Clinical trial · Interventional
Aromatherapy for Chemotherapy-induced Symptoms
Aromatherapy for Management of Chemotherapy-induced Symptoms
NCT02670941CI-TRIAL-00036712terminatedEarly Phase 1ClinicalTrials.gov clinicaltrialsProvenance
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Why stopped (as posted): Slow accrual; Received grant funding for a similar but different study.
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The rationale behind the proposed study is to determine the initial effectiveness of aromatherapy in relief of commonly reported symptoms in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemotherapy Symptoms | — | UNRESOLVED | — |
Interventions
Interventions (4)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ginger | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Jojoba | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Lavender | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Orange | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (4)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Ginger
- description
- Subjects will use the aromatherapy inhalers through three chemotherapy treatment cycles (i.e., Study Cycle 1, Study Cycle 2, and Study Cycle 3). During each Study Cycle, subjects will start the aromatherapy inhaler on the day before the start of their chemotherapy treatment cycle (Day 0) and continue using the inhaler for the next six consecutive days (Day 1-Day 6), including the day he/she starts their chemotherapy treatment cycle. The subjects will remove the cover of the aromatherapy inhaler, place the aromatherapy inhaler under their nose and inhale three times with deep breathing (i.e., three sniffs). After use, the inhaler should be capped to minimize dispersal of the scent. Subjects will take 3 sniffs of the aromatherapy inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime).
- interventionNames
- Drug: Ginger
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Lavender
- description
- Subjects will use the aromatherapy inhalers through three chemotherapy treatment cycles (i.e., Study Cycle 1, Study Cycle 2, and Study Cycle 3). During each Study Cycle, subjects will start the aromatherapy inhaler on the day before the start of their chemotherapy treatment cycle (Day 0) and continue using the inhaler for the next six consecutive days (Day 1-Day 6), including the day he/she starts their chemotherapy treatment cycle. The subjects will remove the cover of the aromatherapy inhaler, place the aromatherapy inhaler under their nose and inhale three times with deep breathing (i.e., three sniffs). After use, the inhaler should be capped to minimize dispersal of the scent. Subjects will take 3 sniffs of the aromatherapy inhaler four times daily (morning, noon, evening, bedtime).
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 21 Years
- Maximum age
- 89 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Non-pregnant adults between the ages of 21 to 89 years of age with diagnosis of cancer and be scheduled to receive at least three more cycles of chemotherapy. * Subjects must have had at least one chemotherapy cycle in their current prescribed course and have at least three additional chemotherapy cycles planned. * Day 1 of each chemotherapy cycle must be separated from Day 1 of the next chemotherapy cycles by at least 12 days. * All chemotherapy regimens are eligible. * Any number of chemotherapy administrations per week during a chemotherapy treatment cycle is allowed. * Subjects agree to discontinue any current aromatherapy usage and only use the study aromatherapy for symptom management during the course of the study. NOTE: Patients can continue to use scented soaps, lotions, shampoos, body sprays, perfume/cologne, candles, or air fresheners that they regularly use. * Subjects must be able to read and understand English, as well as provide informed consent in order to participate in this study. Exclusion Criteria: * Subjects \< 21 years old or \> 89 years old are not eligible for participation in this study at the University of Rochester. * Pregnant females are ineligible for the study because pregnancy is a contraindication for chemotherapy and exposure to essentials oils. * Subjects who are chemotherapy-naïve are ineligible. * Subjects with more than four weeks between chemotherapy treatment cycles are not eligible. * Concurrent radiation therapy or interferon treatment is not allowed. * Subjects that have used or are currently using aromatherapy inhalation for symptom management are not eligible. * Subjects with any known allergy to ginger, lavender, orange, citrus of any kind, jojoba, or essential oils.
References
Publications (26)
- BACKGROUNDLua PL, Zakaria NS. A brief review of current scientific evidence involving aromatherapy use for nausea and vomiting. J Altern Complement Med. 2012 Jun;18(6):534-40. doi: 10.1089/acm.2010.0862. PMID 22784340
- BACKGROUNDStringer J, Donald G. Aromasticks in cancer care: an innovation not to be sniffed at. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2011 May;17(2):116-21. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.06.002. PMID 21457903
- BACKGROUNDBradley BF, Starkey NJ, Brown SL, Lea RW. Anxiolytic effects of Lavandula angustifolia odour on the Mongolian gerbil elevated plus maze. J Ethnopharmacol. 2007 May 22;111(3):517-25. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2006.12.021. Epub 2006 Dec 27. PMID 17289317
- BACKGROUNDde Almeida RN, Motta SC, de Brito Faturi C, Catallani B, Leite JR. Anxiolytic-like effects of rose oil inhalation on the elevated plus-maze test in rats. Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2004 Feb;77(2):361-4. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2003.11.004. PMID 14751465
- BACKGROUNDDyer J, Cleary L, Ragsdale-Lowe M, McNeill S, Osland C. The use of aromasticks at a cancer centre: a retrospective audit. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2014 Nov;20(4):203-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2013.11.006. Epub 2013 Nov 28. PMID 25486854
- BACKGROUNDBoehm K, Bussing A, Ostermann T. Aromatherapy as an adjuvant treatment in cancer care--a descriptive systematic review. Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med. 2012 Jul 1;9(4):503-18. doi: 10.4314/ajtcam.v9i4.7. eCollection 2012. PMID 23983386
- BACKGROUNDLillehei AS, Halcon LL. A systematic review of the effect of inhaled essential oils on sleep. J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Jun;20(6):441-51. doi: 10.1089/acm.2013.0311. Epub 2014 Apr 10. PMID 24720812
- Wood LJ, Nail LM, Gilster A, Winters KA, Elsea CR. Cancer chemotherapy-related symptoms: evidence to suggest a role for proinflammatory cytokines. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006 May 3;33(3):535-42. doi: 10.1188/06.ONF.535-542.