Aromatherapy for Cancer

Not currently recruiting at 1 trial location

Overseen By Richard Lee, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: City of Hope Medical Center

Disqualifiers: Allergy to lavender, Uncontrolled respiratory, Psychiatric conditions, others

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores whether aromatherapy can reduce pain and anxiety for cancer patients undergoing a bone marrow biopsy (a test that involves taking a small sample of bone marrow). Researchers seek alternatives to pain medications, particularly those with addiction risks. Participants will inhale either lavender oil (a form of aromatherapy) or a placebo (a treatment with no active effect) before their biopsy. The study seeks cancer patients who experience significant anxiety about their upcoming biopsy and can follow simple instructions during the trial. As an unphased trial, it offers patients the chance to explore non-addictive pain relief options.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications, but if you've had recent changes in the past 2 weeks to medications prescribed for pain or anxiety, you may not be eligible to participate.

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

Research shows that lavender aromatherapy might help reduce anxiety and pain for cancer patients. Studies have found that lavender can lower anxiety and pain levels and might also improve sleep and vital signs. However, lavender oil can harm skin cells at certain concentrations in lab tests, indicating that while there are benefits, careful use is necessary. In clinical settings, essential oils like lavender are generally considered safe when used correctly. Aromatherapy has been studied for its effects on various symptoms in cancer patients, including anxiety and nausea. Overall, while lavender aromatherapy seems promising, it should be used with caution to avoid potential skin irritation or other side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard of care for cancer-related procedures, which often involves medications for pain and anxiety, aromatherapy offers a non-invasive and natural alternative. Researchers are excited about using essential oils like LOA (likely a specific blend or compound) and LA (another specific blend or compound) because they might help reduce stress and discomfort through inhalation, without the side effects of traditional drugs. Additionally, using jojoba oil as a placebo comparator ensures that any effects are truly due to these active aromatherapy oils. This trial could open new doors for managing procedure-related anxiety and discomfort in a more holistic way.

What evidence suggests that aromatherapy might be an effective treatment for pain and anxiety during cancer biopsy procedures?

Research has shown that lavender aromatherapy can help reduce anxiety and pain in cancer patients. Studies on lavender essential oil suggest it can improve sleep and lessen tiredness. Some research also indicates it may ease anxiety and pain during medical procedures. In this trial, participants in Group I will inhale lavender aromatherapy oil (LOA), while those in Group II will inhale lavender aromatherapy (LA) to assess its effectiveness. However, not all studies agree on its benefits, especially when combined with other treatments like massage. Overall, lavender aromatherapy is considered a safe and possibly helpful way to manage anxiety and pain in cancer patients. ^{1 4 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 adult cancer patients who feel anxious about their bone marrow biopsy. They should be in relatively good health (ECOG ≤ 1), able to understand and follow the study's procedures, and must read and understand English. The trial welcomes all genders, races, or ethnicities.

Inclusion Criteria

Anxiety level greater than 3 on a 0-10 visual analog scale regarding the bone marrow biopsy/aspirate procedure

I am fully active or have some restrictions but can still care for myself.

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

Exclusion Criteria

Allergy to lavender oil, linalool oil, jojoba oil

Previous enrollment in this study

I am mentally capable of following study instructions.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants inhale aromatherapy oils (lavender, linalool, or jojoba) for 20 minutes prior to and during the bone marrow biopsy procedure

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for satisfaction and symptom changes after the biopsy procedure

Up to 1 month

1 visit (in-person), additional assessments up to 24 hours post-procedure

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Aromatherapy Oil

Trial Overview Researchers are testing if aromatherapy with lavender oil can help manage pain and anxiety during bone marrow biopsies in cancer patients. Participants will use essential oils like jojoba and lavender as an alternative to traditional pain medications.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Group II (LA) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

GROUP II: Patients inhale LA for 20 minutes prior to SOC BMAB and throughout the procedure.

Group II: Group I (LOA) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients inhale LOA for 20 minutes prior to SOC BMAB and throughout the procedure.

Group III: Group III (jojoba) Placebo Group 3 Interventions

Patients inhale jojoba oil for 20 minutes prior to SOC BMAB.

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+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials involving 278 cancer patients found that aromatherapy massage with essential oils did not significantly reduce pain compared to usual care, with a standardized mean difference of 0.01.

The study suggests that aromatherapy massage may not be an effective pain management strategy for cancer patients, highlighting the need for further research with more objective measures.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Clinical Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Reducing Pain for the Cancer Patients: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Chen, TH., Tung, TH., Chen, PS., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 40 patients in a hematology-oncology unit, the use of wearable overnight lavender aromatherapy patches led to about half of the participants reporting reduced anxiety symptoms and improved sleep quality.

The findings suggest that lavender aromatherapy can be a feasible and effective patient-directed nursing intervention to enhance the quality of care for hospitalized patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lavender Aromatherapy: Examining the Effects of Lavender Oil Patches on Patients in the Hematology-Oncology Setting. Shady, K., Nair, JM., Crannell, C.[2020]

Lavandula angustifolia essential oil and its components, linalool and linalyl acetate, demonstrated significant antitumor activity against human prostate cancer cells, particularly the PC-3 cell line, inducing high levels of apoptosis (up to 74.76%).

In a mouse model with subcutaneous xenograft tumors, treatment with lavender essential oil and linalool significantly suppressed tumor growth and reduced cell proliferation markers, indicating their potential as effective natural therapies for prostate cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy Studies of Lavender angustifolia Essential Oil and Its Active Constituents on the Proliferation of Human Prostate Cancer. Zhao, Y., Chen, R., Wang, Y., et al.[2018]

Lavender essential oil has shown clinical efficacy in reducing anxiety symptoms, making it a promising complementary therapy for anxiety disorders, which often have limited treatment options.

The anxiolytic effects of lavender oil are attributed to its key components, linalool and linalyl acetate, which may work by inhibiting calcium channels and modulating serotonin receptor activity, contributing to its safety and effectiveness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? Malcolm, BJ., Tallian, K.[2020]

In a study involving 17 cancer hospice patients, aromatherapy with 3% lavender oil showed a small positive effect on vital signs, pain, anxiety, depression, and overall sense of well-being after a 60-minute session.

Both lavender aromatherapy and humidified water treatments resulted in similar slight improvements, suggesting that the observed benefits may not be solely due to the lavender oil itself.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Use of aromatherapy with hospice patients to decrease pain, anxiety, and depression and to promote an increased sense of well-being. Louis, M., Kowalski, SD.[2017]

A systematic review of 43 studies involving 3239 cancer patients found that aromatherapy can significantly improve various physical and psychological complications associated with cancer treatment.

While most studies indicated positive effects of aromatherapy, some reported no impact on skin reactions, suggesting that while it is a beneficial supplemental treatment, further research is needed to establish standardized protocols and dosages.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of aromatherapy on cancer complications: A systematic review. Farahani, MA., Afsargharehbagh, R., Marandi, F., et al.[2020]

Aromatherapy significantly improves sleep quality in cancer patients, with a strong effect size of -0.79 based on a meta-analysis of 10 randomized controlled trials involving 933 patients.

Single essential oils, particularly lavender, are more effective for enhancing sleep quality compared to compound essential oils, making them a recommended complementary therapy for cancer patients experiencing sleep disorders.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aromatherapy with single essential oils can significantly improve the sleep quality of cancer patients: a meta-analysis. Cheng, H., Lin, L., Wang, S., et al.[2022]

Aromatherapy can provide short-term benefits for cancer patients, including reduced anxiety, improved overall well-being, and better sleep, with effects lasting up to 8 weeks after treatment.

While generally safe, aromatherapy carries some risks such as skin irritation and potential hormonal effects from certain essential oils, highlighting the need for cautious use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aromatherapy as an adjuvant treatment in cancer care--a descriptive systematic review. Boehm, K., Büssing, A., Ostermann, T.[2021]

Inhalation of lavender oil significantly reduced blood pressure post-operatively in patients undergoing wisdom tooth removal, indicating its potential effectiveness in managing anxiety during surgical procedures.

A high percentage of patients (89.68%) reported satisfaction with the lavender oil experience, and 97.62% expressed a desire to use the same protocol again, suggesting that lavender oil is well-received and could be a beneficial addition to anxiety management strategies in dental surgery.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Influence of lavender oil inhalation on vital signs and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial. Karan, NB.[2020]

Inhalation aromatherapy using lavender and peppermint essential oils significantly improved sleep quality in cancer patients, as measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Inventory (PSQI), compared to a control group using aromatic distilled water.

The study involved 120 cancer patients who were randomly assigned to receive either lavender, peppermint, or control treatment for 7 days, showing that both essential oils led to lower PSQI scores after the intervention.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Aromatherapy with Lavender and Peppermint Essential Oils on the Sleep Quality of Cancer Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Hamzeh, S., Safari-Faramani, R., Khatony, A.[2020]

Linalyl acetate, a major component of lavender essential oil, was found to significantly increase the frequency of micronuclei in human lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner, indicating potential genotoxicity.

In contrast, linalool showed no genotoxic effects, and lavender oil only exhibited mutagenic activity at the highest concentration tested, suggesting that linalyl acetate is primarily responsible for the observed genetic damage.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Genotoxicity of lavender oil, linalyl acetate, and linalool on human lymphocytes in vitro. Di Sotto, A., Mazzanti, G., Carbone, F., et al.[2021]

Citations

1. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965229922000383

A systematic review of the effect of lavender on cancer ... This review shows the effectiveness of lavender to reduce cancer complications. Lavender can reduce anxiety and pain, and improve sleep quality and vital signs.

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11711766/

The efficacy of lavender oil on fatigue and sleep quality in ... Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil significantly alleviated fatigue and lowered PFS total and subscale scores in patients with hematological malignancies ...

3. mskcc.org mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/lavender

Lavender | Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer ... Two studies that used lavender aromatherapy along with massage did not find an increased benefit because of the use of lavender. A hospital that ...

4. herbalgram.org herbalgram.org/resources/herbclip/issues/2023/issue-707/lavender-essential-oil-cancer/

Systematic Review Finds that Lavender Essential Oil Could ... The authors conclude lavender essential oil could mitigate the complications that patients with cancer endure. When used correctly, lavender essential oil is ...

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

Aromatherapy With Essential Oils (PDQ®)–Patient Version Aromatherapy research with cancer patients has studied the effect of essential oils on anxiety, nausea, vomiting, and other health-related ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6496511/

Cytotoxicity of lavender oil and its major components to ... This study has demonstrated that lavender oil is cytotoxic to human skin cells in vitro (endothelial cells and fibroblasts) at a concentration of 0.25% (v/v) ...

7. accc-cancer.org accc-cancer.org/docs/documents/oncology-issues/articles/2018/so18/so18-safe-essential-oil-practice-in-cancer-centers.pdf?sfvrsn=ded0f0e2_9

Safe Essential Oil Practice in Cancer Centers In the clinical setting, all essential oils should be labeled and safety data sheets should be available. A safety data sheet provides detailed information ...

8. masseycancercenter.org masseycancercenter.org/news/integrative-health-myths--facts-lavender--cancer/

Integrative health myths facts lavender cancer Clinical research suggests that adding lavender oil for an aromatherapy massage in patients with advanced or terminal cancer does not improve ...