title: Effect of adding the herb Achillea millefolium on mouthwash on chemotherapy induced oral mucositis in cancer patients: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral mucositis (OM) is a debilitating side-effect of chemotherapy. It has different complications, including impairment of drinking, eating and even talking, sometimes so severe that physician stops the therapy.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Investigating the effect of Achillea millefolium distillate solution in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced OM.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this randomized controlled trial, 56 cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced OM were randomly assigned into control and experimental groups in similar blocks based on the severity of OM. The experimental group gargled 15 mL of a mixture of routine solution and distilled A. millefolium 4 times a day for 14 days while the control group gargled 15 mL of routine solution. The severity of OM was assessed at three times before, 7 and 14 days after intervention. Data was analyzed using Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, Friedman, Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean severity score of OM was 2.39 ± 0.875 in both groups at start of the study that was changed to 1.07 ± 0.85 and 0.32 ± 0.54 in the intervention group in days 7 and 14 (p < 0.001). However, the severity of OM was increased to 2.75 ± 0.87 and 2.89 ± 0.956 in the control group respectively (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A. millefolium distillate healed OM much more than the routine solution. Therefore, it is suggested to be used in patients with chemotherapy-induced OM. The study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, Number: IRCT2013092214729N1.
authors: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors: Sedigheh
authors: S
authors: Miranzadeh
authors: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran. Electronic address: adib1344@yahoo.com.
authors: Mohsen
authors: M
authors: Adib-Hajbaghery
authors: Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors: Leyla
authors: L
authors: Soleymanpoor
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Shahid Beheshti Medical Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors: Majid
authors: M
authors: Ehsani
mesh_terms: D031162:Achillea; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009067:Mouthwashes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013280:Stomatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009067:Mouthwashes; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Achillea millefolium; Cancer; Chemotherapy; Mouthwashes; Oral mucositis