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.
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.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
42
The essential oil intervention is a blend of plant derived oils which have been distilled from crude plant matter and analyzed in a laboratory to identify chemical composition.
The placebo substance is an odorless vegetable oil derived from avocados.
Franklin Institute of Wellness
Franklin, Tennessee, United States
83-item Multidimensional Symptoms of Fatigue Inventory
This measurement collects self reported fatigue scores at baseline and at the end of each week of the intervention. Each item is scored from 0-4, with higher scores indicating greater levels of fatigue.
Time frame: 2 weeks
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