Prevalence of Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use and Its Associated Factors among Iranian Diabetic Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use and its associated factors among diabetic patients in Fasa, a city in southern Iran. Methods: Data were collected from diabetic patients who visited the endocrinology clinics at Fasa University of Medical Sciences. A structured questionnaire was administered to gather information on CAM use, including the types of CAM modalities used, and reasons for use. The patient's demographic and clinical characteristics, such as age, gender, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, and quality of life (QoL) were also recorded. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the prevalence of CAM use, while logistic regression analysis was employed to identify factors associated with CAM use. Results: A total of 376 diabetic patients participated in the study, with more than 89% reporting CAM use within the past year. Herbal preparations were the most commonly used type of CAM, with a prevalence rate of 99.4%. Factors associated with CAM use included patients' psychological health, attitude towards the safety of CAM, belief in the synergistic effects of combining routine medications with CAM, and previous positive experiences with CAM. Conclusion: The high prevalence of CAM use highlights the importance of considering it in diabetes management and the need for healthcare professionals' engagement in open discussions with patients about their CAM practices. Understanding the factors influencing CAM use can inform healthcare providers and policymakers in developing appropriate strategies for integrating CAM approaches into conventional diabetes care.

Agomelatine efficacy in treatment resistant obsessive-compulsive disorder: A randomized double-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a prevalent and burdensome mental health condition, often resistant to conventional treatments. Agomelatine (Valdoxan), a compound acting on serotonin and melatonin systems, has shown promise in anecdotal reports and case studies for OCD treatment. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted with 60 patients diagnosed with treatment-resistant OCD. Participants were divided into an intervention group (receiving agomelatine 50 mg/day) and a control group (placebo). OCD symptoms were assessed using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS) over a 12-week period. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, gender, or baseline Y-BOCS scores between the groups. Agomelatine did not demonstrate a significant improvement in OCD symptoms compared to the placebo. Adverse events were comparable between groups, and liver enzyme levels remained within the normal range. CONCLUSION: This study, while not confirming significant efficacy, underscores the need for continued investigation into agomelatine's potential in treating specific subgroups of OCD patients, emphasizing the necessity for more comprehensive and well-controlled trials in the future.

Comparison of ketamine with buprenorphine as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of comorbid major depressive disorder and opium use disorders: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Comorbid major depressive disorder (MDD) and opium use disorder (OUD) are known to increase the risk of suicide. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of adjunctive therapy with either ketamine or buprenorphine as a fast-acting treatment in patients with comorbid MDD and OUD. METHODS: This was a randomized double-blind controlled trial in adults admitted to a hospital in Iran. Sixty-six participants were enrolled and received ketamine or buprenorphine, along with current antidepressant therapy. The primary outcome was change in depressive symptoms assessed using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) after 2 hours, 24 hours, and 7 days. Secondary outcomes included changes in suicidal ideation, evaluated by the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). RESULTS: Both groups experienced a significant decrease in the severity of depression compared to before the study (P < .05). However, there was no significant difference in the between-group comparison (P > .05). Both groups also exhibited a significant reduction in suicidal ideation compared to before the study, with the severity of this decrease being over 85% in both groups (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Both ketamine and buprenorphine appear to be equally effective in reducing symptoms of depression and suicidal ideation among individuals with MDD and OUD.

Efficacy of oral supplementation of whey protein in patients with contact dermatitis: A pilot randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Whey protein is a popular dietary product that has numerous health benefits such as immune modulation. In this study, we assessed efficacy of whey protein in management of patients with contact dermatitis (CD) through a double blind, randomized controlled clinical trial in Emam Reza clinic, Shiraz, Iran. Twenty-five patients in each group were randomly assigned to receive whey protein or placebo powder, 30 g in 200 mL warm water at fasting time for 4 weeks. Outcome measures were Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) questionnaire and the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) score. Furthermore, subjective total improvement (assessed by visual analogue scale) was set as the other primary outcome measure. A significant decrease was observed in the scores of EASI, DLQI, and subjective total improvement in the drug group after the intervention compared with the baseline. However, no changes were seen in the placebo group. Moreover, there was a significant reduction in the scores of EASI (P = .002) and subjective total improvement scores (P = .039) over the study period in the drug group compared with the placebo group. According to the results of this study, it seems that oral supplementation of whey protein could improve the symptoms of CD compared with placebo.

Efficacy of topical Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) extract oil in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: A pilot double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the most common complications in patients with cancer. Citrullus colocynthis (bitter apple) has been used in traditional Persian medicine as an effective pain relief, especially for neuralgia. We designed a pilot clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical C. colocynthis oil in management of CIPN in breast cancer patients. Thirty-four cancer patients with CIPN were randomly enrolled in two arms of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The patients were treated by topical C. colocynthis oil or placebo, two times per day for 2 months. Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy/Gynecologic Oncology Group (FACT/GOG)-Neurotoxicity (Ntx) score was set as the primary outcome measure. No significant improvement was observed in the total score of FACT/GOG-Ntx scale (2.40 ± 1.90 vs. 1.05 ± 1.36, p = .879) in drug and placebo groups, respectively. There was also no significant improvement in the mean scores of FACT/GOG-Ntx in the sensory, motor, hearing, and functional domains in the two study groups. According to the results of this preliminary study, topical C. colocynthis oil failed to improve the symptoms of CIPN compared with placebo.

Efficacy of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) on kidney stone dissolution: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial.

Preclinical studies have shown beneficial effects of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) in the prevention and treatment of renal stones. Hence, we designed a study to evaluate the renal-stone-dissolving efficacy of black seed. Sixty patients with renal stones were randomly enrolled in two arms of a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. The patients were treated by black seed capsules (500 mg) or placebo two times per day for 10 weeks. Patients were assessed in terms of size of renal stones by using sonography before and after intervention. In the black seed group, 44.4% of patients excreted their stones completely, and the size of the stones remained unchanged and decreased in 3.7% and 51.8% of patients, respectively. In contrast, in the placebo group, 15.3% of the patients excreted their stones completely, 11.5% had reduction in stone size, 15.3% had increase in stone size, and 57.6% had no change in their stone size. The difference in the mean size of renal stones after the study was significant between the two groups (p < 0.05). N. sativa L., as compared with placebo, is demonstrated to have significant positive effects on disappearance or reduction of size of kidney stones.

Use of complementary and alternative medicine among paediatric patients with hepatogastrointestinal diseases.

BACKGROUND: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is becoming increasingly popular in Middle Eastern countries; it is often used for paediatric medical conditions such as chronic gastrointestinal complaints and failure to thrive. It is also commonly used in patients with chronic hepatic conditions such as cirrhosis and in hepatic transplant patients. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, types and associated factors of CAM use in children with hepatogastrointestinal disease in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study carried out during September 2013-January 2014, 238 parents of children attending a paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology clinic at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences received a self-administered questionnaire covering associated factors of complementary and alternative medicine use; 210 questionnaires were completed and returned. RESULTS: Complementary and alternative medicine was used by 103 patients (49%); 74 (71.8%) of these used herbal remedies. Older age of the child significantly increased CAM use. Those with previous positive experience of CAM (62.1% of users, 40.2% of non-users) and those who had received recommendation for CAM by health care providers (24.3% of users, 6.6% of non-users) were significantly more likely to use CAM. CONCLUSIONS: This survey demonstrated the high prevalence of CAM use (especially herbal remedies) in paediatric patients with hepatogastrointestinal diseases.

Sexual headache from view point of Avicenna and traditional Persian medicine.

One of the best remaining manuscripts is the "Canon of Medicine" fathered by Avicenna in the Islamic Golden Age [ninth to twelfth century AD]. Considering Avicenna's role in the development of medical science in the Islamic Golden Age, we reviewed Avicenna's point of view on sexual headache based on his famous book "Canon of Medicine". This historical review discusses the clinical approaches applied to diagnose, classify, and treat sexual headache-specifically herbal therapy-from the viewpoint of Avicenna and Traditional Persian Medicine. The accurate observations of Avicenna give a comprehensive classified etiology of the sexual headache. The efficacy of some medicinal herbs used by him for sexual headache treatments, such as the analgesic effect of lavender, chamomile, and jasmine has been proved by current medicine; however, the knowledge of medieval physicians should be scientifically investigated even further to extend new remedial options for sexual headache.

The Prophylactic Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) on Ethanol-Induced Reproductive Toxicity in Male Rats.

BACKGROUND: Ginger is a natural dietary component with antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties. This study was conducted to evaluate the prophylactic effect of ginger extract on ethanol-induced reproductive toxicity in male rats by measuring the total homocysteine (tHcy), trace elements, antioxidant enzymes activity including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, and malondialdehyde (MDA). METHODS: Twenty-eight adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups and treated daily for 28 days as follows: control, control+ginger (1 g/kg of body weight (B.W)/day by gavage), test group (ethanol 4 g/kg of B.W/day by gavage), and treated group (ethanol+ginger). At the end of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed and their testes were removed and used for the measurement of the above factors. RESULTS: The results in the test group indicated that ethanol decreased antioxidant enzymes activity and increased MDA and tHcy compared with the control groups (P<0.05). In the treated group, ginger extract improved antioxidant enzymes activity and reduced tHcy and MDA level compared with the test group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that ethanol causes oxidative stress in testis and ginger extract improves the trace elements, antioxidant enzymes activity, and decreases tHcy and MDA.

Efficacy of Tribulus Terrestris Extract on the Serum Glucose and Lipids of Women with Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Considering folkloric use of Tribulus terrestris (T. terrestris) in diabetes and proven anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of T. terrestris in animal studies, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the hydro alcoholic extract of T. terrestris on the serum glucose and lipid profile of women with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: Ninety-eight diabetic women were randomly allocated to receive the T. terrestris (1000 mg/day) or placebo for three months. The patients were evaluated in terms of the fasting blood glucose, 2-hour postprandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile. RESULTS: T. terrestris showed a significant blood glucose lowering effect in diabetic women compared to placebo (P<0.05). Also, the total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein of the T. terrestris group was significantly reduced compared with placebo, while no significant effect was observed in the triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein levels. CONCLUSION: This study showed preliminary promising hypoglycemic effect of T. terrestris in diabetic women.

The Efficacy of Boswellia Serrata Gum Resin for Control of Lipid Profile and Blood Glucose in Diabetic Patients.

BACKGROUND: Regarding preclinical evidence for antidiabetic effects of Boswellia serrata, we evaluated anti-hyperglycemic and lipid-lowering effects of Boswellia serrate gum resin in type 2 diabetic patients in a double-blind randomized placebo-control trial. METHODS: Fifty-six diabetic patients were randomly allocated to two groups to receive 250 mg of the Boswellia serrate gum resin or placebo twice daily for 8 weeks, in addition to their routine antidiabetic treatments. Fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin level, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride of serum were measured before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Although there was a considerable reduction after the intervention in FBS (P=0.04), HbA1c (P=0.02) and triglyceride (P=0.01) in the Boswellia serrate gum resin group, no significant difference was observed in all outcome measures between the two groups at the end of the study (FBS P=0.09, HbA1c P=0.20, total cholesterol P=0.31, LDL P=0.49, HDL P=0.10, triglyceride P=0.78 and insulin level P=0.86). CONCLUSION: The current study showed the 8 weeks complementary use of Boswellia serrate gum resin with a daily dose of 500 mg had no better glucose and lipid lowering effect than placebo in diabetic patients.

Efficacy of Nepeta Menthoides Boiss and Buhse Freeze-Dried Aqueous Extract on Anxiety of Patients with Depression: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of Nepeta menthoides freeze-dried aqueous extract were assessed on the anxiety of patients suffering from depression. METHOD: Patients received either N. menthoides formulation (400 mg/BID) or Sertraline (50 mg/BID) for 4 weeks. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) scales were used to assess the anxiety in two-week intervals (2nd, 4th, and 6th weeks). Folin-Ciocalteu and Dowd methods were used to determine the formulation of total phenol and flavonoid contents. RESULTS: Compared with Sertraline, N. menthoides showed a higher reduction in BAI scores in the 2nd (16.52±8.07 vs. 21.38±10.98, P<0.05) and 4th week (11.55±6.74 vs. 20.47±11.53, P<0.05) along with a reduction in the recurrence rate and side effects. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents revealed in the presence of 127.09±0.43 mg GAE/g and 16.93±0.09 mg Q/g of extract. CONCLUSION: N. menthoides could be effective in the control and introducing a delay in recurrence of anxiety in patients with depression.

Prophylactic effect of chamomile on post-dural puncture headache in women undergoing elective cesarean section: A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a common complication after spinal anesthesia, affecting patient recovery. This study evaluated the prophylactic effect of topical chamomile ointment on PDPH in women undergoing elective cesarean section. METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial 148 pregnant women were randomized into two parallel groups and received 3cc of the chamomile or the placebo ointment on the forehead of the participants 20 minutes before the start of spinal anesthesia, and then 2 and 4 hours after that. The primary outcomes were the incidence rate of headache, and its severity assessed by a numeric rating scale (NRS), while secondary outcomes included analgesic consumption, frequency of nausea/vomiting, and adverse events. RESULTS: Chamomile ointment exhibited significant preventive effects on PDPH incidence compared to placebo. The chamomile group demonstrated lower rates of PDPH at 6 hours (3.5% vs. 7.18%, p = 0.021) and 12 hours (7.6% vs. 20%, p = 0.028) after spinal anesthesia. Analgesic consumption, frequency of nausea/vomiting, and adverse events were comparable between the groups. CONCLUSION: Topical chamomile ointment demonstrated significant preventive effects on PDPH incidence compared to placebo. Chamomile ointment could be a promising adjunctive approach to prevent PDPH, enhancing patient comfort and potentially reducing the need for analgesics. Further investigation is needed to explore its mechanisms and broader applications.

Complementary and alternative medicine use among people living with HIV in Shiraz, Southern Iran.

Background: Living with HIV requires lifelong care to support engagement with and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. The Middle East and North Africa region provides access to ART, but research is lacking on the lived-experiences of people living with HIV. Globally, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is increasingly used by patients who need support alongside receiving medical treatment for chronic conditions. This study aims to examine the frequency and reasons behind the use of CAM, as well as identify its associated factors among people living with HIV in Shiraz, Iran. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 320 patients (aged 18-70 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of HIV residing in Fars province and diagnosed between 1999 and 2019 were recruited randomly through their clinical record numbers from five HIV treatment centers. They were surveyed on their quality of life and CAM use via the Short-Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36) and a semi-structured survey of "CAM use." The data analysis for this study involved the use of Chi-squared test, independent t-test, and multiple logistic regression model. Results: Of 287 patients, 89.22% reported using CAM in the previous year. CAM use was more prevalent among those with a family history of CAM use (94.3% vs. 81.8%, p = 0.023). Frequent reasons for using CAM were reported to be sexual dysfunction (32.4%), depression (28.3%), thirstiness (23.3%), and nausea (17.5%). Quality of life, as measured via the SF-36 questionnaire in all its 8 sub-domains, did not differ among those who used CAM versus those who did not (61.5 ± 27.6 vs. 58.1 ± 30.9, p = 0.626). Conclusion: CAM was used among a majority of people living with HIV in Shiraz, Iran. People who used CAM appeared to experience a similar quality of life relative to those who did not use CAM. Future studies on the modalities of engagement with CAM can improve patient-physician shared decision-making and increase lifelong care options for people living with HIV.

Efficacy and Safety of Jollab (a Saffron-Based Beverage) on Cancer-Related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Patients: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Fatigue is a common complaint in cancer patients and profoundly affects the quality of life of the patients. Therefore, we designed a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Jollab (containing saffron, honey, and rose water) as a tonic beverage in the management of cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Seventy-five patients were randomly assigned into two groups, patients received either 4 weeks Jollab or the placebo (20 mL three times daily). Fatigue was assessed with scores of Visual Analogue Fatigue Scale (VAFS), Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and Cancer Fatigue Scale (CFS) at weeks 0 and 4 (before and after the intervention). RESULTS: In the Jollab group, VAFS showed a significant decrease (p = 0.000), but in the placebo group, there was no significant difference (p = 0.258). In the Jollab group, FSS decreased significantly (p = 0.000), while in the placebo group, it slightly decreased (p = 0.096). CFS physical and cognitive subscales also showed improvement of fatigue in the Jollab group compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05), but affective subscale score did not show a significant change after the intervention in both groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Jollab beverage has significant positive effects on reducing fatigue in women with breast cancer. However, larger-scale trials with further sample size and longer period of the intervention are needed to confirm and develop our preliminary findings.

Efficacy of lettuce seed syrup on insomnia in patients with breast cancer: a pilot double blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES: Insomnia and sleep disorders are common and can be severe amongst patients with cancer, especially during chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of lettuce seed syrup in breast cancer patients who suffer from insomnia or disordered sleep. METHODS: This pilot study was a double-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial conducted in Shoha-e-Tajrish Hospital (Tehran, Iran) from September 2018 to June 2019. 50 adult patients with breast cancer with insomnia or sleep disorders were enrolled. Participants were randomly allocated to lettuce seed syrup (5 mL twice daily), or placebo syrup at the same dose for four weeks. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality before and after the intervention. RESULTS: Compared to placebo, the mean of the total PSQI score decreased significantly in participants who received lettuce seed syrup (p=0.014). In addition, there were statistically significant reductions in the mean scores of subject quality sleep (p=0.002), sleep duration (p=0.038), habitual sleep efficacy (p=0.029) and sleep disturbance (p=0.032) in patients who received lettuce seed syrup. CONCLUSIONS: Lettuce seed syrup may improve self-reported sleep quality in participants with breast cancer. Larger trials are indicated in diverse samples of participants with caner to learn if these finds are generalizable.

Anti-anxiety Properties of Selected Medicinal Plants.

Exploration of new drugs targeting anxiety treatment is a major concern worldwide. Medicinal plants are being used as a potential source of novel drugs for anxiety disorders. The objective of this review is to provide information about the healing outcomes of anxiety treatment with natural products. Valeriana officinalis, Citrus aurantium, Commelina benghalensis, Achyranthes aspera, Mimosa pudica, Achillea millefolium, Nymphaea alba, Leonurus cardiac, Camellia sinensis, Turnera aphrodisiaca, Crataegus oxyacantha and Piper methysticum showed promising effects on anxiety in animal models. In clinical studies, passion flower, kava, valerian, St John's wort, and hwagandha showed the most positive results. More studies are needed for the exploration of the antianxiety of medicinal plants. In drugs derived from natural sources have explored many components that are playing an essential role in curing anxiety disorders and associated complications.

Whey Protein (Ma'aljobon) as a Complementary Therapy for Treatment of Attention-deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Randomized Open-label Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common, chronic, neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in childhood with symptoms of hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. Ma'aljobon (a kind of whey protein) that is derived from milk during cheese producing process is a popular dietary traditional product supposed to provide immune modulation and prevent neuropsychiatric disorder. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of ma'aljobon in management of Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this open-label randomized, double arm, and controlled clinical trial, sixty four patients with ADHD who referred to out-patient child and adolescent clinic of Khorshid Hospital of Isfahan, Iran, were randomly assigned in the intervention group (ma'aljobon 25 g once daily plus standard conventional treatment (SCT)) or control group (SCT only) for a period of 8 weeks. Scores of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) and Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) were set as the outcome measures. RESULTS: Parent reported hyperactivity scale of SDQ showed a significant decrease in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.04). However, no significant between groups differences were observed in other scales of parent-reported SDQ. Also, according to the results of CPT, there was a significant improvement in the intervention group regarding attention and focus score (P=0.01). CONCLUSION: Ma'aljobon might be considered as a complementary remedy for improving hyperactivity, attention and focus of children with ADHD. However, further researches with larger sample size and longer duration should be done for achieving more reliable results.

Preventive Efficacy of Dried Lime (Citrus aurantifulia) in Common Cold Among Hajj Pilgrims: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Dried lime (Citrus aurantifulia) is one of the herbal preparations used especially by Iranian pilgrims as a preventative agent and self-remedy for respiratory tracts symptoms in folklore medicine. Therefore, we evaluated the preventive efficacy of dried lime preparation in common cold among Iranian pilgrims. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this randomized, double-blinded, clinical trial patients in the drug group received dried lime capsules, 500 mg in a single dose per day for four weeks. In the placebo group, the patients received placebo capsules using the same method. The primary outcome measure in this trial was the severity of cold symptoms assessed by a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of the trend of cold symptoms severity during the study period. However, in the second week, the severity of all the cold symptoms in the drug group was less, compared to the placebo, but at the end of the study, comparison of the two groups revealed no significant difference in any of the investigated options. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed that although the severity of all the cold symptoms in the drug group was less as compared to the placebo group, the dried lime capsule showed no statistically significant effect on the control of these symptoms in Iranian pilgrims.

Topical Costus sp. Preparation as Palliative Care for Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy of Patients: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Pilot Trial.

Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a common adverse effect of various anticancer regimens with different sensory-motor abnormalities in patients. The aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of using Costus sp. oil as a palliative treatment in such patients. Design: This was a pilot randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical study. Settings/Location: Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Subjects: Patients 18-80 years of age undergoing chemotherapy treatment recently or during the last 6 months were enrolled after meeting the inclusion criteria. Interventions: The intervention group used Costus sp. as a topical ointment and the placebo group used topical paraffin for 4 weeks. Outcome measures: Feasibility of recruitment, including treatment acceptability (evaluated as number of patients leaving the study early), and compliance (defined as consumption of a minimum 80% of the ointment) with the intervention were assessed. Neuropathic pain change was defined as the secondary outcome, too. Results: Totally, 50 out of 73 participants were identified eligible and were randomly divided into intervention or placebo groups. There was no significant difference between groups in terms of sociodemographic data. At the end of the study, 24% (confidence interval [95% CI]: 9-45) (intervention group) and 12% (95% CI: 2-31) (placebo group) of patients revealed treatment unacceptability. Meanwhile, 12% (95% CI: 2-31) in the intervention group and 28% (95% CI: 12-49) in the placebo group did not show the compliance. Moreover, according to patients' records, pain reduction was higher in the intervention group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: This preliminary study showed that topical use of Costus sp. was feasible and acceptable in patients suffering from CIPN.