Treatment of Upper Respiratory Tract Infections in Primary Care: A Randomized Study Using Aromatic Herbs

Abstract

This study is a prospective randomized double-blind controlled trial whose aim was to investigate the clinical effects of aromatic essential oils in patients with upper respiratory tract infections. The trial was conducted in six primary care clinics in northern Israel. A spray containing aromatic essential oils of five plants (Eucalyptus citriodora, Eucalyptus globulus, Mentha piperita, Origanum syriacum, and Rosmarinus officinalis) as applied 5 times a day for 3 days and compared with a placebo spray. The main outcome measure was patient assessment of the change in severity of the most debilitating symptom (sore throat, hoarseness or cough). Sixty patients participated in the study (26 in the study group and 34 in the control group). Intention-to-treat analysis showed that 20 minutes following the spray use, participants in the study group reported a greater improvement in symptom severity compared to participants in the placebo group (P = .019). There was no difference in symptom severity between the two groups after 3 days of treatment (P = .042). In conclusion, spray application of five aromatic plants reported in this study brings about significant and immediate improvement in symptoms of upper respiratory ailment. This effect is not significant after 3 days of treatment.

Plant Essential Oil: An Alternative to Emerging Multidrug Resistant Pathogenso

“…In another prospective, randomized double-blind controlled trial, the activity of a spray containing EO of Eucalyptus citriodora, E. globulus, Mentha x piperita, Origanum syriacum, and Rosmarinus officinalis were studied in patients with URTI [36], 34 patients in the test group used this spray 5 times a day (4 spraying each time) for 3 days. Then the change of the most debilitating symptoms (sore throat, hoarseness or cough) was assessed in patients.…”

“…There was no difference in symptom severity between the two groups after 3 days of treatment. Based on these results, authors suggested the local, rather than systemic effect of this spray on the upper respiratory tract [36]. In a multi-centre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, the efficacy and tolerability of GeloMyrtol® (=Myrtol®) forte was studied in acute bronchitis [37], 413 patients were included and randomized, 202 participants received GeloMyrtol® 300 mg, 4 capsules per day for 2 weeks.…”

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY EVALUATION OF 15 <i>EUCALYPTUS</i> SPECIES ESSENTIAL OILS AGAINST CLINICALLY RELEVANT PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

“…It becomes of great importance to do extensive studies in order to determine if some EOs could be used to treat some bacterial infections or used as disinfectants in clinical environments. Eucalyptus species are some of the plants most described as efficient in antibacterial treatments of some infections such as those of the upper respiratory tract infections (Ben-Arye et al, 2011). Another main concern in modern medicine is drugresistant bacteria and its exponential growth, so the main objective of this assay is to find some compounds that can be used in complementary medicine or as powerful disinfectants against pathogenic bacteria.…”

“…Eucalyptus has been the topic of several studies due to its extensive applications in traditional medicine, mainly in respiratory infections, proving the efficacy of its' products against upper respiratory tract infections (Ben-Arye et al, 2011). Globulol found in Eucalyptus EOs showed a relevant antimicrobial effect (Manliang et al, 2008).…”

The Therapeutic Benefits of Essential Oils

“…Main active compound: 1,8-cineole (Nerio et al, 2009;Vilela et al, 2009) 9.10.2. Properties: Anticatarrhale, expectorant and mucolytic, antimicrobial, Antiviral (Ben-Arye et al, 2011;Ben Hadj et al, 2011;Caballero-Gallardo et al, 2011;Gende et al, 2010).…”