Table 9.

Peppermint Aromatherapy Randomized Controlled Trials for Post-operative Nausea

Reference	Population	Design	Findings	Adverse Events
Lane (2012)	Women following a caesarian section (n=35)	Aromatherapy comparing three groups: peppermint spirits inhalation (n=22) vs. placebo inhalation (n=8) vs. standard antiemetic therapy (n=5) Primary objective was nausea severity at 2 and 5 minutes after intervention using a 6 point nausea scale	Greater proportion of participants in the peppermint spirits group had no nausea or only slight nausea at 2 minutes vs. placebo (14 (63.6%) vs. 0) and vs. standard antiemetics (0). Greater proportion of participants in the peppermint spirits group had no nausea or only slight nausea at 5 minutes vs. placebo (17 (77.2%) vs. 0) and vs. standard antiemetics (0).	Not reported
Hunt (2013)	Adults with nausea after ambulatory surgery (n=303); 2 withdrawals	Randomized trial of aromatherapy of three groups: 1) essential oil of ginger (n=76); 2) blend of ginger, spearmint, peppermint, and cardamom oils (n=74); 3) isopropyl alcohol (n=78); 4) saline (n=73) Primary objective: Reduction in post-operative nausea using a 0-3 scale at 5 minutes.	More subjects had an improvement in nausea with the aromatherapy blend vs. saline [61 (82.4% vs. 29 (39.7%), P<0.001] and vs. alcohol [61 (82.4%) vs. 40 (51.3%), P<0.001)] No difference found between ginger vs. blend	Not reported
Sites (2014)	Adults with postoperative nausea and/or vomiting (n=42)	Single blind randomized control trial comparing controlled breathing alone (n=16) vs. peppermint aromatherapy (n=26) Primary objective was absence of nausea 10 minutes after intervention	No differences between groups in resolving nausea [10 (62.5%) vs. 15 (57.7%), P=0.76)]	Not reported