A Narrative Review of Aromatherapy for Pain Management in Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37287/ijghr.v9i1.2882Keywords:
aromatherapy, diabetic neuropathy, essential oil, neuropathic pain, quality of lifeAbstract
Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy can disturb sleep, limit daily activities and reduce quality of life. Aromatherapy has attracted interest as an adjunct to usual care, although its specific benefits remain uncertain. To critically examine evidence on aromatherapy for pain and quality of life in diabetic peripheral neuropathy. PubMed, Europe PMC and OpenAlex searches on 10 until 16 October 2026 retrieved 354 raw records. Twenty-six sources published in 2008–2026 were cited, including 11 clinical reports. Reports were appraised for design, intervention, comparator, outcomes and reporting consistency, then synthesised thematically. Seven massage studies generally reported short-term pain improvement. Usual-care comparisons could not separate essential-oil effects from massage and attention. Three topical trials produced mixed findings; one study contributed a small diabetic subgroup. Quality-of-life findings varied. Limited blinding, inconsistent reporting and short follow-up restricted interpretation. Aromatherapy massage may provide adjunctive short-term pain relief. Evidence does not establish benefits attributable specifically to essential oils, a standard regimen, lasting improvement or nerve regeneration.
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