Thyme Honey Effective in Managing Xerostomia in Cancer Patients

The effectiveness of thyme honey for the management of treatment-induced xerostomia in head and neck cancer patients: A feasibility randomized control trial


European Journal of Oncology Nursing
Volume 27, April 2017, Pages 1–8

Highlights

• Thyme honey was found effective in managing various grades of xerostomia in patients diagnosed with H&N cancers.
• The study showed that thyme honey was safely used as a mouthwash for the management of treatment induced xerostomia.
• The effectiveness of thyme honey in xerostomia was assessed against overall quality of life, pain and dysphagia.

Radiation-induced xerostomia is one of the most common side effects that head and neck cancer patients experience during and after treatment. Despite the various methods for the prevention and treatment of radiation-induced xerostomia, it remains highly prevalent among patients treated for head and neck cancers negatively influencing their lives. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of thyme honey as a means for managing radiation-induced xerostomia.