The Effect of Aroma on Fatigue Scores Among Women With Hypothyroidism

Franklin Health Research

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hypothyroidism; Fatigue

Treatments: Other: Placebo; Other: Aromatherapy Blend

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03465176

1600

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study evaluates the effects of an inhaled blend of essential oils on fatigue scores among women who have hypothyroidism. Half of the participants will receive an essential oil blend to inhale daily for two weeks while the other half will serve as controls and inhale a carrier oil.

Full description

The inhalation of certain essential oils has been found to increase stamina and reduce fatigue among athletes but have not been evaluated for the purpose of reducing fatigue among women who experience fatigue as a result of a hypothyroid condition.

The essential oils used in this study are inhaled mid-afternoon, the time in which women with hypothyroidism typically experience the lowest levels of energy during the day, otherwise known as the "afternoon slump." The essential oil is administered during this time to evaluate both the immediate effects on fatigue as well as the overall effects, with measurements at the end of both the first and second week of the study.

Fatigue is measured on a multi-dimensional scale, a validated instrument that measures not only physical fatigue but also emotional and mental fatigue.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• female
• diagnosed with hypothyroidism
• otherwise healthy

Exclusion criteria

• history of thyroid cancer

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

---

42 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Intervention

Experimental group

Description:

The women in this arm will receive an essential oil blend to inhale each afternoon for two weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Aromatherapy Blend

Control

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

The women in this arm will receive an odorless vegetable based oil to inhale each afternoon for two weeks as a control/placebo.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo