Effectiveness of Indian Turmeric Powder with Honey as Complementary Therapy on Oral Mucositis : A Nursing Perspective among Cancer Patients in Mysore

Abstract

Oral mucositis is a common, debilitating complication of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, occurring in about 40 percent cases. Mucositis may limit the patient’s ability to tolerate chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and nutrition status is compromised. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of Indian turmeric powder with honey as a complementary therapy on treatment induced oral mucositis. In the study, quasi experimental nonequivalent control group pre test post-test design was used and non-probability purposive sampling technique was adopted to select 60 cancer patients with treatment induced oral mucositis, 30 each in experimental and control group. The independent ’t’ value for post-test 2 and 3 (post-test 2: 2.86 for WHO OMAS and 4.58 for MPJ OMAS, post test 2: 5.42 for WHO OMAS and 7.2 for MPJ OMAS; p<0.05) were significant between experimental and control group. It is inferred that the application of Indian turmeric and honey on treatment-induced oral mucositis is effective.

Role of Turmeric and Curcumin in Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases: Lessons Learned from Clinical Trials

“…Patients receiving the treatment also experienced less weight loss and better treatment compliance. , A similar study showed that gargling with turmeric mouthwash delayed the occurrence of radiation-induced oral mucositis in HNC . A combination of turmeric and honey remarkably improved oral mucositis assessment scores in patients undergoing chemotherapy . Additionally, a microgranular formulation of curcumin (C3 complex) had better bioavailability and inhibited expression of fibroblast growth factor 2, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating unit, and IL-17 in head and neck cancer .…”

“…280 A combination of turmeric and honey remarkably improved oral mucositis assessment scores in patients undergoing chemotherapy. 281 Additionally, a microgranular formulation of curcumin (C3 complex) had better bioavailability and inhibited expression of fibroblast growth factor 2, granulocyte macrophage colonystimulating unit, and IL-17 in head and neck cancer. 282 A randomized controlled trial showed that oral curcumin supplementation (300 mg, twice a day) for 6 months reduced burning sensation, increased mouth opening flexibility, tongue protrusion, and cheek flexibility in patients with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).…”

Effect of curcumin on the expression of wound healing-related genes in human gingival fibroblasts

“…The authors reported significant improvement of all clinical periodontal parameters in comparison with control group [75]. Moreover, curcumin gel has been shown to significantly reduce the severity and the size of lesion of mucositis in patients undergoing head and neck cancer radiotherapy [76,77]. Similarly, curcumin mouthwash expedited wound healing compared with 0.2% chlorhexidine mouthwash in radio-chemotherapy-induced oral mucositis patients [78].…”