Pediatric First Aid Study: Ages 2 to 12
A clinical trial evaluating plant-based wound care for minor cuts and scrapes in children. Home-based, parent-led, and open to families across the United States. No clinic visits required.
What participating looks like
This study evaluates the effects of essential oil-based wound care blends on minor cuts and scrapes in children ages 2 to 12. Everything happens at home. You apply the product, document the healing, and keep the product when the study ends.
You keep the product in your summer first aid kit. Use it when it is needed.
This study does not require scheduled clinic visits, lab tests, or a specific treatment window. You enroll your family, receive the study product, and use it naturally as part of your household first aid routine. When a cut or scrape occurs, you apply the product, document the healing, and report back to the study team.
Complete the short eligibility form below. We review every application and confirm enrollment within five business days.
A dropper bottle of the plant-based wound care product is shipped to your door along with study instructions and your parent information packet.
When your child has a minor cut or scrape, apply the product as directed. Take daily photos of the wound and provide brief daily updates until the wound heals fully.
Children who are 6 or older will also be asked to sign a simple assent form confirming they understand they are participating in a research study and agree to take part. This is a standard research protection for pediatric participants.
Parent responsibilities during the study
Participating families commit to the following tasks when a qualifying wound occurs during the study period.
Stay observant. Watch for minor cuts, scrapes, and routine skin injuries in your child during the study period. Not every child will have an injury during the study, and that is fine. You only report when something happens.
Apply the product as directed. When a qualifying minor wound occurs, apply the study product according to the instructions provided. Continue applying until the wound has healed completely.
Take daily wound photos. Photograph the wound each day as directed in the study instructions. The photos do not need to be professional quality. Clear, consistent, well-lit photos taken in the same position each day is all we need.
Provide daily updates. Submit a brief daily report on wound size, shape, and healing status using the form provided by the study team. This takes approximately two to five minutes per day until healing is complete.
Eligibility for participating families
Your family may be a good fit if
Your child may not qualify if they have
If you are uncertain about any item, apply and we will review your child's situation individually.
Led by a researcher who has published on pediatric essential oil safety
The Principal Investigator for this study, and for all Nutraceuticals Research Institute studies, is Dr. Jessie Cavanaugh, PhD. Dr. Cavanaugh completed post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School and has published extensively on essential oil safety, pediatric aromatherapy, and wound healing. She is one of the most published researchers in natural product clinical science.
This study is part of NRI's pediatric aromatherapy research program. Dr. Cavanaugh has authored the first published meta-analyses in pediatric aromatherapy and has designed studies specifically to evaluate whether essential oil compounds that show promise in adult populations are safe and effective for children. This study contributes to that body of work.
The study is IRB-approved and conducted in full compliance with federal research regulations. Your child's participation is voluntary, their data is kept confidential, and you may withdraw at any time without penalty.
While your family is enrolled, you will have direct access to Dr. Cavanaugh for any questions that arise about the product or the study. That access is not standard in most research. At NRI it is.
Questions from parents
The study product is a liquid plant-based wound care preparation containing essential oil blends. Because this is a blinded study comparing different blends, the specific formulation used by your family is not disclosed until after the study concludes. Full ingredient information is provided at unblinding. All ingredients are used at concentrations appropriate for pediatric topical application.
That is fine and not uncommon. You hold the product and remain enrolled. If no qualifying wound occurs during the study period, you are thanked for your participation, you keep the product, and the study team follows up with you at the end of the enrollment window. Compensation is provided for families who have at least one wound event documented during the study.
The study product has been evaluated for safety at the concentrations used in this study. Dr. Cavanaugh has specifically published on pediatric essential oil safety and designed this protocol with pediatric-appropriate dilutions. All studies are IRB-approved, and the consent process gives you full information about the product before your child uses it. You may decline to participate at any point.
Yes. Families with up to four children in the eligible age range may enroll all of them. Each child who participates contributes to the study data, and the compensation applies to the family as a whole rather than per child.
Children aged 6 and older are asked to sign a simple, age-appropriate assent form confirming they understand they are participating in a research study and that they agree to take part. The form is written in plain language appropriate for children. Your consent as a parent is required regardless of the child's assent.
No. This study is fully home-based. You can participate from anywhere in the United States. The product is shipped to you and all documentation is submitted electronically.
Apply for your family
Enter your email and we will confirm eligibility within five business days.
This study is IRB-approved. Your family's information is kept confidential.
Not sure if your family qualifies? Apply anyway. We review every application individually and will let you know honestly whether this study is a good fit for your child right now.
Questions before applying?
Reach out to the study team. We are happy to answer questions before you decide.