening pain after radiation-induced mucositis in head and neck cancer patients and concluded that honey significantly decreased the severity of mucositis-associated pain and overall radiotherapy treatment duration. Their results are in agreement with those of the present study, indicating that the use of honey diminishes the pain in damaged biological tissues (21). In a case report, Kalrozi indicated that honey dressing improved head injury resulting from trauma and accident and reduced pain in patients, which is consistent with our results (19).…”

Honey Mitigates Radiation-Induced Oral Mucositis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients without Affecting the Tumor Response

“…Additionally, exposure to fractionated doses of radiation compromises the wound healing process and this aggravates and complicates the situation [ 1 ]. In the present study honey was observed to be effective at mitigating radiation mucositis, which is in agreement to earlier reports [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The observed effects could be attributed to the honey’s analgesic [ 9 , 12 ], antimicrobial [ 12 ], and wound-healing effects [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…In the recent past, studies from around the world have shown that honey was effective at mitigating radiation- and chemotherapy-induced mucositis [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Met analyses have substantiated the observed beneficial effects [ 13 , 14 , 15 ].…”

“…Met analyses have substantiated the observed beneficial effects [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Honey is arguably one of the world’s oldest dietary agents with medicinal use, and scientific studies have shown it to possess wound healing, antimicrobial, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory effects in various experimental studies [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. The present study was principally carried out to observe whether honey interfered with the radiation-induced tumor response while having a positive effect against oral mucositis.…”

Complementary Therapies in the Management of Induced Oral Mucositis during Cancer Treatment

“…Araştırma sonucunda uygulamanın, radyoterapi ilişkili oral mukozit ağrısını ha ettiği bildirilmiştir. [60] Diğer güncel bir araştırmada; bal ve kahve karışımının (300 gram bal ve 20 gram hazır kahve ) kemoterapi ilişkili oral mukozit tedavisinde sadece bal (300 gram bal) uygulanan gruba göre daha etkili olduğu bulunmuştur. Araştırmada ağız bakım materyalleri süspansiyon şeklinde hastalara verilmiş ve bir hafta boyunca her 3 saatte bir 10 mililitre solüsyon ile gargara yapıp yutmaları sağlanmıştır.…”