Multiple Sclerosis (MS)AROMA-MSNCT07599189
Essential Oils for Urinary Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis Patients
A study testing Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary) and Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neurogenic Bladder Disorder, run by University of Oran 1 at 2 sites in Algeria.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if essential oil aromatherapy works to improve urinary symptoms in adults with multiple sclerosis. It will also learn about the safety of essential oil use in this population. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neurogenic Bladder Disorder, Urinary Incontinence (UI)
- What is being tested?
- Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary) and Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil)
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 60 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesAlgeria
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Mar 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 Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (any form)
- Documented lower urinary tract symptoms defined by an Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) ≥ 3 at screening
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent
- Capable of performing daily topical self-application of the study oil, or having a caregiver available to assist throughout the study period
Who cannot join
- Active urinary tract infection confirmed by urine culture at screening
- Pre-existing urological condition unrelated to Multiple Sclerosis (e.g., bladder cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or interstitial cystitis)
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to essential oils, apricot kernel oil, lavender, or rosemary
- Active skin lesions, wounds, or dermatological conditions on the lower abdomen at the intended site of application
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study period
- Significant cognitive impairment preventing understanding of study procedures or completion of questionnaires
- Current use of an indwelling urinary catheter or practice of intermittent self-catheterization
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Algeria2 sites
Aboubakr abdelmadjid
Oran, Oran Province, 31000
Aboubakr Abdelmadjid, Professor, (+213) 041 70 50 92, contact@ehuoran.dz
Zitouni-Nourine Saida Hanane
Oran
About this study
Official title: Efficacy and Safety of Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Single-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if essential oil aromatherapy works to improve urinary symptoms in adults with multiple sclerosis. It will also learn about the safety of essential oil use in this population.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Read more
- Does essential oil aromatherapy reduce urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence episodes in participants with multiple sclerosis?
- What medical problems do participants have when using essential oil aromatherapy?
Researchers will compare essential oil aromatherapy to a placebo (a look-alike neutral oil with no therapeutic properties) to see if essential oil aromatherapy works to improve urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.
Participants will:
- Use essential oil aromatherapy or a placebo oil every day for 6 weeks
- Complete a urinary symptom scales to record the frequency, urgency, and any leakage episodes each day
- Fill out quality of life questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neurogenic Bladder Disorder, Urinary Incontinence (UI), Urinary Urgency, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)
- Being tested
- Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary), Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil)
- Medical subject headings
- Multiple Sclerosis, Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic, Urinary Incontinence, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary)Other
This intervention consists of a standardized topical blend of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) at 3% and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) at 2%, diluted in apricot kernel oil as a carrier. The blend was formulated to target neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis, based on the antispasmodic properties of Lavender and the neuromodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of Rosemary. The essential oils used are batch-controlled for chemical purity and concentration. The blend is applied topically via gentle circular massage on the lower abdomen, for a total duration of 6 consecutive weeks. This specific combination, route of administration, and target population distinguish this intervention from other aromatherapy studies that have used single oils, inhalation methods, or non-neurological populations.
Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil)Other
This intervention consists of pure Apricot Kernel oil, used as an inert placebo comparator. The placebo oil contains no active essential oils or therapeutic compounds. It is identical to the experimental intervention in terms of appearance, color, viscosity, volume, packaging, and method of application, ensuring effective masking of participants and outcome assessors. The placebo oil is applied topically via gentle circular massage on the lower abdomen, for a total duration of 6 consecutive weeks, mirroring exactly the administration protocol of the experimental arm.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Oil Aromatherapy Group | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary) |
| Placebo Oil Group | Placebo comparator | Not described Receives: Other: Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS)
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) Scale range: minimum 0 - maximum 15. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater severity of overactive bladder symptoms).
[Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6]
Measured: Baseline, and Week 6
Qualiveen questionnaire
Qualiveen - Urinary Disorder-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Qualiveen, Domain 1: "Bother with Limitations") Scale range: minimum 0 - maximum 4 per item (9 items, total domain score = sum of items ÷ 9).
Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater bother related to urinary problems).
[Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6]
Measured: Baseline and Week 6
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted20 May 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionMar 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Multiple Sclerosis (MS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Oran 1
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Saida Hanane Zitouni-Nourine, University of Oran 1
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07599189
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- UO1-HE-SEP-URO-2025-001
- Acronym
- AROMA-MS
- Status last verified
- May 2026
- First submitted
- 4 May 2026
- Last updated
- 20 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Efficacy and Safety of Essential Oil Aromatherapy on Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: A Randomized Single-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07599189
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AROMA-MS / UO1-HE-SEP-URO-2025-001
- Conditions
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Neurogenic Bladder Disorder, Urinary Incontinence (UI), Urinary Urgency, Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS)
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 60 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- University of Oran 1University, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Dec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Mar 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 20 May 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if essential oil aromatherapy works to improve urinary symptoms in adults with multiple sclerosis. It will also learn about the safety of essential oil use in this population.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does essential oil aromatherapy reduce urinary urgency, frequency, and incontinence episodes in participants with multiple sclerosis?
- What medical problems do participants have when using essential oil aromatherapy?
Researchers will compare essential oil aromatherapy to a placebo (a look-alike neutral oil with no therapeutic properties) to see if essential oil aromatherapy works to improve urinary symptoms in multiple sclerosis patients.
Participants will:
- Use essential oil aromatherapy or a placebo oil every day for 6 weeks
- Complete a urinary symptom scales to record the frequency, urgency, and any leakage episodes each day
- Fill out quality of life questionnaires at the beginning and end of the study
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Oil Aromatherapy Group | Experimental | Other: Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary) |
| Placebo Oil Group | Placebo comparator | Other: Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Confirmed diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis (any form)
- Documented lower urinary tract symptoms defined by an Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) ≥ 3 at screening
- Age between 18 and 65 years
- Willing and able to provide written informed consent
- Capable of performing daily topical self-application of the study oil, or having a caregiver available to assist throughout the study period
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Active urinary tract infection confirmed by urine culture at screening
- Pre-existing urological condition unrelated to Multiple Sclerosis (e.g., bladder cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, or interstitial cystitis)
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to essential oils, apricot kernel oil, lavender, or rosemary
- Active skin lesions, wounds, or dermatological conditions on the lower abdomen at the intended site of application
- Pregnancy, breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant during the study period
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary)This intervention consists of a standardized topical blend of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) at 3% and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) at 2%, diluted in apricot kernel oil as a carrier. The blend was formulated to target neurogenic lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis, based on the antispasmodic properties of Lavender and the neuromodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of Rosemary. The essential oils used are batch-controlled for chemical purity and concentration. The blend is applied topically via gentle circular massage on the lower abdomen, for a total duration of 6 consecutive weeks. This specific combination, route of administration, and target population distinguish this intervention from other aromatherapy studies that have used single oils, inhalation methods, or non-neurological populations. | Other | Essential Oil Aromatherapy Group |
| Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil)This intervention consists of pure Apricot Kernel oil, used as an inert placebo comparator. The placebo oil contains no active essential oils or therapeutic compounds. It is identical to the experimental intervention in terms of appearance, color, viscosity, volume, packaging, and method of application, ensuring effective masking of participants and outcome assessors. The placebo oil is applied topically via gentle circular massage on the lower abdomen, for a total duration of 6 consecutive weeks, mirroring exactly the administration protocol of the experimental arm. | Other | Placebo Oil Group |
Primary outcome
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS)
Time frame: Baseline, and Week 6
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) (Overactive Bladder Symptom Score) Scale range: minimum 0 - maximum 15. Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater severity of overactive bladder symptoms). [Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6]
Qualiveen questionnaire
Time frame: Baseline and Week 6
Qualiveen - Urinary Disorder-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Qualiveen, Domain 1: "Bother with Limitations") Scale range: minimum 0 - maximum 4 per item (9 items, total domain score = sum of items ÷ 9). Higher scores indicate a worse outcome (greater bother related to urinary problems). [Time Frame: Baseline and Week 6]
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 May 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Essential Oil Blend (Lavender, Rosemary) and Neutral Carrier Oil (Apricot Kernel Oil) in people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Neurogenic Bladder Disorder, run by University of Oran 1 at 2 sites in Algeria.
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 5 inclusion and 7 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: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 May 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 Algeria. 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?
Contact Zitouni-Nourine Saida Hanane (+213556623080, zitouni.saida@univ-oran1.dz), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Overactive Bladder Symptom Score (OABSS) (time frame: Baseline, and Week 6). 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?
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 20 May 2026; AzTrials last refreshed its copy on 26 Oct 2026.