Medical Studies on Essential Oils
Essential Oils have been used for thousands of years for their therapeutic value. However, relatively few studies have been published on many of them. There are many issues that make it difficult to conduct research on their healing properties and/or toxicity:
a) Essential Oils are not standardized - their chemistry is influenced by factors such as weather conditions, local geography, harvest season, storage, packaging etc. Each plant is different, each yield is different in both quantity and constitution (unlike pharmaceutical drugs that can be synthetically manufactured to be identical to each previous batch).
However, more and more essential oils are now being altered to achieve standardization as set out by the International Standards Organization. This means "standardized" essential oils include a range of acceptable concentrations for their major chemical constituents.
b) Funding for essential oil research is much harder to obtain than funding for conventional therapies. Natural plant substances cannot be easily patented, which means that pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to provide financial support for such studies.
c) Studies based on essential oils are more complicated when it comes to scientifically determining the outcome. For example, in researching the effect of an essential oil on pain management, it is difficult to determine how much of a role was played by the essential oil itself and how much relief was induced simply by the act of massaging the oil into the skin. In addition, an essential oil can have hundreds of chemical constituents; which ones play a dominant role in therapy is difficult to determine.
Inspite of these difficulties, research indicates that essential oils have a positive effect in the management of many health conditions including acne, hair loss, nausea, inflammation, pain, anxiety etc. The studies below serve to highlight some of these applications, but should in no way be substituted for medical advice from your doctor or specialist.
> Successful treatment of Alopecia Aerata (Hair Loss)
> Tea Tree Oil and Acne - I
> Tea Tree Oil and Acne - II
> Tea Tree Oil and Acne - III
> Chamomile and wound healing
> Anti-inflammatory properties of Chamomile
> The psycho-physiological benefits of aromatherapy
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Title: |
Randomized trial of aromatherapy. Successful treatment of Alopecia areata. |
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Author: |
Hay I C, Jamieson M, Ormerod A D |
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Year: |
1998 |
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Publication: |
Archives of Dermatology |
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Issue: |
134: 1349-1352 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
Instructions in essential oil use and scalp massage were given to 84 patients with Alopecia areata, a disorder in which the hair falls out in patches producing areas of baldness. Randomly divided into two groups, the control group massaged a combination of jojoba and grapseed carrier oils into their scalps every night, occluding the area with a warm towel. The test group used the same technique but included Thymus vulgaris (88 mg), Lavandula angustifolia (108 mg), Rosmarinus officinalis (114 mg) and Cedrus atlantica (94 mg) essential oils within 23 ml of carrier oil. This procedure was followed for seven months and evaluated by various means, including photographic assessment by independent dermatologists and measurement of areas of alopecia by computerised image analysis. Although variable, the test group results showed a significant statistical advantage to the treatment regime with an improvement rate of 44%. This was comparable to conventional therapies. As it had no significant adverse effects, the essential oil treatment had a higher therapeutic ratio than some therapies. A relative lack of response in the control group indicated pharmacological activity of the essential oils as opposed to any effects arising from scalp massage alone. |
Tea Tree Oil and Acne - I
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Title: |
A comparative study of tea-tree oil versus benzoyl peroxide in the treatment of acne. |
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Author: |
Bassett I B, Pannowitz D L, Barnetson R StC |
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Year: |
1990 |
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Publication: |
Medical Journal of Australia |
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Issue: |
153 (8): 455-458 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
A single-blind, randomised trial was conducted on 124 patients with mild to moderate acne in order to evaluate and compare the efficacy and skin tolerance between 5% Melaleuca alternifolia oil gel and 5% benzoyl peroxide lotion. Patients were given either the gel or lotion for self-application and clinical assessment made three times at monthly intervals. It was concluded that both had a significant effect in ameliorating the patients' acne by reducing the number of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions (open and closed comedones). Tea tree acted more slowly, but fewer side effects were experienced by those treated with the oil than with the peroxide. It was also better tolerated by facial skin than the peroxide. It was noted that 5% tea tree oil might be a suboptimal concentration, as most treatment success reports used concentrations of up to 100%. |
Tea Tree Oil and Acne - II
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Title: |
Antimicrobial effects of tea tree oil, and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. |
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Author: |
Raman A, Weir U, Bloomfield S F |
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Year: |
1995 |
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Publication: |
Letters in Applied Microbiology |
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Issue: |
21 (4): 242-245 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
Two commercial Melaleuca alternifolia essential oils and their major components were tested for antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Serial dilutions were made of each substance to give concentrations of 0.02-5% v/v within the culture medium. Both the whole oils, terpinen-4-ol, a-terpineol and a-pinene were found to be active against all three test bacteria, whereas 1,8-cineole was inactive. Using minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation, a-terpineol was the most effective and a-pinene the least, with MIC’s of 0.08-0.31 and 1.25->2.5% v/v respectively. The MIC values of the two essential oils and terpinen-4-ol were lower for P. acne than for the staphylococci. It was concluded that the study supported the use of the essential oil in the treatment of acne. | |
Tea Tree Oil and Acne - III
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Title: |
Susceptibility of Propionibacterium acnes to the essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia. |
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Author: |
Carson C F, Riley T V |
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Year: |
1994 |
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Publication: |
Letters in Applied Microbiology |
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Issue: |
19 (1): 24-25 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
The pathogenesis of acne vulgaris involves several factors, including the presence of Propionibacterium acnes in the lesions. Thirty two strains of P. acnes were used in a broth dilution susceptibility test with Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil. Twenty seven strains had a minimum bactericidal concentration of 0.5% of oil and the others had 0.25% or less. The results indicated that there may be a use for tea tree oil in the treatment of acne. |
Effect of Chamomile on wound healing
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Title: |
Effect of chamomile on wound healing - a clinical double-blind study. |
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Author: |
Glowania H J, Raulin C, Swoboda M |
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Year: |
1987 |
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Publication: |
Zeitschrift fur Hautkrankheiten (Berlin) |
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Issue: |
62 (17): 1262, 1267-71 |
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Language: |
German |
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Abstract: |
In a double-blind trial the therapeutic efficacy of a standardised extract of Matricaria chamomilla (containing 3 mg of chamazulene and 30 mg a-bisabolol) was tested on fourteen patients after dermabrasion of tattoos. The epithelial and drying effect on the wound area were used as objective parameters. The period of healing and drying was judged by a doctor. The decrease of the weeping wound area as well as the drying tendency were statistically significant in patients receiving the extract.
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Anti-inflammatory properties of Chamomile
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itle: |
Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity of a chamomile extract topical application. |
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Author: |
Tubaro A, Zilli C, Redaelli C, Della Loggia R |
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Year: |
1984 |
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Publication: |
Planta Medica |
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Issue: |
50 (4): 359 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
A hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria chamomilla was prepared containing 0.05 mg/ml of a-bisabolol, apigenin glucosides, 0.45 mg/ml of bisabolol oxides, apigenin and 0.02 mg/ml of azulenes. It was topically applied in vivo to croton oil-induced oedema of mouse ears. The experiment was also conducted by topically applying either hydrocortisone or benzydamine (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent). Hydrocortisone had the most anti-inflammatory effect and the chamomile extract reduced the oedema by about the same amount as the non-steroidal agent. It was deduced that chamomile did exert its anti-inflammatory activity after topical application. |
The Pyscho-Physiological benefits of Aromatherapy
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Title: |
Psychophysiological studies of fragrance. |
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Author: |
Sugano H, Sato N |
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Year: |
1991 |
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Publication: |
Chemical Senses |
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Issue: |
16: 183-184 |
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Language: |
English |
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Abstract: |
Chamomile, eucalyptus, jasmine, lavender, rose, orange and musk were used to test the effects of fragrances on work and mental function. Work efficiency within a limited time was studied by comparing correct and incorrect answers and by determining the mean reaction time. Investigations used computer-aided calculation tasks, microvibrations (MV) and contingent negative variation (CNV) measurements. Reaction times were improved by lavender, orange and rose, and they also increased a-band MV, suggesting mental relaxation. Chamomile, jasmine and musk increased b-band MV, suggesting mental stimulation. Lavender, orange and rose inhibited CNV whilst chamomile, jasmine and musk increased CNV. The study concluded that the use of lavender, orange and rose would elevate work efficiency and counter the effects of a stressful life. Botanical sources of the fragrances were not stated. |
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