A Preliminary Investigation of the Efficacy of Aromatherapy in Reducing Discomfort in Youth With Chronic Headache

NCT ID: NCT02440997

Last Updated: 2017-04-10

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

COMPLETED

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

46 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2015-03-25

Study Completion Date

2017-01-04

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

The purpose of this study is to preliminarily establish the extent to which a brief aromatherapy intervention incrementally improves subjective and objective indicators of discomfort (pain, anxiety, and heart rate variability) beyond passive relaxation in youth with chronic headaches. A secondary objective is to establish the safety of using aromatherapy as a treatment strategy in youth with chronic headache. The investigators hypothesize that children randomized to the aromatherapy condition will demonstrate a greater improvement in pain, anxiety, and objectively measured distress (heart rate variability) than comparable children receiving only a passive relaxation treatment (a foot bath). The investigators further hypothesize that the aromatherapy intervention will be safe and well-tolerated by study participants.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Complementary and alternative therapies play an increasing role in the multidisciplinary treatment of primary pediatric headache disorders. Every pediatric headache patient needs to have a personalized and tailored program of education, psychological strategies, pharmacotherapy and complementary medicine choices. This particular study may prove desirable for parents of children and adolescents with chronic headache. As documented by Termine, C., Ferrari, Ginevra, O., D'Arrigo, S., Rossi, M., \& Lanzi, G. (2005), parents are often uncertain and fearful of submitting their children to treatment with traditional drugs, adolescents can use alternative therapies as a way of affirming their independence, and there are fewer drugs available to treat headache in children. Moreover, there is a 30-40% placebo response in headache sufferers (Mauskop, 2001). Children and adolescents should not be prevented from using alternative treatments, specifically essential oils, provided that the intervention is not harmful or costly. It is hoped this study will contribute to the scant research that exists and help define the indications, effects and limitations of aromatherapy use.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Chronic Headache Migraine Headache Headache

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Participants

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

foot bath only

10 minute foot bath with addition of jojoba only

Group Type PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

foot bath

Intervention Type OTHER

foot bath and aromatherapy

10 minute foot bath with addition of jojoba with added Mentha piperita

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

aromatherapy

Intervention Type OTHER

foot bath

Intervention Type OTHER

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

aromatherapy

Intervention Type OTHER

foot bath

Intervention Type OTHER

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Mentha piperita

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* • Male or female, children and adolescents age 7-17 years of age

* Diagnosed with status migrainosus or refractory chronic daily headache according to the International Headache Society (ICHD-II) criteria. (A debilitating migraine lasting for more than 72 hours or a headache that lasts hours or may be continuous occurring on \> 15 days per month for \> 3 months.)
* No prior history of aromatherapy / essential oil use
* Able to read, comprehend and complete study procedures. Capable of reading and completing all subjective measures in English
* Are sufficiently alert to be assessed and communicate
* Must be compliant with routine medical care and able to perform study-related procedures
* Provide written informed consent from parent/legal guardian and child assent in accordance with IRB regulations

Exclusion Criteria

* • Known sensitivity to essential oils

* History of cardiac fibrillation
* History of G6PD deficiency
* History of uncontrolled asthma (current, active wheezing)
* History of diabetes, high blood pressure, epilepsy,
* Inflammatory or sensory limitations of lower extremities or concurrent lesions of the foot(s)
* Past or concurrent history of olfactory impairment
* Concomitant use of propanolol
* Tobacco use
* Hepatotoxicity
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

7 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

17 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Rae A Kingsley, MSN, APRN

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Children's Mercy Hospital

Kansas City, Missouri, United States

Site Status

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Battaiglia, S. (2003). The complete guide to aromatherapy (2nd edition). Brisbane, Australia: The International Centre of Holistic Aromatherapy

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Blume HK. Pediatric headache: a review. Pediatr Rev. 2012 Dec;33(12):562-76. doi: 10.1542/pir.33-12-562. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23204398 (View on PubMed)

Buckle J. Use of aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for chronic pain. Altern Ther Health Med. 1999 Sep;5(5):42-51.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10484830 (View on PubMed)

Fitzgerald M, Culbert T, Finkelstein M, Green M, Liu M. The effect of gender and ethnicity on children's attitudes and preferences for essential oils: a follow up study. Explore (NY). 2010 May-Jun;6(3):172. doi: 10.1016/j.explore.2010.02.002. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20451151 (View on PubMed)

Gardiner P, Wornham W. Recent review of complementary and alternative medicine used by adolescents. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2000 Aug;12(4):298-302. doi: 10.1097/00008480-200008000-00002.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10943807 (View on PubMed)

Gaul C, Eismann R, Schmidt T, May A, Leinisch E, Wieser T, Evers S, Henkel K, Franz G, Zierz S. Use of complementary and alternative medicine in patients suffering from primary headache disorders. Cephalalgia. 2009 Oct;29(10):1069-78. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01841.x. Epub 2009 Apr 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 19366356 (View on PubMed)

Gobel H, Schmidt G, Soyka D. Effect of peppermint and eucalyptus oil preparations on neurophysiological and experimental algesimetric headache parameters. Cephalalgia. 1994 Jun;14(3):228-34; discussion 182. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.1994.014003228.x.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 7954745 (View on PubMed)

Halcon LL. Aromatherapy: therapeutic applications of plant essential oils. Minn Med. 2002 Nov;85(11):42-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12498066 (View on PubMed)

Kabbouche MA, Linder SL. Acute treatment of pediatric headache in the emergency department and inpatient settings. Pediatr Ann. 2005 Jun;34(6):466-71. doi: 10.3928/0090-4481-20050601-12.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16018229 (View on PubMed)

Keifer D, Ulbricht C, Abrams TR, Basch E, Giese N, Giles M, DeFranco Kirkwood C, Miranda M, Woods J. Peppermint (Mentha piperita): an evidence-based systematic review by the Natural Standard Research Collaboration. J Herb Pharmacother. 2007;7(2):91-143. doi: 10.1300/j157v07n02_07.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18285310 (View on PubMed)

Kligler B, Chaudhary S. Peppermint oil. Am Fam Physician. 2007 Apr 1;75(7):1027-30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17427617 (View on PubMed)

Lee MS, Choi J, Posadzki P, Ernst E. Aromatherapy for health care: an overview of systematic reviews. Maturitas. 2012 Mar;71(3):257-60. doi: 10.1016/j.maturitas.2011.12.018. Epub 2012 Jan 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22285469 (View on PubMed)

Lewis D, Ashwal S, Hershey A, Hirtz D, Yonker M, Silberstein S; American Academy of Neurology Quality Standards Subcommittee; Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Practice parameter: pharmacological treatment of migraine headache in children and adolescents [RETIRED]: report of the American Academy of Neurology Quality Standards Subcommittee and the Practice Committee of the Child Neurology Society. Neurology. 2004 Dec 28;63(12):2215-24. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000147332.41993.90.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15623677 (View on PubMed)

Loman DG. The use of complementary and alternative health care practices among children. J Pediatr Health Care. 2003 Mar-Apr;17(2):58-63. doi: 10.1067/mph.2003.29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12665727 (View on PubMed)

Martin, I. (2007). Aromatherapy for Massage Practitioners. Lippincott Williams Wilkins; Baltimore, MD.

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Mauskop A. Alternative therapies in headache. Is there a role? Med Clin North Am. 2001 Jul;85(4):1077-84. doi: 10.1016/s0025-7125(05)70360-6.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11480259 (View on PubMed)

Mosby Skills Adapted from Perry, A.G., Potter, P.A., Ostendorf, W.R. (2014). Clinical nursing skills & techniques (8th ed.). St. Louis: Mosby

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Nishimura M, Tatsuya Saito TS, Kato T, Onodera S. Effects of Water Temperature during Foot Bath in Young Females. Yonago Acta Med. 2013 Sep;56(3):79-80. Epub 2013 Sep 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24174706 (View on PubMed)

Peterson CC, Palermo TM. Parental reinforcement of recurrent pain: the moderating impact of child depression and anxiety on functional disability. J Pediatr Psychol. 2004 Jul-Aug;29(5):331-41. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsh037.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15187172 (View on PubMed)

Posadzki P, Alotaibi A, Ernst E. Adverse effects of aromatherapy: a systematic review of case reports and case series. Int J Risk Saf Med. 2012 Jan 1;24(3):147-61. doi: 10.3233/JRS-2012-0568.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22936057 (View on PubMed)

Roth-Isigkeit A, Thyen U, Stoven H, Schwarzenberger J, Schmucker P. Pain among children and adolescents: restrictions in daily living and triggering factors. Pediatrics. 2005 Feb;115(2):e152-62. doi: 10.1542/peds.2004-0682.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15687423 (View on PubMed)

Saeki Y. The effect of foot-bath with or without the essential oil of lavender on the autonomic nervous system: a randomized trial. Complement Ther Med. 2000 Mar;8(1):2-7.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10812753 (View on PubMed)

Saeki Y, Nagai N, Hishinuma M. Effects of footbathing on autonomic nerve and immune function. Complement Ther Clin Pract. 2007 Aug;13(3):158-65. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2006.12.006. Epub 2007 Feb 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17631258 (View on PubMed)

Schetzek S, Heinen F, Kruse S, Borggraefe I, Bonfert M, Gaul C, Gottschling S, Ebinger F. Headache in children: update on complementary treatments. Neuropediatrics. 2013 Feb;44(1):25-33. doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1333435. Epub 2013 Jan 11.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23315555 (View on PubMed)

Smith MC, Kyle L. Holistic foundations of aromatherapy for nursing. Holist Nurs Pract. 2008 Jan-Feb;22(1):3-9; quiz 10-1. doi: 10.1097/01.HNP.0000306321.03590.32.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18172401 (View on PubMed)

Stankewitz A, May A. Increased limbic and brainstem activity during migraine attacks following olfactory stimulation. Neurology. 2011 Aug 2;77(5):476-82. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0b013e318227e4a8. Epub 2011 Jul 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21775739 (View on PubMed)

Szema AM, Barnett T. Allergic reaction to mint leads to asthma. Allergy Rhinol (Providence). 2011 Jan;2(1):43-5. doi: 10.2500/ar.2011.2.0008.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22852115 (View on PubMed)

Termine C, Ginevra OF, D'Arrigo S, Rossi M, Lanzi G. Alternative therapies in the treatment of headache in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Funct Neurol. 2005 Jan-Mar;20(1):9-14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15948561 (View on PubMed)

Tisserand, R. & Balacs, T. (1995). Essential oil safety. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone

Reference Type BACKGROUND

Tisserand, R. & Young, R. (2014). Essential Oil Safety. A Guide for Health Care Professionals (2nd edition). Elsevier

Reference Type BACKGROUND

von Baeyer CL. Interpreting the high prevalence of pediatric chronic pain revealed in community surveys. Pain. 2011 Dec;152(12):2683-2684. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2011.08.023. Epub 2011 Sep 14. No abstract available.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21920669 (View on PubMed)

Kingsley RA. Randomized Trial Examining Efficacy of Mentha piperita in Reducing Chronic Headache Discomfort in Youth. Pain Manag Nurs. 2023 Dec;24(6):e139-e147. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2023.08.004. Epub 2023 Sep 18.

Reference Type DERIVED
PMID: 37730471 (View on PubMed)

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

http://www.heartmath.com

developing and delivering research-based, practical, and reliable tools and technologies

http://ihs-classification.org/en/

headache classification

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/cam/aromatherapy/healthprofessional/

Aromatherapy and Essential Oils (PDQ). National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health

http://www.naturalstandard.com

Peppermint oil (Mentha x piperita L.). Natural Standard Database Web site.

http://www.randomizer.org/

Research Randomizer ©1997-2008 by Geoffery C. Urbaniak and Scott Plous Social Psychology Network

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

IRB # 15010015

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.

A Trial of Echinacea in Children
NCT00029211 COMPLETED PHASE3
Use of Chamomilla Recutita in Phlebitis
NCT00989599 COMPLETED PHASE3