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REVIEW ARTICLE

Essential oils for pain management in palliative care: Molecular mechanisms, clinical evidence, and therapeutic potential

Sara Diogo Gonçalves1* ,  Ana Caramelo2,3 ,  Fabiana Chyczij2,4 ,  Vítor Pinto dos Santos2,5 ,  Verónica Esteves2,6
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1 Gabinete de Projetos e Investigação Aplicada, Murça, Portugal
2 Clinical Academic Center of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CACTMAD), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
3 RISE-Health, School of Health, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal
4 Unidade de Saúde Familiar Fénix, Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (ULSTMAD), Vila Real, Portugal
5 Unidade de Saúde Familiar Murça, Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (ULSTMAD), Murça, Portugal
6 Unidade de Cuidados na Comunidade Alijó, Unidade Local de Saúde de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (ULSTMAD), Alijó, Portugal
IMO, 026260045 https://doi.org/10.36922/IMO026260045
Received: 23 June 2026 | Revised: 20 July 2026 | Accepted: 22 July 2026 | Published online: 3 August 2026
© 2026 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
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Abstract

Pain is one of the most distressing symptoms experienced by patients in palliative care, often requiring integrative approaches to ensure effective and compassionate management. Essential oils, used in aromatherapy and topical applications, have emerged as complementary options for alleviating pain and enhancing quality of life. This narrative review explores the potential of essential oils in pain management from an aromatherapy perspective, focusing on their mechanisms of action, clinical effectiveness, and application in real-world palliative care settings. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and b-on, without date or language restrictions. Included studies ranged from randomized controlled trials and observational studies to case reports and systematic reviews. Essential oils such as lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, chamomile, and clove demonstrate analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anxiolytic properties, with evidence supporting their use in managing cancer pain, neuropathic pain, postoperative discomfort, and musculoskeletal conditions. Real-world insights from hospice and palliative care environments highlight their benefits for physical symptom relief, relaxation, emotional well-being, and improved sleep. While existing data are promising, further high-quality research is needed to standardize protocols and confirm long-term safety and efficacy. Essential oils represent a gentle yet effective adjunct in holistic palliative pain care.

Graphical abstract
Keywords
Pain management
Aromatherapy
Essential oils
Palliative care
Complementary therapy
Funding
None.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare they have no competing interests.
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Innovative Medicines & Omics, Electronic ISSN: 3060-8740 Print ISSN: 3060-8910, Published by AccScience Publishing
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