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NCT Number: NCT07522554

Lavender and Lemongrass Aromatherapy for Pain and Anxiety in Labor: A Randomized Trial

Introduction: Pain experienced during labor is considered one of the main determinants of women's subjective experience throughout this physiological process. In parallel, anxiety is understood as an emotional response triggered by the unpredictability of childbirth, the perception of pain, and concerns regarding fetal well-being. In this context, aromatherapy, classified as a Complementary and Integrative Health Practice (CIHP), is based on the therapeutic use of essential oils (EOs), aiming to promote individuals' physical and emotional well-being. Despite growing interest in incorporating such practices into obstetric care, there remains a significant gap in robust scientific evidence regarding the effectiveness and safety of aromatherapy during labor. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of aromatherapy using essential oils of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus [DC.] Stapf) in reducing pain and anxiety in women during active labor. Method: This is a randomized, controlled, triple-blind, longitudinal, and prospective clinical trial to be conducted at a public maternity hospital in São Paulo. The sample will consist of parturients aged between 18 and 40 years, with full-term pregnancies, no comorbidities, and no contraindications for the use of essential oils. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups: inhalation via an aromatic necklace containing lavender and lemongrass essential oils (Experimental Group - EG), or inhalation of a placebo substance with no therapeutic potential (Control Group - CG). Validated instruments will be used to assess the primary outcomes: the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for measuring pain intensity and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) for evaluating anxiety levels during the active phase of labor, defined as a cervical dilation greater than five centimeters and at least two effective contractions within ten minutes. Data will be analyzed using statistical methods, with a significant level of 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. The analysis will include descriptive, exploratory, and inferential procedures, applying both parametric and non-parametric statistical tests as appropriate. Expected results: It is expected that laboring women exposed to aromatherapy with lavender and lemongrass will report lower pain intensity and reduced anxiety levels compared to the control group. It is believed that the use of aromatherapy during labor may promote the physical and emotional well-being of pregnant women, support the physiological progression of labor, and enhance maternal satisfaction with the therapeutic approach, without the occurrence of adverse events.

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Key information

Conditions

Labor Pain and Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Labor Pain Mental Disorders Neurologic Manifestations Pain Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms

Age range

18 year–40 year

Sex eligibility

Female

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

School of Nursing, University of São Paulo (EEUSP)

São Paulo, 05403-000, Brazil

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Women aged 18 to 40 years, regardless of parity; Term pregnancy (gestational age between 37 weeks and 41 weeks and 6 days), with a single, live fetus in cephalic presentation;
  • Active labor, defined as cervical dilation ≥5 cm, confirmed by vaginal examination, and the presence of at least two effective uterine contractions (≥40 seconds) within 10 minutes;
  • Pain score ≥4 assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and anxiety level ≥30 assessed by the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State (STAI-S) at the pre-intervention moment;
  • No language barriers that would prevent understanding of the Portuguese language.

Exclusion criteria

  • Presence of obstetric comorbidities or systemic conditions, such as hypertensive disorders, metabolic disorders, hemorrhagic conditions, pulmonary diseases (e.g., rhinitis, asthma), heart diseases, coagulation disorders, autoimmune diseases, among others;
  • Prior use of pharmacological analgesia before the intervention (e.g., epidural analgesia, nitrous oxide, scopolamine butylbromide);
  • Prior use of anxiolytics or antidepressants, regardless of pharmacological class;
  • Presence of olfactory disorders that may interfere with the administration of essential oils;
  • Known allergies to essential oils or hypersensitivity reactions occurring during the study.

Treatment and study plan

Lavender and Lemongrass Aromatherapy

Behavioral

Aromatherapy will be administered using a combination of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) essential oils. The essential oils will be applied to an absorbent material placed inside a personal necklace device, allowing continuous inhalation throughout labor. The intervention will be initiated during the active phase of labor and maintained according to the study protocol. The concentration and volume of essential oils will be standardized for all participants.

Placebo (Sweet Almond Oil)

Behavioral

The placebo intervention will consist of sweet almond oil applied to an absorbent material placed inside a personal necklace device, allowing continuous inhalation throughout labor. The placebo has a characteristic odor but no known therapeutic effect on pain or anxiety. The procedure, timing, and conditions of administration will be identical to those of the intervention group.

Primary outcomes

  1. Labor Pain Intensity

    Time frame: From the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥5 cm with at least two effective contractions lasting >40 seconds), assessed at three time points: before the intervention, 20 minutes after the intervention, and 1 hour after the intervention.

    Pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0-10), where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst possible pain. Scores will be categorized as mild (1-3), moderate (4-7), and severe (8-10).

  2. Maternal Anxiety During Labor

    Time frame: From the active phase of labor (cervical dilation ≥5 cm with at least two effective contractions lasting >40 seconds), assessed at three time points: before the intervention, 20 minutes after the intervention, and 1 hour after the intervention.

    Maternal anxiety will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory - State (STAI-S; range 20-80), where higher scores indicate greater anxiety. Scores will be categorized as low (20-39), moderate (40-59), and high (60-80) anxiety

Secondary outcomes

  1. Labor Progression (Cervical Dilation Rate)

    Time frame: From the moment of study inclusion until birth.

    Labor progression will be assessed as cervical dilation rate (cm/hour) during the active phase of labor, based on serial cervical examinations.

  2. Maternal Satisfaction

    Time frame: The questionnaire will be administered within 24 hours after delivery.

    Maternal satisfaction with the intervention will be assessed using a structured questionnaire based on a 5-point Likert scale (1-5), where 1 = very dissatisfied, 2 = dissatisfied, 3 = neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 4 = satisfied, and 5 = very satisfied. Higher scores indicate greater satisfaction.

Other outcomes

  1. Adverse Reactions to the Intervention

    Time frame: From the time of study enrollment until delivery.

    Adverse reactions related to the intervention will be monitored throughout the study period and recorded using a structured form, including symptoms such as nausea, headache, dizziness, allergic reactions, or any other reported discomfort.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Sao Paulo

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia) and Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus) Aromatherapy on Pain and Anxiety in Labor: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Acronym: AROMA

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2027
First posted
Apr 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Apr 13, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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