Can smelling mugwort oil lift depression? new study investigates
NCT ID NCT07384312
First seen Feb 03, 2026 · Last updated Jun 21, 2026 · Updated 25 times
Summary
This study tested whether inhaling cang-ai volatile oil (mugwort oil) for one hour daily could help ease depression. 60 people with depression were randomly assigned to receive either mugwort oil or bergamot oil. Researchers used brain imaging and depression questionnaires to measure changes after one month.
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This is a summary of
the original study
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine
Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
cang-ai volatile oil (mugwort essential oil)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a natural, inhaled treatment for depression symptoms.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early study with no blinding or placebo control, so results may not be reliable. The effect may be no better than the bergamot oil comparator.
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.