Recruiting

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

Sponsor:

City of Hope Medical Center

Code:

NCT07126301

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Questionnaire Administration

Study Details

Brief 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.

Conditions

Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm

Malignant Solid Neoplasm

Study ID

NCT07126301

Start date

Jul 8, 2025

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

Jan 1, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Jan 1, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must have the ability to understand and sign a written informed consent document, and be willing to follow protocol requirements
Ability to read and understand English for patient reported outcomes
Age >= 18 years
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status =< 2
Willingness to comply with all study interventions of essential oil aromatherapy
Have been on a moderate- to high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy regimen as defined by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) for at least 1 cycle of therapy
At least 2 remaining infusion appointments on a moderate- to high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy regimen as defined by the NCCN
Have nausea defined as > 3/10 with last chemotherapy infusion based on screening symptom questionnaire
The study is open to all participants regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity

Exclusion Criteria:

Self-reported aversion or sensitivity to lavender oil, peppermint oil, ginger oil, jojoba oil
Uncontrolled respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Mental incapacitation (ex. stroke, brain metastasis etc.) that would cause inability to follow directions, in the opinion of the investigators
Ongoing uncontrolled active psychiatric condition that would interfere in the conduct of the study (e.g., mood disorders, anxiety, psychosis disorders, or substance use)
Self-reported abnormal smelling abilities (for ex: ongoing sinus infections, long covid, etc.)
Aromatherapy use in the last 30 days

Study Design

Enrollment

60 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Supportive Care

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Arm I (peppermint oil)

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.

experimental: Arm II (lavender oil)

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.

experimental: Arm III (ginger oil)

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.

placebo comparator: Arm IV (placebo jojoba oil)

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.

Interventions

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Inhale peppermint oil

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Inhale lavender oil

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Inhale ginger oil

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils

Inhale placebo jojoba oil

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Primary outcome measure

Participation and completion rates [ Time Frame: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention ]
Satisfaction of patients treated with aromatherapy essential oils [ Time Frame: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

City of Hope Medical Center

Recruiting

Duarte, California, United States, 91010

Contacts

Richard T. Lee

949-671-4091 RichLee@coh.org

Principal Investigator:

Richard T. Lee

City of Hope at Irvine Lennar

Recruiting

Irvine, California, United States, 92618

Contacts

Richard T. Lee

626-218-5846 richlee@coh.org

Principal Investigator:

Richard T. Lee

More Information

Sponsor

City of Hope Medical Center

Last update posted

Aug 28, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by City of Hope Medical Center on 2026-08-28.