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CompletedNCT02285452SWI_02Updated Sep 16, 2026

Psychophysiological Effects of Thorax Wraps With Ginger and Mustard Flour

An interventional study of Zingiberis Rhizoma plv. and Sinapis nigrea semen in Healthy, sponsored by ARCIM Institute Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine. Completed at 1 site in Germany. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 40 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-16.

Sponsored by ARCIM Institute Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine · Not applicable, Interventional, and Supportive care

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
19
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years to 40 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

In integrative medicine wraps are applied for different indications. In this study the effects of thorax with ginger and mustard flour are investigated under standardized conditions. Heart rate variability, well being, warmth distribution and respiratory activity of healthy subjects will be measured.

Read the detailed description

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of different thorax wraps in healthy subjects. Subjects undergo three different interventions (wraps with ginger flour, mustard flour or warm water (placebo)) on three different days. Heart rate variability and respiratory activity is measured for ten minutes before, during (up to 20 minutes) and for ten minutes after each thorax wrap. To investigate the effects on heat development and regulation, photos are taken with a thermographic infrared camera at various moments in time. Participants are asked to fill in questionnaires referring to their subjective perceptions of warmth, bodily warmth distribution and wellbeing. The order of the thorax wrap interventions is randomized.

02

Conditions studied

  • Healthy

Keywords

  • physiologcal phenomena
  • respiratory activity
  • thorax wraps
  • HRV Parameters
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 40 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Inflectional disease with body temperature > 38 °C. Skin damage on the thorax area Known intolerance or hypersensitivity to mustard or ginger products. Heart failure. Asthma bronchiale. Taking medication with influence on heart rate variability ( mainly tricyclic antidepressants and beta blocker).

Consumption of coffee or nicotine less than three hours before the intervention.

Pregnancy. Deficient knowledge of the German language.

04

Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Primary purpose
Supportive care
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Crossover assignment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Enrollment
19 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Thorax wrap with ginger flour (Zingiberis Rhizoma plv.)

    Thorax wrap with ginger flour, duration max. 20 minutes

    Drug: Zingiberis Rhizoma plv.

  • Active comparator
    Thorax wrap with mustard flour (Sinapis nigrea semen)

    Thorax wrap with mustard flour, duration max 20 minutes

    Drug: Sinapis nigrea semen

  • Placebo comparator
    Thorax wrap with warm water (placebo)

    Thorax wrap with warm water (placebo), duration: 20 minutes

    Drug: Placebo

Interventions

  • DrugZingiberis Rhizoma plv.
  • DrugSinapis nigrea semen
  • DrugPlacebo
05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. changes in temperature

    Temperature (in °Celsius) of feet, lower legs, hands and face measured with a thermographic infrared camera (pre-post-comparison)

    Time frame: max. 40 minutes

  2. Respiratory activity (expiratory CO2 and NO-measurement)

    Physiological parameters are measured for pre-post comparison.

    Time frame: max. 40 minutes

Secondary outcomes

  1. Basler Mood Questionnaire (BBS)

    filled in by the participants nine times (before and after the thorax wrap and 10 minutes after the intervention)

    Time frame: 40 minutes

  2. Herdecker Wärmeempfindungs-Fragebogen (HeWef)

    filled in by the participants nine times (before and after the thorax wrap and 10 minutes after the intervention)

    Time frame: 40 minutes

  3. Warmth perception and skin irritation (NRS)

    Warmth perception and skin irritation during the intervention every minute (measured with a numeric rating scale).

    Time frame: 40 minutes

  4. heart rate variability -Parameter (HRV)

    Standard Deviation of Normal to Normal (heart rate) (SDNN)

    Time frame: Physiological parameters are measured over a period of 40 minutes

  5. heart rate variability -Parameter (HRV)

    Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD)

    Time frame: Physiological parameters are measured over a period of 40 minutes

  6. heart rate variability -Parameter (HRV)

    ratio low frequency to high frequency (LF/HF)

    Time frame: Physiological parameters are measured over a period of 40 minutes

  7. heart rate variability -Parameter (HRV)

    very low frequency (VLF)

    Time frame: Physiological parameters are measured over a period of 40 minutes

  8. heart rate variability -Parameter (HRV)

    NN50 (the number of pairs of successive NNs that differ by more than 50 ms)

    Time frame: Physiological parameters are measured over a period of 40 minutes

06

Study locations

1 site
  • Filderklinik
    Filderstadt, Baden-Wurttemberg 70794, Germany
07

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02285452
Lead sponsor
ARCIM Institute Academic Research in Complementary and Integrative Medicine
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Nov 7, 2014
Start date
Nov 2014
Primary completion
Apr 2015
Completion
Apr 2015
Last update
Sep 16, 2026

Study contacts

Jan Vagedes, Dr.
principal investigator · ARCIM-Institute
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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