Aromatherapy for Cancer

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

45 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This clinical trial evaluates whether using aromatherapy can reduce pain and anxiety for cancer patients during routine biopsy procedures. Because of the discomfort associated with a bone marrow aspirate and biopsy (BMAB), many patients have significant anxiety in addition to their pain. With the current background of the opioid crisis, researchers have been looking for different ways to treat pain and anxiety in cancer patients without using medications that have a risk for abuse. Recent research suggests that using lavender aromatherapy may be an effective and more affordable treatment for anxiety and pain in patients. Information gathered from this study may help researchers determine whether using aromatherapy may help to manage pain and anxiety during biopsy procedures for cancer patients.

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.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Aromatherapy Oil, Lavender Oil, Lavender Aromatherapy, Aromatherapy Oil for cancer patients?

Research suggests that lavender aromatherapy may help improve sleep quality and provide a small positive change in well-being, anxiety, and depression for cancer patients, although its effect on pain reduction is not significant. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is aromatherapy, specifically using lavender oil, safe for humans?

Lavender oil is generally considered safe for humans, with minimal adverse effects reported. However, potential risks include skin irritation, allergic reactions, and phototoxicity (skin reaction to sunlight). Ingesting large amounts can be harmful, and repeated use has been linked to reversible prepubertal gynecomastia (breast tissue growth in boys). ^{6 7 8 9 10}

How does aromatherapy differ from other treatments for cancer?

Aromatherapy for cancer is unique because it uses essential oils, like lavender, to potentially improve well-being and reduce symptoms such as anxiety and depression, rather than directly targeting the cancer itself. Unlike conventional cancer treatments that focus on killing cancer cells, aromatherapy aims to enhance the patient's quality of life through relaxation and mood improvement. ^{1 2 3 9 11}

Research Team

Richard T. Lee

Principal Investigator

City of Hope Medical Center

Eligibility Criteria

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

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

Treatment Details

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.

Participant Groups

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+

Findings from Research

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 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]

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]

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 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]

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]

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]

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]

References

1. United States 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. [2017]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Clinical Effects of Aromatherapy Massage on Reducing Pain for the Cancer Patients: Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. [2020]

3. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Lavender Aromatherapy: Examining the Effects of Lavender Oil Patches on Patients in the Hematology-Oncology Setting. [2020]

4. United States 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. [2020]

5. Scotland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of aromatherapy on cancer complications: A systematic review. [2020]

6. Nigeria pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aromatherapy as an adjuvant treatment in cancer care--a descriptive systematic review. [2021]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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

8. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Genotoxicity of lavender oil, linalyl acetate, and linalool on human lymphocytes in vitro. [2021]

9. United States 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. [2018]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Essential oil of lavender in anxiety disorders: Ready for prime time? [2020]

11. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Aromatherapy with single essential oils can significantly improve the sleep quality of cancer patients: a meta-analysis. [2022]