Aromatherapy for Cancer

Recruiting at 1 trial location

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center

Must be taking: Emetogenic chemotherapy

Disqualifiers: Respiratory conditions, Psychiatric conditions, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 25

Duration: 4 days

60 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests the effectiveness of aromatherapy essential oils, such as peppermint, ginger, and lavender, in managing anxiety and nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Current medications for nausea often cause side effects like constipation and fatigue, so the study explores whether aromatherapy might offer a gentler alternative. Participants will inhale these oils through a personal inhalation device during and after chemotherapy sessions. Individuals experiencing nausea during chemotherapy and undergoing a moderate- to high-risk chemotherapy regimen may be suitable for this trial. As an unphased study, this trial provides a unique opportunity to explore alternative therapies that may enhance comfort and quality of life during treatment.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on using aromatherapy alongside your existing treatment.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

A previous study found that peppermint oil greatly reduced nausea and vomiting in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, suggesting it might safely manage these symptoms. Research shows that inhaling ginger essential oil is generally safe and may help reduce anxiety and fatigue. Studies also suggest that lavender oil can decrease fatigue and improve sleep quality in cancer patients, with few side effects reported.

Overall, these essential oils are considered safe in cancer care, with few reports of negative effects. This makes them promising options for managing nausea and anxiety during treatment. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about these aromatherapy treatments because they offer a novel, natural approach to managing symptoms for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Unlike traditional medications that might be used to alleviate nausea or anxiety, such as antiemetics or anxiolytics, these treatments use essential oils like peppermint, ginger, and lavender, which are inhaled through a personal inhalation device. This method is non-invasive and avoids the side effects often associated with oral or injectable medications. Additionally, the use of a placebo (jojoba oil) allows researchers to better understand the true effectiveness of each essential oil, potentially opening up new avenues for complementary therapies in cancer care.

What evidence suggests that this trial's aromatherapy treatments could be effective for managing anxiety and nausea in cancer patients?

This trial will compare the effects of different essential oils on managing symptoms in cancer patients. Studies have shown that essential oils in aromatherapy might help manage nausea and anxiety. Participants in this trial may receive peppermint oil, which significantly reduced nausea during chemotherapy in past studies. Others may receive ginger oil, which has shown mixed results; some studies reported it helped with appetite and daily activities, but not all found it effective against nausea. Another group will receive lavender oil, which may help reduce anxiety and improve sleep quality. Overall, while results vary, these essential oils offer a promising option for managing symptoms without the side effects of traditional medications. ^{1 2 6 7 8}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Richard T Lee

Principal Investigator

City of Hope Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for cancer patients experiencing anxiety and nausea during chemotherapy in outpatient settings. Participants should be interested in trying aromatherapy with essential oils as a complementary therapy. There's no detailed inclusion or exclusion criteria provided, so it's assumed that any cancer patient undergoing infusion treatments could potentially participate.

Inclusion Criteria

I can take care of myself but might not be able to do heavy physical work.

I am willing to follow all steps of the essential oil aromatherapy study.

I am 18 years old or older.

Exclusion Criteria

I have used aromatherapy in the last 30 days.

Self-reported aversion or sensitivity to lavender oil, peppermint oil, ginger oil, jojoba oil

I do not have uncontrolled asthma or COPD.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants inhale essential oils (peppermint, lavender, ginger, or placebo jojoba) via a personal inhalation device during chemotherapy infusions and continue at home for 4 days

4 days

Daily inhalation during chemotherapy and at home

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to 30 days

Follow-up at day 25

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Aromatherapy Essential Oils

Trial Overview The study is testing the effectiveness of aromatherapy using essential oils like ginger, peppermint, and lavender to manage anxiety and nausea against a placebo (jojoba oil). Patients will use these oils through personal inhalation devices during their chemotherapy sessions.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm III (ginger oil) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

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.

Group II: Arm II (lavender oil) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

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.

Group III: Arm I (peppermint oil) Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Patients inhale peppermint essential oil via the 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.

Group IV: Arm IV (placebo jojoba oil) Placebo Group 2 Interventions

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.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

City of Hope Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

614

Recruited

1,924,000+

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Collaborator

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Citations

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26051575/

Effects of inhaled ginger aromatherapy on chemotherapy- ... A clinically relevant 10 points improvement on role functioning (P=0.002) and appetite loss (P<0.001) were also documented while patients were ...

2. achs.edu achs.edu/blog/ginger-oil-chemotherapy/

Ginger Oil & Chemotherapy A double-blind placebo trial in 2018 evaluating ginger essential oil in relieving chemotherapy-induced nausea in 21 children with cancer resulted in a 67% ...

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229915000540

Effects of inhaled ginger aromatherapy on chemotherapy ... The results of this study demonstrated that aromatherapy administered as inhaled ginger essential oil for five days had limited effects in reducing CINV ...

4. cancer.gov cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/patient/aromatherapy-pdq

Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ®)–Patient Version A study of inhaled ginger essential oil in women receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer somewhat decreased acute nausea, but did not ...

5. digitalcommons.pcom.edu digitalcommons.pcom.edu/pa_systematic_reviews/498/

"Is Ginger an Effective Treatment for Reducing the Severity of ... Results: All three studies did not show a significant improvement in the severity of nausea in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy after the treatment ...

6. ons.org ons.org/publications-research/voice/news-views/05-2018/how-aromatherapy-essential-oils-may-help-patients

How Aromatherapy With Essential Oils May Help Patients ... In a trial of patients with thyroid cancer, inhalation of lemon and ginger essential oil appeared to increase saliva secretion after radioactive ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3361530/

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) reduces acute chemotherapy ... Ginger supplementation at daily dose of 0.5g-1.0g significantly aids in reduction of the severity of acute chemotherapy-induced nausea in adult cancer patients.

8. cancernursingtoday.com cancernursingtoday.com/post/nurse-led-study-shows-ginger-essential-oil-reduces-patient-anxiety-and-fatigue

Ginger Essential Oil Reduces Patient Anxiety and Fatigue Inhaled essential oils are mostly safe ... essential oils at improving physical symptoms among patients with cancer receiving infusion therapy.