PneumoniaNCT07894835
The Effects of Wintergreen Essential Oil Inhalation on Alleviating Dyspnea Among Patients With Pneumonia
A study testing Sunflower oil inhalation, 1% Linalool inhalation and Wintergreen essential oil inhalation in people with Pneumonia and Dyspnea, run by Far Eastern Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Pneumonia is a major public health concern globally and domestically. Dyspnea experienced by hospitalized pneumonia patients often induces anxiety and psychological distress. Wintergreen essential oil, primarily composed of methyl salicylate, is commonly used for comfort care and respiratory relief. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 90 years
- What is being tested?
- Sunflower oil inhalation, 1% Linalool inhalation and Wintergreen essential oil inhalation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 84 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 19 Oct 2026to 31 Jul 2028
- 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 to 90 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Primary diagnosis of pneumonia with dyspnea symptoms.
- Admitted with ICD-10 diagnosis codes: Influenza and viral pneumonia (J10-J12), Bacterial pneumonia (J13-J15), Other infectious agents (J16-J17), or Unspecified organism pneumonia (J18.9).
- Aged 18 to 90 years.
- Clear consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale: 15) with normal mental and behavioral capacity.
- Able to communicate verbally or non-verbally and comprehend Mandarin or Taiwanese.
Who cannot join
- Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.).
- Acute psychiatric symptoms precluding communication.
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to salicylates, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Anosmia or severe nasal diseases.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
- Currently receiving non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV, BiPAP), high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC), or oxygen masks (such as Simple mask, Non-rebreathing mask).
- History of asthma.
- History of very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): GOLD stage 4 (FEV1 < 30% predicted).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Taiwan1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
New Taipei City, Taipei, 220
Shu-Ding Lin, +886-978-291-152, lin102510015@gmail.com
About this study
Pneumonia is a major public health concern globally and domestically. Dyspnea experienced by hospitalized pneumonia patients often induces anxiety and psychological distress. Wintergreen essential oil, primarily composed of methyl salicylate, is commonly used for comfort care and respiratory relief. This study aims to evaluate the effects of wintergreen essential oil inhalation on dyspnea, physiological parameters, laboratory data, pulmonary function, and subjective comfort in hospitalized pneumonia patients.
Read the detailed description
A randomized, non-blinded clinical trial will be conducted at the Integrated Medical Ward of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. A total of 84 participants will be enrolled and randomly allocated into 7 parallel groups (12 participants per group): (1) Waiting control group (routine care); (2) Placebo group (sunflower oil); (3) Positive control group (1% linalool); and (4-7) Experimental groups receiving 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% wintergreen essential oil diluted in sunflower oil. The inhalation intervention will be administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. For each session, 0.5 mL (10 drops) of the allocated oil will be dropped onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths. Assessments include physiological parameters (RR, SpO2), capillary blood lactate, pulmonary function tests (FEV1, PEF), laboratory tests (WBC, CRP, etc.), and the Chinese version of the Dyspnoea-12 scale administered before and after the 3-day intervention.
- Being tested
- Sunflower oil inhalation, 1% Linalool inhalation, Wintergreen essential oil inhalation
- Keywords
- Wintergreen Essential Oil, Methyl Salicylate, Aromatherapy, Inhalation, Linalool, Dyspnoea-12, Supportive Care
- Medical subject headings
- Pneumonia, Dyspnea, Respiratory Aspiration
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Sunflower oil inhalationOther
Also called Placebo
Pure sunflower oil is used as a placebo comparator. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is placed onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm away from the patient's nose for 8 deep breaths (approximately 30 seconds), administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days.
1% Linalool inhalationOther
Also called (-)-Linalool
High-purity (-)-linalool (Sigma-Aldrich, purity >= 95.0%) diluted to 1% concentration with sunflower oil. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days.
Wintergreen essential oil inhalationOther
Also called Salicylate oil, Gaultheria procumbens essential oil
Wintergreen essential oil containing methyl salicylate, diluted with sunflower oil into four concentrations: 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is dropped onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the patient's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting Control Group | No intervention | Participants receive standard routine medical and nursing care for pneumonia without receiving any essential oil or placebo oil inhalation intervention during the study period. |
| Placebo Control Group | Placebo comparator | Participants receive routine care plus sunflower oil inhalation. A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) of pure sunflower oil is applied to a 2-inch gauze and held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: Sunflower oil inhalation |
| Positive Control Group (1% Linalool) | Active comparator | Participants receive routine care plus 1% linalool inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: 1% Linalool inhalation |
| 0.5% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Participants receive routine care plus 0.5% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalation |
| 1% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Participants receive routine care plus 1% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalation |
| 2% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Participants receive routine care plus 2% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalation |
| 3% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Participants receive routine care plus 3% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. Receives: Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) Score
Assessed using the Chinese version of the Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) questionnaire to measure physical and affective components of dyspnea. The scale consists of 12 items, with each item scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 36. Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Secondary outcomes (5)
Change in Respiratory Rate (RR)
Measured by nursing staff using clinical vital sign monitors to record breaths per minute.
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Change in Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Measured by nursing staff using pulse oximetry monitors to record peripheral capillary oxygen saturation percentage (%).
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention).
Change in Capillary Blood Lactate Level
Measured via single-point fingertip blood sampling using THE EDGE Blood Lactate Monitoring System to obtain point-of-care lactate levels (mmol/L).
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention).
Change in Pulmonary Function (FEV1 and PEF)
Evaluated using a portable spirometer (MIR Spirodoc) to measure Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF).
Measured: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Change in Blood and Inflammatory Biomarkers
Collected from electronic medical records, including complete blood count (white blood cell count [WBC], neutrophil percentage, lymphocyte percentage, hemoglobin [Hgb]) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.
Measured: Within 1 week before intervention and within 1 week after completion of intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted26 Oct 2026
- Study start19 Oct 2026
- Primary completion31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for PneumoniaStudies 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
- Model description
- A 7-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants are randomly allocated into one of the seven groups in a 1:1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio: waiting control (routine care), placebo (sunflower oil), positive control (1% linalool), and four experimental groups (0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% wintergreen essential oil).
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Shu-Ding Lin, Principal investigator, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07894835
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- FarEasternMH
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 19 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 26 Oct 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 26 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effects of Wintergreen Essential Oil Inhalation on Alleviating Dyspnea Among Patients With Pneumonia
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07894835
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- FarEasternMH
- Keywords
- Wintergreen Essential Oil, Methyl Salicylate, Aromatherapy, Inhalation, Linalool, Dyspnoea-12, Supportive Care
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 84 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Far Eastern Memorial HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Taipei University of Nursing and Health Sciences
- Study start
- 19 Oct 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jul 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 26 Oct 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.
Pneumonia is a major public health concern globally and domestically. Dyspnea experienced by hospitalized pneumonia patients often induces anxiety and psychological distress. Wintergreen essential oil, primarily composed of methyl salicylate, is commonly used for comfort care and respiratory relief. This study aims to evaluate the effects of wintergreen essential oil inhalation on dyspnea, physiological parameters, laboratory data, pulmonary function, and subjective comfort in hospitalized pneumonia patients.
Detailed description
A randomized, non-blinded clinical trial will be conducted at the Integrated Medical Ward of Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. A total of 84 participants will be enrolled and randomly allocated into 7 parallel groups (12 participants per group): (1) Waiting control group (routine care); (2) Placebo group (sunflower oil); (3) Positive control group (1% linalool); and (4-7) Experimental groups receiving 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% wintergreen essential oil diluted in sunflower oil. The inhalation intervention will be administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. For each session, 0.5 mL (10 drops) of the allocated oil will be dropped onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths. Assessments include physiological parameters (RR, SpO2), capillary blood lactate, pulmonary function tests (FEV1, PEF), laboratory tests (WBC, CRP, etc.), and the Chinese version of the Dyspnoea-12 scale administered before and after the 3-day intervention.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 7
- Model description
- A 7-arm parallel randomized controlled trial. Participants are randomly allocated into one of the seven groups in a 1:1:1:1:1:1:1 ratio: waiting control (routine care), placebo (sunflower oil), positive control (1% linalool), and four experimental groups (0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3% wintergreen essential oil).
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting Control Group | No intervention | –Participants receive standard routine medical and nursing care for pneumonia without receiving any essential oil or placebo oil inhalation intervention during the study period. |
| Placebo Control Group | Placebo comparator | Other: Sunflower oil inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus sunflower oil inhalation. A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) of pure sunflower oil is applied to a 2-inch gauze and held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
| Positive Control Group (1% Linalool) | Active comparator | Other: 1% Linalool inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus 1% linalool inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
| 0.5% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus 0.5% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
| 1% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus 1% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
| 2% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus 2% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
| 3% Wintergreen Oil Group | Experimental | Other: Wintergreen essential oil inhalationParticipants receive routine care plus 3% wintergreen essential oil inhalation (diluted in sunflower oil). A dose of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied to a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 90 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Primary diagnosis of pneumonia with dyspnea symptoms.
- Admitted with ICD-10 diagnosis codes: Influenza and viral pneumonia (J10-J12), Bacterial pneumonia (J13-J15), Other infectious agents (J16-J17), or Unspecified organism pneumonia (J18.9).
- Aged 18 to 90 years.
- Clear consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale: 15) with normal mental and behavioral capacity.
- Able to communicate verbally or non-verbally and comprehend Mandarin or Taiwanese.
Key exclusion criteria (8 listed)
- Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, etc.).
- Acute psychiatric symptoms precluding communication.
- Known allergy or hypersensitivity to salicylates, aspirin, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
- Anosmia or severe nasal diseases.
- Pregnant or lactating women.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower oil inhalationAlso: PlaceboPure sunflower oil is used as a placebo comparator. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is placed onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm away from the patient's nose for 8 deep breaths (approximately 30 seconds), administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. | Other | Placebo Control Group |
| 1% Linalool inhalationAlso: (-)-LinaloolHigh-purity (-)-linalool (Sigma-Aldrich, purity >= 95.0%) diluted to 1% concentration with sunflower oil. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is applied onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the participant's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. | Other | Positive Control Group (1% Linalool) |
| Wintergreen essential oil inhalationAlso: Salicylate oil, Gaultheria procumbens essential oilWintergreen essential oil containing methyl salicylate, diluted with sunflower oil into four concentrations: 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 3%. A volume of 0.5 mL (10 drops) is dropped onto a 2-inch gauze held 5 cm from the patient's nose for 8 deep breaths, administered 3 times daily for 3 consecutive days. | Other | 0.5% Wintergreen Oil Group, 1% Wintergreen Oil Group, 2% Wintergreen Oil Group, 3% Wintergreen Oil Group |
Primary outcome
Change in Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) Score
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Assessed using the Chinese version of the Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) questionnaire to measure physical and affective components of dyspnea. The scale consists of 12 items, with each item scored from 0 (none) to 3 (severe), yielding a total score ranging from 0 to 36. Higher scores indicate greater severity of dyspnea.
5 secondary outcomes
Change in Respiratory Rate (RR)
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Change in Oxygen Saturation (SpO2)
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention).
Change in Capillary Blood Lactate Level
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention).
Change in Pulmonary Function (FEV1 and PEF)
Time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)
Change in Blood and Inflammatory Biomarkers
Time frame: Within 1 week before intervention and within 1 week after completion of intervention.
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 26 Oct 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.
Shu-Ding Lin principal investigator
Far Eastern Memorial Hospital
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Sunflower oil inhalation, 1% Linalool inhalation and Wintergreen essential oil inhalation in people with Pneumonia and Dyspnea, run by Far Eastern Memorial Hospital at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 8 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 26 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 1 site in Taiwan. 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 Shu-Ding Lin (+886978291152, lin102510015@gmail.com), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Dyspnoea-12 (D-12) Score (time frame: Baseline (Day 1 before intervention) and Post-intervention (Day 4 after completion of 3-day intervention)). 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 26 Oct 2026.