The efficacy of herbal medicine in the management of oral stomatitis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: A systematic review.

Radiotherapy for head-and-neck cancer (HNC) frequently causes oral mucositis, a painful and debilitating condition often leading to treatment interruption, poor quality of life, and increased healthcare costs. Various herbal medicines such as Glycyrrhiza glabra (Yashtimadhu), Plantago major L. syrup, green tea mouthwash, and Hangeshashinto have been proposed for studies to explore the possibility of alleviating radiation-induced oral mucositis, with promising results serving as alternatives to conventional medication. This review assesses the effectiveness of Herbal preparations such as G. glabra (Yashtimadhu), P. major L., and traditional Chinese formulations like Chining decoction and Hangeshashinto which have shown promise in both preclinical and clinical studies in reducing the risk and impact of oral mucositis under radiation therapy. The results showed a wide variation in the efficacy of herbal treatments. Herbal medicine offers a promising adjunctive approach in the management of oral mucositis resulting from radiation therapy for HNC. Of all of these, Yashtimadhu, P. major, and Hangeshashinto were identified to demonstrate potential with statistically significant efficacy in reducing mucositis severity.