Can Essential oils help in the fight against infectious diseases?

There have been wild claims on social media that by taking some essential oils orally they can help protect you from Covid-19. There is no evidence to support this. However, Biopharmaceutical industries are certainly looking at plant based alternative compounds to treat diseases associated with other microbial pathogens. Did you know that the essential oil of Lemon Balm, was shown to inhibit the replication of the Avian Flu Virus (1)? Could essential oils play a role in finding a cure for Covid-19?

In fact, some research has shown that Essential Oils (EO) may be a promising alternative against viral infections (2). EO might be the hoped-for source of alternative antimicrobial agents and may play an important role in the discovery of new drugs for the treatment of a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms.

It is clear that when reviewing research papers not all tests are equal and many claims are misleading and possibly dangerous. Claims for example that Oregano, Lemon or Frankincense oils can be used in the treatment of Covid-19 have been made recently and this is clearly an example of some corporations not taking their Duty of Care seriously (3). EO need to be used carefully and in controlled dilutions to be considered safe. This is something we take very seriously at Misce Botanicals. As a qualified Aromatherapist working with EO for many years I am constantly reviewing research on medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs). Thankfully there are many legitimate tests being carried out that have been backed by respected organisations and their results show that the possibilities for MAPs to help us in the fight against various illnesses is becoming clearer.

At present more than 80% of the global population depends on traditional plant-based medications for treating various human health problems. Although a good number of herbal products have clear, evidence based, results, many of them remain untested and their use are either poorly monitored or not even monitored at all (4). Even so, EO based products are in higher demand in the cosmetic, food, perfume, and pharmaceutical industries than ever before.

In this series of blogs I will cover the attributes of many plant derived essential oils and detail the results of research that has been carried out throughout the world on these fascinating compounds. My hope is that these blogs will help you to understand this complex and often controversial subject a little better. In my next blog I will answer the question “What are Essential Oils and where do they come from?”