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Cancer and Aromatherapy: A View of How the Use of Essential Oils Applies to Palliative Care

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Bioactive Essential Oils and Cancer

Abstract

Complementary and alternative medicine comprises a system of health care related to the use of medical products and practices that are outside the realm of conventional medicine as practiced around the world. The practices available to date, including acupuncture, homeopathy, aromatherapy, and many others, are primarily focused on giving support to people facing emotional and physical disorders, or a life-threatening disease such as cancer. In people who suffer from high levels of anxiety, the immune function is often affected by the patient’s mental and emotional states, and when left untreated creates a spiraling decline of health as a consequence of a much compromised immune system. In oncology, complementary therapies are not intended as a substitute for standard medical treatment of cancer, but are meant to relieve stress and ease worries of patients undergoing treatment, help cope with the side effects to improve quality of life, make them feel that they are doing something more to help their own care, provide relaxation, and reduce anxiety.

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  1. Department of Physiology and Pathology, Health Science Center, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil

    Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá

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  1. Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá
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Correspondence to Rita de Cássia da Silveira e Sá .

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  1. Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil

    Damião Pergentino de Sousa

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da Silveira e Sá, R. (2015). Cancer and Aromatherapy: A View of How the Use of Essential Oils Applies to Palliative Care. In: de Sousa, D. (eds) Bioactive Essential Oils and Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19144-7_13

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