Effects of essential oils on symptoms and course (duration and severity) of viral respiratory infections in humans: A rapid review

Sebastian Prall, E. Joy Bowles, Kathleen Bennett, Carolyn Giselle Cooke, Tamara Agnew, Amie Steel, Tina Hausser

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Oral doses of certain essential oils may reduce symptoms of acute respiratory infections of viral origin. It is likely that the commercially available essential oil capsules Myrtol® (a mixture of essential oils of eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus, sweet orange Citrus sinensis, myrtle Myrtus communis and lemon Citrus limonum) and Tavipec® (spike lavender Lavandula latifolia) could also provide mild to moderate symptom relief in patients with viral respiratory diseases. Myrtol® may also improve the course (duration and severity) of acute bronchitis of viral origin, in humans. Both products were well tolerated, with most of the mild to moderate side-effects affecting the gastrointestinal tract. This review found no research evidence describing the clinical effect of inhalation of essential oils for acute respiratory viral infections.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)218-221
Number of pages4
JournalAdvances in Integrative Medicine
Volume7
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Keywords

  • Aromatherapy
  • Clinical trials
  • Viral respiratory infections
  • Volatile oils

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effects of essential oils on symptoms and course (duration and severity) of viral respiratory infections in humans: A rapid review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this