Could essential oils tame chemo nausea? a new trial puts aromatherapy to the test

This phase III trial is testing whether adding aromatherapy—using lemon, lavender, and peppermint essential oils—to standard anti-nausea medication can better prevent nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients receiving highly emetogenic chemotherapy. About 374 patients will be randomly assigned to receive either standard antiemetic therapy alone or standard therapy plus aromatherapy. The study will measure how many patients have no vomiting and need no rescue medication during the first five days after chemotherapy, along with quality of life and other outcomes.