Essential Oils and Cancer Care: Supportive Use and What to Tell Your Team
What research and cancer agencies say about aromatherapy as supportive care during cancer treatment, what it cannot do, and why the oncology team should know first.
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.
Tell your cancer care team first. No essential oil or aromatherapy approach has been shown to treat or cure cancer. NIH's NCCIH says no complementary health approach has been shown to prevent or cure cancer, and that people with a cancer diagnosis should consult their health care providers before using any complementary approach. [1] Never use an oil instead of recommended treatment. If anyone swallows an essential oil, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US). [2]
What this page covers
This page covers aromatherapy used alongside standard cancer care, usually to help with how someone feels, such as worry, sleep or nausea. It is information only. The National Cancer Institute describes aromatherapy as being used by patients primarily as supportive care for general well-being. [3] The patient version of that summary notes that no studies of aromatherapy used to treat cancer have been published in a peer-reviewed journal. [4]What research shows, by question
Findings are mixed. The National Cancer Institute says studies have shown mixed results. [4] Most trials are small and rely on how people rate themselves.| Question | What the source found | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety during radiation | In a 313-patient trial, lavender, bergamot and cedarwood oils by inhalation were compared with carrier oil alone. The carrier-oil-only group had the clearest drop in anxiety. [3] | No good evidence of benefit from the oils in that trial |
| Mood and quality of life with massage | In a 46-patient pilot study, mood, symptoms and quality of life improved in both the aromatherapy massage group and the comparison group, with no significant difference between them. [3] | Insufficient evidence |
| Sleep during hospital chemotherapy | In a 50-patient crossover trial, sleep scores improved during the aromatherapy week and returned close to baseline in the washout week. [3] | Promising but limited (one small trial) |
| Longer-lasting effects | A systematic review found no long lasting effect of aromatherapy massage. [5] | Short-term effects only |
| Palliative care | A 2024 systematic review of eight studies reported benefits but also considerable differences between studies and a need for larger trials. [6] | Promising but limited |
NCCIH adds that for massage, with or without aromatherapy, there is only limited evidence of benefit. [1] For nausea, see essential oils for nausea.
What a lab or animal finding does not show
Tests on cancer cells or animals are laboratory findings, not evidence that an oil helps a person. Claims that an oil "kills cancer" are marketing claims. See the guide on natural cancer cure claims.Where oils are used in care settings
Rules about scents differ by hospital or clinic, and shared rooms matter to other patients, so ask the facility first. See aromatherapy in hospitals and palliative care and essential oils in workplaces and shared spaces.Supportive care that does have a team behind it
Massage and mindfulness have their own guides: massage and cancer: what to tell your therapist and integrative care during cancer treatment.Frequently asked questions
Can essential oils treat or cure cancer?
No. NCCIH says no complementary health approach has been shown to prevent or cure cancer. [1]
Is aromatherapy safe during chemotherapy or radiation?
The National Cancer Institute describes a relatively low toxicity profile for inhalation or diluted skin use. [3] It also says some complementary therapies can affect treatment. [4] Ask the oncology team before starting.
Which oils should be avoided with hormone-sensitive tumors?
The National Cancer Institute review recommends avoiding lavender and tea tree oils in patients with estrogen-dependent tumors. [3] Confirm with your own team.
Does aromatherapy help with nausea or anxiety from treatment?
Results are mixed. [4] In the larger radiation trial the oils showed no advantage over carrier oil alone. [3]
Who should I tell?
Your oncologist, nurse or pharmacist. The National Cancer Institute advises discussing complementary therapies with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. [4]
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.
Safety points to raise with the team
- Medicines. Essential oils may interact with medications. [2] The National Cancer Institute says some complementary therapies may affect standard treatment or be harmful alongside it. [4]
- Hormone-sensitive cancers. The National Cancer Institute review notes that repeated skin use of lavender and tea tree oils was linked in one study to breast growth in boys, and it recommends avoiding these two oils in patients with estrogen-dependent tumors. [3] Ask the oncology team about this before using them.
- Skin. Allergic reactions and skin irritation may occur with long skin contact, and sun sensitivity may occur when citrus or other oils are applied before sun exposure. [4] Skin that is damaged, such as after radiation, is a question for the team, since essential oils should not be used on damaged skin. [2]
- Unclear products. Aromatherapy often uses undefined mixtures of oils without specifying the plant sources. [3]
- Infection risk and low immunity. Whether scent products pose any added infection risk during treatment is not described in the sources we read. Ask the team.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH). Cancer and Complementary Health Approaches: What You Need To Know. Read 2026-10-23.
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center). Essential oils: Poisonous when misused. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute, PDQ Integrative, Alternative, and Complementary Therapies Editorial Board. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ), Health Professional Version. Updated 10/31/2024. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Cancer Institute. Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ), Patient Version. Read 2026-10-23.
- Boehm K, Bussing A, Ostermann T. Aromatherapy as an adjuvant treatment in cancer care: a descriptive systematic review. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2012. Abstract read. Read 2026-10-23.
- Goncalves S, Marques P, Matos RS. Exploring Aromatherapy as a Complementary Approach in Palliative Care: A Systematic Review. J Palliat Med. 2024. Abstract read. Read 2026-10-23.