Co-Authors:
Ben-Arye, E., Complementary and Traditional Medicine Unit, Department of Family Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel, Clalit Health Services, 6 Hashahaf Street, Haifa and Western Galilee District, Haifa 35013, Israel
Dudai, N., Department of Aromatic, Medicinal and Spice Crops, Newe ya'Ar Research Center, P.O. Box 1021, Ramat Yishay 30095, Israel
Eini, A., Department of Family Medicine, Ha'Emek Medical Center and the Northern District, Clalit Health Services, Afula 18101, Israel
Torem, M., Department of Family Medicine, Ha'Emek Medical Center and the Northern District, Clalit Health Services, Afula 18101, Israel
Schiff, E., Department of Internal Medicine, Bnai-Zion Medical Center, Haifa 33394, Israel, Department for Alternative/Integrative Medicine, Law and Ethics, International Center for Health, Law and Ethics, University of Haifa, Haifa 31905, Israel
Rakover, Y., ENT Department, Ha'Emek Medical Center, Afula 18101, Israel, Ruth and Bruce Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 31096, Israel
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. Copyright © 2011 Eran Ben-Arye et al.