This Study Will Investigate the Effectiveness of Peppermint Oil Inhalation in Reducing the Intensity and Frequency of Acute Nausea and Vomiting Among Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy-induced Nausea and Vomiting (CINV) Are Among the Most Distressing Side Effects Experienced by pa

Effect of Peppermint Oil Inhalation on Intensity and Frequency of Acute Nausea and Vomiting in Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Cancer is a major cause of death and disability worldwide and in South Asian countries. Cancer treatment options include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, and adjuvant therapy (Additional treatments after primary cancer treatment such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy are used to lower the chance of cancer recurrence or remove any remaining cancer cells). Chemotherapy poses serious adverse effects, including fatigue, hair loss, skin irritation, loss of appetite, change in bowel habits, weakened immune system, dry mouth, peripheral neuropathy, nausea and vomiting. Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting cause fluid-electrolyte imbalance, dehydration, weight loss and physiological consequences due to inadequate medication absorption or compromised kidney clearance. Although anti-emetic drugs are given to reduce CINV but these drugs pose some serious adverse effects including heartburn, insomnia, headache, dizziness, constipation/diarrhea, loss of muscle control, pharyngeal itching, dry mouth and also increases economic burden on the patient and his/her family. The limited and hazardous side effects of these medications have led to a shift towards non-pharmacological and home remedies. Using natural remedies is a simple and low-risk measure in this regard. This study aims to evaluate the effects of peppermint oil inhalation on the intensity and frequency of Chemotherapy induced acute nausea and vomiting among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. A randomized controlled trial will be conducted using non-probability convenience sampling, followed by random assignment to intervention and control groups. The target population comprises patients receiving chemotherapy at the outpatient oncology department of Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. A total of 106 patients will be enrolled. The intervention group will receive peppermint oil inhalation, while the control group will receive a placebo. Descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation) will be used to summarize participant's characteristics. Chi-square test will be applied to compare demographic variables (e.g., age, gender, marital status, education, occupation, and RINV categories) between groups. An independent t-test will be used to compare the mean RINV scores post-intervention between intervention and control group. A p-value of <0.05 will be considered statistically significant. It is anticipated that peppermint oil inhalation will significantly reduce the severity and frequency of Chemotherapy induced acute nausea and vomiting. If effective, this complementary intervention could offer a low-cost, safe alternative to supplement standard anti-emetic therapies, potentially easing the financial and physiological burden associated with pharmacological treatments.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Chemotherapy Induced Nausea and Vomiting
• Intervention / Treatment: Dietary supplement: Pepppermint oil inhalation; Dietary supplement: Placebo

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 106
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Qurat-Ul-Ain imran Assistant Nursing Instructor, MS Nursing; Phone Number: 0092 3136938839; Email: Qurat259@gmail.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Muhammad Imran Ramzan, BA; Phone Number: 0092 3057551645; Email: www.imranch451@gmail.com

Study Locations

• Pakistan
  • Punjab
    • Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan, 54550
      • Jinnah Hospital Lahore

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• • Participants undergoing chemotherapy in the outpatient oncology department of Jinnah Hospital Lahore.

  • Participants ages 20-50 years.
  • Participants of Both genders' male and female.
  • Participants who have undergone under one cycle of chemotherapy.
  • Participants who can understand and comprehend Urdu and Punjabi language

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants who are allergic to peppermint products.
• Participants who have any psychiatric illness.
• Participants diagnosed with any respiratory illness.
• Participants who have vomiting due to any ailment other than chemotherapy.
• Participants with Gastro-intestinal and Hepatobiliary Tumors.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Peppermint oil inhalation; Participants in the experimental group will inhale five drops of 100% pure peppermint essential oil placed on a cotton ball inside a container for ten minutes before each chemotherapy session and every two hours during the infusion	Dietary supplement: Pepppermint oil inhalation; Participants in the experimental group will inhale five drops of 100% pure peppermint essential oil placed on a cotton ball inside a container for ten minutes before each chemotherapy session and every two hours during the chemotherapy infusion.
Sham Comparator: Control group; The control group will inhale five drops of distilled water placed on a cotton ball inside a container for ten minutes before each chemotherapy session and every two hours during the infusion	Dietary supplement: Placebo; The control group will follow the same procedure using five drops of distilled water placed on a cotton ball inside a container for ten minutes before each chemotherapy session and every two hours during the infusion

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Effect of Peppermint Oil Inhalation on the Intensity and Frequency of Acute Nausea and Vomiting Measured by RINV Scale	The primary outcome is the change in the intensity and frequency of acute nausea and vomiting, assessed by the Rhodes Index of Nausea, Vomiting, and Retching (RINV) Scale, within 24 hours following chemotherapy. Comparison of mean RINV scores will be made between the experimental (peppermint oil inhalation) group and the control group.	Within 24 hours after chemotherapy (acute phase)

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Health Sciences Lahore

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• This pilot study evaluated the effectiveness of inhaled peppermint oil in reducing nausea, vomiting, and retching among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Participants were assigned to receive either peppermint oil inhalation or standard care. The

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): October 20, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 22, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): April 30, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Peppermint oil inhalation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Signs and Symptoms, Digestive; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Respiration Disorders; Respiratory Aspiration; Nausea; Vomiting
• Other Study ID Numbers: Institute of Nursing

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No