Aromatherapy Massage: What the Research Shows and Cautions
What aromatherapy massage is, what a Cochrane review and later meta-analyses found for people with cancer, and the skin, allergy and other cautions to know about.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Safety first. Natural products can cause side effects and interact with medicines. Read essential oil safety before you use anything on this page.
What it is
NIH says aromatherapy is sometimes incorporated into massage therapy for conditions such as knee pain from osteoarthritis, or pain, anxiety and other symptoms in people with cancer. [2] For the massage side, including styles and training, see Massage & Bodywork and what the oils add to massage.What the research shows
| Question | What the source found | Evidence label | Population and form studied |
|---|---|---|---|
| Does massage with or without aromatherapy relieve symptoms in people with cancer? | A 2016 Cochrane review included 19 studies with 1274 participants and judged the evidence very low quality. [3] NIH's massage page says that review found some evidence massage might help with pain and anxiety, but findings were not consistent. [4] | Insufficient evidence | People with cancer; massage with a carrier oil, with or without essential oils |
| Aromatherapy massage versus no massage | The Cochrane review saw some indication of benefit for pain, anxiety and quality of life, but judged the results unlikely to translate into clinical benefit. [3] | Promising but limited | Six studies, 561 participants |
| Does adding essential oils to massage matter? | The Cochrane review said that, from limited evidence, it could not assess the effect of adding aromatherapy to massage. [3] | Proper evidence not found | Two studies, 117 participants |
| Quality of life and pain, pooled | A 2024 meta-analysis of 15 trials found improved quality of life but no statistically significant effect on pain, and said the individual effects of aromatherapy and massage could not be separated. [5] | Mixed | People with cancer; aromatherapy combined with massage |
Proper evidence not found for aromatherapy massage in conditions outside cancer in the sources we read for this page (we searched PubMed reviews, NIH, NCI and Poison Control). Related questions are on essential oils for pain and muscle aches.
Why it is hard to know what helped
Massage compared with no massage cannot be hidden from the person receiving it, and a Cochrane review noted that most studies were small and at unclear or high risk of bias. [3] Adding an oil to a massage only tests the oil if the comparison group gets the same massage without it, and the Cochrane review found only two such studies. [3]Related pages
Aromatherapy overview, aromatherapy in hospitals and palliative care and essential oils and cancer care.Frequently asked questions
Does aromatherapy massage work?
The best review we read, a 2016 Cochrane review, called the evidence very low quality and said any benefit was unlikely to translate into clinical benefit. [3]
Is massage with essential oils better than plain massage?
Proper evidence not found. The Cochrane review could not assess the effect of adding aromatherapy to massage because only limited evidence was available. [3]
Can aromatherapy massage cause a reaction?
Yes. Skin irritation and allergic reactions can occur, and citrus oils can cause sun sensitivity. [1]
Is aromatherapy massage safe for children?
Peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children, and a US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences page describes hormone questions from skin use of lavender and tea tree products. [8] [7] Ask a pediatric clinician first. See babies and children.
Should I tell my care team?
Yes. NIH says massage can be part of supportive cancer care with appropriate precautions. [4] A clinician or pharmacist can say whether oils or massage suit your situation.
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Skin, allergy and other cautions
- Skin reactions. The NCI summary says allergic reactions and skin irritation may occur when essential oils are in contact with the skin for long periods. [1] Poison Control says many essential oils can cause rashes on the skin, to stop using a product if a rash or skin reaction occurs, and not to use essential oils on damaged skin. [6] See skin reactions, allergy and sensitization.
- Sun. The NCI summary says sun sensitivity may occur when citrus or other essential oils are applied to the skin before going out in the sun. [1] See phototoxicity and citrus oils.
- Dilution. Both NCI and Poison Control describe oils being diluted in a carrier oil, but neither gives a number we can quote as a general rule. [1] [6] We do not give a dilution chart. See why dilution charts differ.
- Hormone questions in children. NIEHS says the clinical cases of breast tissue growth in prepubescent boys involved skin use of essential oils, and a 2019 report described premature breast growth in girls with continuous exposure to lavender-fragranced products that resolved when exposure stopped. [7] Read lavender skin reactions and hormone questions.
- Infants and young children. NIH says peppermint oil should not be applied to the face of infants or young children. [8]
- Massage itself. NIH says massage can be part of supportive cancer care with appropriate precautions, and that there have been rare reports of serious side effects such as a blood clot, nerve injury or bone fracture. [4] Tell a massage therapist about cancer, blood clots, skin conditions and pregnancy. See what to tell your therapist about cancer.
- Swallowing. Never swallow essential oils. Poison Help (US): 1-800-222-1222. [6]
- Medicines. Poison Control says essential oils may interact with medications; ask a pharmacist. See medication interactions.
Adverse events were poorly reported in the evidence: in the Cochrane review, two studies reported physical distress, rash and general malaise as adverse events and the other 17 did not report adverse events. [3]
References
- Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ), Patient Version, National Cancer Institute. Read 2026-10-23.
- Aromatherapy, NCCIH (NIH), last updated January 2020. Read 2026-10-23.
- Massage with or without aromatherapy for symptom relief in people with cancer, Shin ES et al., Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2016, PMID 27258432. Read 2026-10-23.
- Massage Therapy: What You Need To Know, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.
- Effects of Aromatherapy on Quality Of Life and Pain In Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis, Kang H et al., J Pain Symptom Manage 2024, PMID 39053746. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential oils: Poisonous when misused, Poison Control. Read 2026-10-23.
- Essential Oils, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH), last reviewed March 19, 2026. Read 2026-10-23.
- Peppermint Oil: Usefulness and Safety, NCCIH (NIH). Read 2026-10-23.