Condition

Mucositis

Oral mucositis is painful inflammation and sores in the mouth lining, which arise because its fast-dividing cells are easily damaged by chemotherapy and head and neck radiation. Among supplements, the evidence is strongest for curcumin, and trials found mouth symptoms improved. That rests on just two studies with 272 people and a moderate-sized effect, so more research would help firm it up.

Sources: PMID 40242451

Supplements studied: 4
Graded outcomes: 1
Trials: 3
People studied: 10,246

Evidence by supplement

Strong
Moderate
Limited
Very limited

4 supplements

Curcumin

Curcumin: outcomes studied for Mucositis
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People
	Mucositis Symptoms Moderate Improvement	Improves (the measure goes down)	Moderate effect	2 studies	272 people
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms High-dose curcuminoids are efficacious in the reduction in symptoms and signs of oral lichen planusJ Am Acad Dermatol · PMID 21907450 Efficacy of different pharmaceutical forms of Curcuma longa or curcumin in reducing oral mucositis severity and incidence in cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Front Pharmacol · PMID 40242451
	Pain	Improves (the measure goes down)		14 studies	129 people
Studies that measured pain Efficacy of Curcuma longa in relieving pain symptoms of knee osteoarthritis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials.J Rheum Dis · PMID 39712249 Curcuma longa extract reduces inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in osteoarthritis of knee: a four-month, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trialInflammopharmacology · PMID 27761693 Efficacy and safety of curcumin and its combination with boswellic acid in osteoarthritis: a comparative, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled studyBMC Complement Altern Med · PMID 29316908 and 11 more on the Curcumin page

Zinc

Zinc: outcomes studied for Mucositis
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucositis Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		4 studies	60 people
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms Zinc sulfate in the prevention of radiation-induced oropharyngeal mucositis: a prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized studyInt J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys · PMID 14697435 The effect of zinc sulfate in the prevention of high-dose chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled studyHematol Oncol · PMID 21692101 A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of zinc sulfate supplementation for alleviation of radiation-induced oral mucositis and pharyngitis in head and neck cancer patientsJ Med Assoc Thai · PMID 23720981 and 1 more on the Zinc page

Yarrow

Mucositis Symptoms: improves

Yarrow: outcomes studied for Mucositis
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucositis Symptoms	Improves (the measure goes down)		1 study	56 people
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms Effect of adding the herb Achillea millefolium on mouthwash on chemotherapy induced oral mucositis in cancer patients: A double-blind randomized controlled trial.Eur J Oncol Nurs · PMID 25667123

Calendula Officinalis

Mucositis Symptoms: changes; see studies

Calendula Officinalis: outcomes studied for Mucositis
Grade	Outcome	Effect	Size	Studies	People	Studies list
	Mucositis Symptoms	Changes; see studies		1 study	40 people
Studies that measured mucositis symptoms Antioxidant capacity of calendula officinalis flowers extract and prevention of radiation induced oropharyngeal mucositis in patients with head and neck cancers: a randomized controlled clinical study.Daru · PMID 23497687

Key findings

Mucositis SymptomsCurcuminImproves (the measure goes down)

The Oral Mucositis Support (Cancer Treatment) protocol

2 primary supplements · 6 supporting supplements

Curcumin500–1,500 mg daily (bioavailable form) or topical gel application
Honey (Topical)15–20 mL swished and swallowed 3–4 times daily, 15–30 minutes before and after radiation

See the full protocol

Studies cited

10 studies from PubMed

Topical application of honey in the management of chemo/radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.Int J Nurs Stud · PMID 30352321
Prophylactic and therapeutic effects of honey on radiochemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Support Care Cancer · PMID 30919153
Effects of 9 oral care solutions on the prevention of oral mucositis: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Medicine · PMID 32311938
Effects of honey use on the management of radio/chemotherapy-induced mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Int J Oral Maxillofac Surg · PMID 27600797
Effectiveness of honey on radiation-induced oral mucositis, time to mucositis, weight loss, and treatment interruptions among patients with head and neck malignancies: A meta-analysis and systematic review of literature.Head Neck · PMID 27028991
Impact of honey on radiotherapy-induced oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Ann Palliat Med · PMID 32692203
Role of honey in preventing radiation-induced oral mucositis: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.Food Funct · PMID 33900311
Efficacy of oral and topical antioxidants in the prevention and management of oral mucositis in head and neck cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analyses.Support Care Cancer · PMID 35680672
Clinical applicability of natural products for prevention and treatment of oral mucositis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Clin Oral Investig · PMID 33409696
Prevention and Treatment of Oral Mucositis in Pediatric Patients: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.In Vivo · PMID 38688628