Lavender aromatherapy for anxiety and pain during awake ear, nose, and throat procedures

Efficacy Of Lavender Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Pain Reduction During Awake Otolaryngologic Procedures

Not applicable Interventional Cedars-Sinai Medical Center · NCT07299474

This tests whether lavender aromatherapy used during awake ear, nose, and throat clinic procedures can reduce anxiety and pain in adults.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment184 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCedars-Sinai Medical Center Academic / other
Locations1 site (Los Angeles, California)
Trial IDNCT07299474 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults scheduled for awake otolaryngologic procedures in an outpatient clinic receive either lavender aromatherapy or a placebo (an odorless liquid) during their procedure. Participants complete brief questionnaires measuring anxiety, pain, and subjective impressions immediately before and after the procedure. The intervention is applied for the duration of the clinic procedure at Cedars-Sinai Otolaryngology Clinics. Key exclusions include fragrance hypersensitivity, recent use of systemic pain or sedative medications, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and recent participation in other clinical research.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults aged 18 or older scheduled for awake otolaryngologic outpatient procedures who can give informed consent and do not meet exclusion criteria are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with fragrance hypersensitivity, those taking excluded pain or sedative medications, pregnant or breastfeeding people, or those under 18 are unlikely to benefit or be eligible.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could offer a low-risk, non-drug way to reduce anxiety and pain and improve comfort during awake ENT clinic procedures.

How similar studies have performed: Some small studies in perioperative and dental settings have reported modest anxiety reduction with lavender aromatherapy, but results are mixed and its use in awake ENT clinic procedures is not well studied.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Adults ≥18 years old undergoing awake otolaryngologic procedures in the outpatient clinic
* Able to provide informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Hypersensitivity to fragrances
* Taking systemic NSAIDs or other systemic pain-relieving medications within 48 hours
* Taking anxiolytics, hypnotics, sedating antihistamines, antidepressants on regular basis within 4 weeks
* Pregnant or breastfeeding
* Participation in another clinical research study within the prior 30 days

Where this trial is running

Los Angeles, California

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Inferior Turbinate HypertrophyChronic RhinosinusitisRhinitis, VasomotorThyroid NodulesVocal Fold ImmobilityAromatherapyOtolaryngologyAwake procedure
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.