NCT07126301

Aromatherapy Essential Oils to Manage Anxiety and Nausea in Cancer Patients Receiving Infusion in the Ambulatory Setting

Assessing the Feasibility of Aromatherapy Essential Oil Associated Changes on Nausea in Patients Receiving Infusion in the Ambulatory Setting

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This clinical trial tests how well aromatherapy essential oils work to manage anxiety and nausea in cancer patients receiving infusions in the ambulatory setting. Current drugs that are given for nausea may cause constipation and fatigue. Therefore, there is interest in exploring complementary therapies, like aromatherapy, that do not carry the same side effects. Using aromatherapy essential oils such as ginger, peppermint, and lavender, may help reduce nausea and anxiety. Some studies have shown significant reductions in nausea and anxiety among cancer patients using these oils, while other studies have had mixed results. Ginger and peppermint oils, in particular, have been associated with helping reduce nausea during chemotherapy, while lavender has shown potential benefits for anxiety. Jojoba oil will be used as a placebo for this research study. Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of a jojoba plant, which is a green shrub that is found in the southwestern United States). Jojoba oil is an oil which has no color or smell. Aromatherapy essential oils used through a personal inhalation device during chemotherapy may better manage anxiety and nausea in cancer patients receiving infusions in the ambulatory setting.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: I. To determine the feasibility of utilizing aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions. II. To assess satisfaction of patients receiving aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES: I. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in nausea in patients undergoing moderate-risk and a high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy regimen. II. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in anxiety in patients receiving infusions in the outpatient setting. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 arms. ARM I: Patients inhale peppermint essential oil via the personal inhalation device (PID) once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the peppermint essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days. ARM II: Patients inhale lavender essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the lavender essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days. ARM III: Patients inhale ginger essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the ginger essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days. ARM IV: Patients inhale placebo jojoba essential oil via the PID once every hour starting on day 1 during their anti-cancer/chemotherapy infusions. Patients continue to inhale the placebo jojoba essential oil via the PID at least three times a day for 4 days. After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at day 25.

Conditions

• Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm
• Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
PROCEDURE	Aromatherapy and Essential Oils	Inhale peppermint oil
PROCEDURE	Aromatherapy and Essential Oils	Inhale lavender oil
PROCEDURE	Aromatherapy and Essential Oils	Inhale ginger oil
PROCEDURE	Aromatherapy and Essential Oils	Inhale placebo jojoba oil
OTHER	Questionnaire Administration	Ancillary studies

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-07-08
• Primary completion: 2027-01-01
• Completion: 2027-01-01
• First posted: 2025-08-17
• Last updated: 2025-08-17

Locations

2 sites across 1 country: United States