Comparison of Radiation-Induced Mucositis With Multiple Oral Ulcers Based on Iranian Traditional Medicine: A Review Study

Radiation-Induced Mucositis (RIM) is more common in patients with head and neck cancers. Common medications have not been fully successful in preventing and treating RIM. We can use the potential of Iranian medicine for prevention and oral/topical treatment of these lesions. 

In this review study, the keywords of “Mucositis”, “Head and Neck Radiotherapy”, “Aphthous”, and “Mouth Ulcers” (In Persian) were used for searching in books related to Iranian Traditional Medicine (ITM) and in related papers published online and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science and PubMed databases from 1995 to 2018.

According to ITM, RIM is mostly similar to a kind of aphthous oral ulcers called Ghola, both of which have the same treatment. For RIM treatment, various strategies for lifestyle modification have been recommended. Furthermore, considering that heat and dryness are the primary causes of RIM occurrence, the plants that cause damp feeling and produce moisture and maintain tissue integrity throughout the body and mouth can be used locally and orally for the prevention and treatment of RIM based on their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibiotic properties.

Due to different viewpoints of ITM on health and disease, lifestyle modification and herbal remedies along with therapeutic measures can be effective in controlling RIM.