According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than one billion people suffer from chronic or acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs) (1). In light of COVID-19, this number has gone up.
The global impact of respiratory disease affects 6% women and %5 men. A total of 9 million children under 5 years old die annually. Based on the WHO data, lower RTIs and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have remained the top major killers during the past decade. (2)
Studies have shown that the use of essential oils (EOs) applied to respiratory tract infections (RTIs) may provide some relief of RTIs symptoms.
In a 2015 study Gyorgyi Horvath and Kamilla Acs reviewed #essentialoils and highlighted their role in #bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action.(3) In this review the authors concluded that "because of their wide-ranging and complex effects, e.g., #antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, #mucolytic, #bronchodilator, etc., [essential oils] can be used as valuable materials in the treatment of different respiratory tract diseases (4)."
Breathe Easy, a blend that has known properties that may help fight off symptoms of lower respiratory infections. Image: 10ml
In another 2018 study, Acs et al. investigated the antibacterial evaluation of #clove, #cinnamon bark, #eucalyptus, #thyme, scots pine, #peppermint, and #citronella EOs [essential oils] (5)." Acs et al. determined that the EO of thyme, clove and cinnamon bark may provide promising antibacterial activity against respiratory tract pathogens either in liquid medium or vapor phase (4), where vapor phase is defined as "...the growth of particles by gas-to-particle conversion [that] occurs as a result of vapor condensation and/or surface reactions. (6)."
More recently, there have been studies investigating the effects of EOs and their biological activity with COVID-19.(7)(8) In a recent 2020 study Asif et al. reported that "[e]ssential oils have long been known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiviral properties and are being proposed to have activity against SARC-CoV-2."(9) In another 2020 study, da Silva et al. determined "... essential oil components may act synergistically, essential oils may potentiate other antiviral agents, or they may provide some relief of COVID-19 symptoms."(10) However, further investigation is much needed.
Breathe Easy, a blend that has known properties that may help fight off symptoms of lower respiratory infections. Image: 30ml
Breathe Easy
I made Breathe Easy with the intention of helping people, who are suffering from colds and flues, #asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and #pneumonia, with symptoms associated with respiratory tract infections and diseases. Let me turn to the ingredients of Breathe Easy and outline what primary chemical constituents are in each one.
This blend of organic essential oils is made up of the following:
#Eucalyptus radiata
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus radiata) comes from the Myrtaceae family. Its leaves are steam distilled for the extract that is clear in color. Its perfumery is a top-middle note that is soft. Eucalyptus radiata's primary chemical components are the following:
1,8-Cineole
a-Terpineol
(Z)-Piperitol
(+)-Limonene
Piperitone
Geraniol
a-Pinene
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) comes from the Lamiaceae family. Its leaves and flower buds are steam distilled for the extract that is clear in color. Its perfumery is a middle note that is medium-to-strong. Rosemary's primary chemical components are the following:
Camphor
1,8-Cineole
a-Pinene
Gamma-Terpinene
Camphene
Niaouli (Melaleuca quinquenervia) comes from the Myrtaceae family. Its leaves are steam distilled for the extract that is clear in color. Its perfumery is a middle note that is medium in aroma.Niaouli's primary chemical component are the following:
1,8-Cineole
a-Pinene
(+)-Limonene
a-Terpineol
B-Pinene
Viridiflorol
Cajeput (Melaleuca cajuputi) comes from the Myrtaceae family. Its leaves are steam distilled for the extract that is yellowish-clear in color. Its perfumery is a middle note that is medium in aroma. Cajeput's primary chemical components are the following:
1,8-Cineole
a-Terpineol
p-Cymene
Terpinolene
Gamma-Terpinene
(+)-Limonene
Linalool
a-Pinene
Fragonia (Agonis fragrans) comes from the Myrtaceae family. Its twigs, branches, and leaves are steam distilled for the extract that is yellowish-clear in color. Its perfumery is a top note that is medium in aroma. Fragonia's primary chemical components are the following:
1,8-Cineole
a-Pinene
Linalol
a-Terpineol
Terpinen-4-ol
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) comes from the Burseraceae family. Its resin is typically hydrostilled for the extract that is yellow in color. Its perfumery is a base note that is medium in aroma. Frankincense's primary chemical components are the following:
a-Pinene
a-Phellandrene
(+)-Limonene
B-Myrcene
B-Pinene
B-Caryophyllene
p-Cymene
Terpinen-4-ol
Verbenone
Sabinene
Linalool
#Thyme ct linalool
Thyme ct linalool (Thymus vulgaris ct linalool) comes from the Lamiaceae family. Its leaves, flowers and buds are steam distilled for the extract that is pale yellow in color. Its perfumery is a middle note that is medium in aroma. Thyme ct linalool's primary chemical components are the following:
Linalool
Linalyl Acetate
a-Terpineol+borneol
Thumo
p-Cymene
B-Caryophyllene
Camphene
Carvacrol
B-Mycrene
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) comes from the Lamiaceae family. Its leaves, flowers and buds are steam distilled for the extract that is clear with a yellowish tinge in color. Its perfumery is a top note that is strong in aroma. Peppermint's primary chemical constituents are the following:
Menthol
Menthone
Menthyl Acetate
Neomenthol
1,8-Cineole
Menthofuran
Myrtle (Myrtus communis) comes from the Myrtaceae family. Its leaves are steam distilled for the extract that is either pale yellow in color or orange-red hue in color, depending on the type of Myrtle. Its pefumery is a top-middle note that is medium in aroma. Myrtle's primary chemical components are the following:
a-Pinene
1,8-Cineole
Myrtenyl Acetate
(+)-Limonene
Linalool
#Vitamin E
Vitamin E is added to prevent oxidation.
#Sweet Almond
Sweet Almond (Prunus dulcis) oil is the carrier.
(1) Forum of International Respiratory Societies. The Global Impact of Respiratory Disease – Second Edition. Sheffield, European Respiratory Society, 2017.
(2) ibid.
(3) Horvath, G. and Acs, K. (2015) "Essential Oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action:a review". Flavour Fragr. J. 30: 331-341.
(4) ibid.
(5) Acs, K. Balazs, V. L., Kocsis, B. Bencsik, T. Boszormenyi, A. and Horvath, G. (2018) "Antibacterial activity evaluated of selected essential oils in liquid and vapor phase on respiratory tract pathogens". Complementary and Alternative Medicine 18:227
(6) ibid.
(7) Asif, M. Saleem, M. Saadullah, M., Yaseen, H. S. and Al Zarzour, R. (Published online August 2020) "COVID-19 and therapy with essential oils having antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties". Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Inflammopharmacology.
(8) da Silva, J.K., Figueiredo, L.B., Byler, K.G. and Setzer, W. N. (2020) Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 3426.
(9) Asif et al., ibid.
(10) da Silva et al., ibid.