Effect of Traumeel S on pain and discomfort in radiation-induced oral mucositis: a preliminary observational study.

Abstract

CONTEXT:

Painful oral mucositis is an almost inevitable side effect of radiotherapy of head and neck tumors that simultaneous chemotherapy intensifies and that is notoriously difficult to treat. In a previous study, chemotherapy-induced stomatitis in children undergoing bone marrow transplantation responded well to the homeopathic complex remedy Traumeel S.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate the efficacy of Traumeel S in the management of radiation-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck tumors.

DESIGN:

The research team designed a nonrandomized, prospective, observational study with matched pairs.

SETTING:

The research team performed the study in a tertiary cancer-care center at the Institute of Radiotherapy and Special Oncology, Medical School Hanover, Germany.

PARTICIPANTS:

The participants were 20 patients who were receiving radiotherapy or radiochemotherapy for head and neck tumors.

INTERVENTION:

Five times per day during the observational period, participants self-administered daily mouth rinses with either sage tea (Salvia officinalis, control group) or Traumeel S solution (intervention group).

OUTCOME MEASURES:

Two independent physicians determined the grade of oral mucositis at least once per week, and the research team derived the degree of oral pain from diaries that participants kept.

RESULTS:

Both groups were comparable in terms of tumor and treatment characteristics. The research team could not confirm any appreciable specific effect of Traumeel S on the primary endpoints; the limited reduction in pain for the intervention group compared to the control group was not significant, and the more frequent analgesia in the Traumeel S group most likely explained that reduction. Among the secondary endpoints, loss of taste and swallowing difficulty responded to Traumeel S to some extent.

CONCLUSIONS:

Traumeel S may have some potential in the treatment of radiation-induced oral mucositis, but its possible effects need confirmation by further studies. This article discusses some methodological requirements.

• Authors: Diana Steinmann, Viktorija Eilers, Dimitry Beynenson, Hartmut Buhck, Matthias Fink
• Journal: Alternative therapies in health and medicine (Altern Ther Health Med) 2012 Jul-Aug Vol. 18 Issue 4 Pg. 12-8 ISSN: 1078-6791 [Print] United States
• PMID: 22875590 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Minerals
• Plant Extracts
• Traumeel S

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Aged
• Analgesics (administration & dosage)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Facial Pain (drug therapy, etiology)
• Female
• Germany
• Head and Neck Neoplasms (radiotherapy)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Minerals (administration & dosage)
• Mouth Mucosa (drug effects)
• Mucositis (complications)
• Plant Extracts (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Radiation Injuries (complications)
• Treatment Outcome