Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy-Essential Oil Intervention

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a painful, debilitating consequence of
cancer treatment and is considered the most adverse of non-hematologic events. Current
pharmacological approaches to reduce CIPN symptoms can be ineffective and cause adverse
effects.

Constituents of this oil blend moderate pain signal transmission through non-competing
inhibition of 5-HT, AchE, and Substance P, along with antagonism of TRPA1 and TRPV1. This
study will test the hypothesis that an oil blend reduces CIPN symptoms and improves
quality-of-life (QOL) in breast cancer patients. The Human Response to Illness model is used
to underpin a convergent-nested-parallel mixed-methods design with intervention.

Inclusion Criteria:

- diagnosis of breast cancer

- chronic CIPN symptoms in one or both lower extremities

- three months or greater since last chemotherapy treatment

- mean SF-MPQ-2 score of greater than or equal to three

- a prognosis of greater than six months

Exclusion Criteria:

- non-English-speaking

- blindness

- pregnancy

- breastfeeding

- allergy to EOI or Peru balsam (cross-allergen)

- illegal substance usage

- history of severe skin reactions

- non-intact skin on lower extremities

- history of lower extremity trauma or amputation

- current use of aromatherapy/Essential Oils

- asthma or reactive airway disease triggered by constituents of EOI

- history of mental illness or chronic depression

- the following co-morbidities: G6PD deficiency, inherited peripheral neuropathy, active
herpes varicella-zoster, herpes simplex virus, alcoholic neuropathy, repetitive stress
or entrapment neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and multifocal mononeuropathy.