Note by Linda:  This is also good for Dry Mouth & Hepatitis C, especially while on interferon/ribavirin treatment.

Department of Human Services, Australia

Simple treatment relieves palliative care patients

A preparation of grapeseed oil, with peppermint essence, is proving effective for treating a painful mouth condition in palliative care patients.
The Alfred Hospital's Speech Pathology Department and Palliative Care Service has combined with Bethlehem Hospital to develop a new treatment for the chronic mouth condition known as xerostomia.

Xerostomia, or dry mouth, is a condition commonly suffered by palliative care patients and a constant source of discomfort and distress.

It can be brought on by numerous factors including dehydration, drug side effects and late effects of radiotherapy.

Xerostomia can be painful and also lead to other serious issues, which in palliative care patients only compounds existing health problems.

The condition can pre-dispose patients to mouth ulcers and other oral candida, can worsen an already poor appetite and can even lead to impeded speech in some cases.

Until now, treatments for xerostomia have included improved hydration, advising frequent sips of fluid and the use of artificial saliva preparations.

Many patients find these preparations sticky and of no additional benefit than frequent tea, coffee of fruit juice.

The Alfred/Bethlehem treatment combined grapeseed oil and peppermint essence, given to patients via a dropper.

'The preparation has proven at least as effective as artificial saliva in promoting oral moisture and more effective in oral cleansing,' said Alfred Palliative Care Nursing Coordinator John Dalla.

'It is also more palatable than artificial saliva and the components are readily available in the community.

'Given the simplicity and high acceptability of this preparation, we suggest there are a large number of patients who could benefit from this intervention.'

Results of a study of the treatment will be published in the Australian Nurses Journal.

http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/humanservices ... /grape.htm

Google Search:
http://www.google.com.au/#hl=en&q=grape ... 22a4585371

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