title: Prospective, randomized, double-blind, clinical evaluation of Aloe vera Barbadensis, applied in combination with a tongue protector to treat burning mouth syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of aloe vera (AV) applied in combination with a tongue protector, comparing this with a placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 75 patients with burning mouth syndrome (BMS) were divided into three groups randomly: Group I (tongue protector three times a day), Group II (tongue protector and 0.5 ml AV at 70% three times a day) and Group III (tongue protector and 0.5 ml placebo three times a day). Symptoms were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS), while patient psychological profiles were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety-Depression scale and their quality of life using the Oral Health Impact Profile 49 (OHIP-49). Treatment continued for 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Visual analogue scale pain values improved for all three study groups but without statistically significant differences between the groups (P = 0.210). Regarding quality of life, no significant differences were found between groups with the exception of the OHIP-49 score for handicap. The overall clinical improvement was greater for Group II, with a difference almost reaching significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The concomitant prescription of tongue protector and AV is effective for treating patients with BMS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain. majornet@um.es
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: López-Jornet
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camacho-Alonso
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molino-Pagan
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000504:Aloe; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D002054:Burning Mouth Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009064:Mouth Protectors; D009909:Oral Health; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010919:Placebos; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology; D014059:Tongue
chemical_list: D010919:Placebos; D028321:Plant Preparations