Treatment of upper respiratory tract infections in primary care: a randomized study using aromatic herbs.

Eran Ben-Arye,Nativ Dudai,Elad Schiff,Yoseph Rakover,Anat Eini,Moshe Torem

doi:10.1155/2011/690346

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.

Highlights

Herbal medicine is one of the main modalities in traditional as well as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and is increasingly acknowledged due to the extensive use of herbal remedies amongst the general population in developed and developing countries worldwide [1, 2]
Lu et al found that Eucalyptus globulus oil has an anti-inflammatory effect on chronic bronchitis induced by lipopolysaccharide in rats and inhibits the hypersecretion of airway mucins [12]
In day 3 of treatment, 25/26 participants in the aromatic group reported compliance with spray use (18 reported maximal recommended dosage and 7 partial dosage) compared to 32 participants in the control group (25 reported maximal dosage and 7 partial dosage). In this randomized double-blind trial, the effect of a herbal preparation on upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) symptoms was studied compared to placebo

Summary

Introduction

Herbal medicine is one of the main modalities in traditional as well as complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and is increasingly acknowledged due to the extensive use of herbal remedies amongst the general population in developed and developing countries worldwide [1, 2]. In vitro and clinical studies suggest the therapeutic potential of aromatic herbs in treatment of respiratory ailments. Mentha piperita (peppermint) contains menthol and exhibits antibacterial and antiviral properties [6] as well as an antitussive effect (in a study of guinea pigs) [7]. Origanum syriacum contains the active ingredients of thymol and carvacrol and possesses antimicrobial [8] and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine antifungal [9] properties. A relaxant effect on tracheal smooth muscle was demonstrated in rabbits and guinea pigs exposed to volatile oil of Rosmarinus officinalis (which contains camphor and cineol) [11]. Cohen and Dressler conducted a clinical trial with patients suffering from acute runny nose who reported improved breathing following treatment with a volatile oil mixture of eucalyptus, menthol, and camphor [15]. In Germany, Kehrl et al conducted a randomized controlled double-blind study in patients with acute nonpurulent rhinosinusitis and found that timely treatment with cineole is effective in reducing rhinosinusitis symptoms and is safe before antibiotics are indicated [16]

Methods

Results

Conclusion