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Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System NeoplasmNCT07126301

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

A study testing Aromatherapy and Essential Oils and Questionnaire Administration in people with Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm and Malignant Solid Neoplasm, run by City of Hope Medical Center at 2 sites in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial 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. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils and Questionnaire Administration
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
60 participants
Where
2 sitesUnited States
Study dates
6 Aug 2025to 14 Jul 2027
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • 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
Show all 9Show fewer
  • 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

Who cannot join

  • 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

Trial locations and contacts

2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States2 sites, 2 recruiting

  • City of Hope Medical Center

    Duarte, California, 91010

    Richard T. Lee, 949-671-4091, RichLee@coh.org

    Richard T. Lee

    Recruiting

  • City of Hope at Irvine Lennar

    Irvine, California, 92618

    Richard T. Lee, 626-218-5846, richlee@coh.org

    Richard T. Lee

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: Assessing the Feasibility of Aromatherapy Essential Oil Associated Changes on Nausea in Patients Receiving Infusion in the Ambulatory Setting

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.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To determine the feasibility of utilizing aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions.

II. To assess satisfaction of patients receiving aromatherapy essential oils during outpatient infusions.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

  1. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in nausea in patients undergoing moderate-risk and a high-risk emetogenic chemotherapy regimen.

II. To observe whether aromatherapy essential oils (compared to placebo aromatherapy) influence an increase or decrease in anxiety in patients receiving infusions in the outpatient setting.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 4 arms.

ARM I: Patients inhale peppermint essential oil via the personal inhalation device (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.

ARM II: 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.

ARM III: 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.

ARM IV: 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.

After completion of study intervention, patients are followed up at day 25.

Being tested
Aromatherapy and Essential Oils, Questionnaire Administration

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • Aromatherapy and Essential OilsProcedure or surgery

    Also called Aromatherapy

    Inhale peppermint oil

  • Aromatherapy and Essential OilsProcedure or surgery

    Also called Aromatherapy

    Inhale lavender oil

  • Aromatherapy and Essential OilsProcedure or surgery

    Also called Aromatherapy

    Inhale ginger oil

  • Aromatherapy and Essential OilsProcedure or surgery

    Also called Aromatherapy

    Inhale placebo jojoba oil

  • Questionnaire AdministrationOther

    Ancillary studies

Study groups in NCT07126301
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Arm I (peppermint oil)ExperimentalPatients 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.
Receives: Procedure: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils; Other: Questionnaire Administration
Arm II (lavender oil)ExperimentalPatients 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.
Receives: Procedure: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils; Other: Questionnaire Administration
Arm III (ginger oil)ExperimentalPatients 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.
Receives: Procedure: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils; Other: Questionnaire Administration
Arm IV (placebo jojoba oil)Placebo comparatorPatients 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.
Receives: Procedure: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils; Other: Questionnaire Administration

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Participation and completion rates

    Will consider the study feasible if >= 70% of patients are able to complete the essential oil treatment (lavender, peppermint, ginger or placebo). Completion will be defined as receiving oil treatments and submitting 4 days of at-home questionnaires as described. Will consider the study feasible if >= 50% of a patient's questionnaires are completed. Descriptive statistics will be provided to summarize all the above data.

    Measured: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention

  2. Satisfaction of patients treated with aromatherapy essential oils

    Will be evaluated via a post-infusion questionnaire, in order to fully understand their experience with the treatment. Will consider patients to be satisfied if >= 50% of patients answer that they are "very satisfied" or "satisfied" on their post-infusion surveys. Will also evaluate whether the patients are interested in aromatherapy essential oils for future chemotherapy infusion appointments, and their experience in the clinical trial. Descriptive statistics will be provided.

    Measured: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention

Secondary outcomes (3)

  1. Nausea scores

    Will be evaluated between groups using data from the post-infusion questionnaire which asks, "what was the highest level of nausea that you experienced during the infusion?" as well as nausea scores from the post-infusion visual analog scale (VAS) nausea, and the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (INVR). Will also assess longitudinal changes in nausea scores within and between groups (VAS).

    Measured: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention

  2. Anxiety scores I

    Will be evaluated between groups using data from the post-infusion questionnaire which asks, "what was the highest level of anxiety that you experienced during the infusion?" as well as anxiety scores from the pre- and post-infusion Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS), and post-infusion VAS anxiety.

    Measured: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention

  3. Anxiety scores II - longitudinal changes

    Will assess longitudinal changes in anxiety scores within and between groups (VAS, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Long Form, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System).

    Measured: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted17 Aug 2025
  2. Study start6 Aug 2025
  3. Primary completion14 Jul 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion14 Jul 2027 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
60 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07126301
Sponsor's protocol ID
24459
Other IDs
NCI-2025-04956, 24459, P30CA033572
Status last verified
Oct 2026
First submitted
28 Jul 2025
Last updated
14 Oct 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing Aromatherapy and Essential Oils and Questionnaire Administration in people with Hematopoietic and Lymphatic System Neoplasm and Malignant Solid Neoplasm, run by City of Hope Medical Center at 2 sites in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Participation and completion rates (time frame: At day 5 - up to 30 days post intervention). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07126301.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Oct 2026.

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