Phytochemical and clinical effect of a herbal medicine containing mint, rosemary, lavender, and clove compared to placebo on the prevention and control of migraine symptoms: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial
To assess the phytochemical and clinical effect of a herbal medicine containing mint, rosemary, lavender, and clove compared to placebo on the prevention and control of migraine symptoms
Design
This is a Phase III triple-blind randomized clinical trial with a control group with parallel groups, in which 155 eligible patients will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups using drawing of lots.
Settings and conduct
This study will be conducted at the School of Pharmacy in Hamadan city, involving 155 eligible patients with migraine. The patients will be randomly assigned to the intervention and control groups through the drawing of lots. This trial will be triple-blinded.
Participants/Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Age 18 to 55 years,
Diagnosis of migraine,
Experience of at least 4 migraine attacks in the past three months,
Exclusion criteria:
Use of similar herbal medicines in the past 2 months,
Pregnancy or breastfeeding,
Presence of other neurological disorders such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis,
Use of antidepressant or anticonvulsant medications in the past 2 months
Intervention groups
Intervention group 1:
Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing mint applied
Intervention group 2:
Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing rosemary applied
Intervention group 3:
Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing lavender applied
Intervention group 4:
Routine treatment plus combined herbal medicine containing clove
Control group:
Routine treatment plus placebo without any herbal ingredient
Main outcome variables
Primary outcome:
Number of migraine attacks
Headache severity
Mean duration of migraine attacks
Secondary outcome:
Improvement in sleep quality
Amount of analgesic medication use
Mean mood and anxiety score before
Mean patient satisfaction score before
General information
Reason for update
Acronym
IRCT registration information
IRCT registration number:IRCT20120215009014N611
Registration date:2026-05-19, 1405/02/29
Registration timing:prospective
Last update:2026-05-19, 1405/02/29
Update count:0
Registration date
2026-05-19, 1405/02/29
Registrant information
Name
Jalal Poorolajal
Name of organization / entity
Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Hamadan University of Medical Sciences
Country
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Phone
+98 81 1838 0090
Email address
poorolajal@umsha.ac.ir
Recruitment status
recruiting
Funding source
Expected recruitment start date
2026-06-22, 1405/04/01
Expected recruitment end date
2026-12-22, 1405/10/01
Actual recruitment start date
empty
Actual recruitment end date
empty
Trial completion date
empty
Scientific title
Phytochemical and clinical effect of a herbal medicine containing mint, rosemary, lavender, and clove compared to placebo on the prevention and control of migraine symptoms: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial
Public title
Phytochemical and clinical effect of a herbal medicine containing mint, rosemary, lavender, and clove compared to placebo on the prevention and control of migraine symptoms
Purpose
Treatment
Inclusion/Exclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria:
Age 18 to 55 years,
Diagnosis of migraine,
Experience of at least 4 migraine attacks in the past three months,
Exclusion criteria:
Use of similar herbal medicines in the past 2 months,
Pregnancy or breastfeeding,
Presence of other neurological disorders such as epilepsy or multiple sclerosis,
Use of antidepressant or anticonvulsant medications in the past 2 months
Age
From 18 years old to 55 years old
Gender
Both
Phase
3
Groups that have been masked
Participant
Care provider
Outcome assessor
Sample size
Target sample size:
155
Randomization (investigator's opinion)
Randomized
Randomization description
Random allocation of patients into intervention and control groups is done by lottery. For this purpose, we prepare five cards: on four cards we write the names of the interventions, and on one card we write the name of the placebo. Then, upon each patient's arrival, we randomly draw one card without replacement and assign the patient to either the intervention or the control group.
Blinding (investigator's opinion)
Triple blinded
Blinding description
The drugs will be administered in coded envelopes. Both the medications and placebos will have the same shape. Consequently, patients will remain unaware of the type of intervention they receive. Moreover, the randomization process will be conducted by a separate individual from the one who examines the patients, ensuring that the examining person remains unaware of the intervention. The distributer of the medicines will also be kept blind to the type of interventions. Therefore, the trial will be conducted as a triple-blind study.
Placebo
Used
Assignment
Parallel
Other design features
Secondary Ids
empty
Ethics committees
1
Ethics committee
Name of ethics committee
Ethics Committee of Hamadan University of Medical Sciences
Street address
Vice-chancellor for Research and Technology, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
6517838695
Approval date
2026-05-09, 1405/02/19
Ethics committee reference number
IR.UMSHA.REC.1405.106
Health conditions studied
1
Description of health condition studied
Migraine
ICD-10 code
G43
ICD-10 code description
Migraine
Primary outcomes
1
Description
Number of migraine attacks
Timepoint
Before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
By medical history
2
Description
Headache severity
Timepoint
Before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
Using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
3
Description
Mean duration of migraine attacks
Timepoint
Before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
By medical history
Secondary outcomes
1
Description
Improvement in sleep quality
Timepoint
Before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
Using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
2
Description
Amount of analgesic medication use
Timepoint
before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
By medical history
3
Description
Mean mood and anxiety score
Timepoint
before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
Using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales - 21 (DASS-21)
4
Description
Mean patient satisfaction score
Timepoint
Before intervention and one month later
Method of measurement
Using a researcher-designed questionnaire
Intervention groups
1
Description
Intervention group 1: Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing mint applied as local massage on the temples, neck, forehead, and behind the ears three times per week for one month.
Category
Treatment - Drugs
2
Description
Intervention group 2: Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing rosemary applied as local massage on the temples, neck, forehead, and behind the ears three times per week for one month.
Category
Treatment - Drugs
3
Description
Intervention group 3: Routine treatment plus herbal medicine containing lavender applied as local massage on the temples, neck, forehead, and behind the ears three times per week for one month.
Category
Treatment - Drugs
4
Description
Intervention group 4: Routine treatment plus combined herbal medicine containing clove applied as local massage on the temples, neck, forehead, and behind the ears three times per week for one month.
Category
Treatment - Drugs
5
Description
Control group: Routine treatment plus placebo without any herbal ingredient applied as local massage on the temples, neck, forehead, and behind the ears three times per week for one month.
Category
Placebo
Recruitment centers
1
Recruitment center
Name of recruitment center
School of Pharmacy in Hamadan
Full name of responsible person
Dorsa Mahdizade
Street address
School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave.
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
6517838695
Phone
+98 81 3838 0572
Email
mahdizadedorsa1379@gmail.com
Sponsors / Funding sources
1
Sponsor
Name of organization / entity
Hamedan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Alireza Soltanian
Street address
Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
6517838695
Phone
+98 81 3838 0717
Email
info.research@umsha.ac.ir
Grant name
Grant code / Reference number
Is the source of funding the same sponsor organization/entity?
Yes
Title of funding source
Hamedan University of Medical Sciences
Proportion provided by this source
100
Public or private sector
Public
Domestic or foreign origin
Domestic
Category of foreign source of funding
empty
Country of origin
Type of organization providing the funding
Academic
Person responsible for general inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Hamedan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dorsa Mahdizade
Position
Student of Pharmacology
Latest degree
Medical doctor
Other areas of specialty/work
Medical Pharmacy
Street address
School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave.
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
6517838695
Phone
+98 81 3838 0572
Email
mahdizadedorsa1379@gmail.com
Person responsible for scientific inquiries
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Hamedan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Dara Dastan
Position
Photochemist
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Medical Pharmacy
Street address
School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave.
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
6517838695
Phone
+98 81 3838 0572
Email
d.dastan@umsha.ac.ir
Person responsible for updating data
Contact
Name of organization / entity
Hamedan University of Medical Sciences
Full name of responsible person
Dr. Jalal Poorolajal
Position
Professor of Epidemiology
Latest degree
Ph.D.
Other areas of specialty/work
Epidemiology
Street address
School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Fahmideh Ave. Hamadan, Iran
City
Hamadan
Province
Hamadan
Postal code
65157838695
Phone
+98 81 3838 0090
Email
poorolajal@umsha.ac.ir
Sharing plan
Deidentified Individual Participant Data Set (IPD)
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Study Protocol
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Statistical Analysis Plan
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Informed Consent Form
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Clinical Study Report
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Analytic Code
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available
Data Dictionary
Undecided - It is not yet known if there will be a plan to make this available