July 12, 2026
Diabetes can cause nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy that most commonly affects the legs and feet. A recent randomized controlled clinical study demonstrated that an essential oil massage (three times weekly, for four weeks) reduced diabetic neuropathy pain and improved quality of life.
The study used a blend of 1% rosemary, 1% geranium, 1% lavender, 1% lemon eucalyptus,1% chamomile (Roman or German not specified), and 95% coconut oil. 2 mL of the blend was massaged into each foot for 10 minutes and 1 mL was massaged into the hands for 5 minutes each (total of 30 minutes). This process was repeated three times per week for four weeks.
Aromatherapy massage is a well-tolerated, feasible, and safe nonpharmacological method that can be readily integrated into clinical settings by nursing staff. The essential oils rosemary, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus, and chamomile can be safely used by nurses in the clinical setting, if applicable. Aromatherapy massage is a simple and effective nonpharmacological nursing intervention that can be used to manage neuropathic pain and improve QoL in patients with painful neuropathy. However, training and experience of nurses in aromatherapy massage is critical to achieving positive results.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28605119