Precious and concentrated phytoderivatives, essential oils boast recognised antibacterial and antiviral effects. Here is how to use them to support the respiratory tract, calm the nerves and strengthen the body's natural defences.
With their penetrating fragrance, essential oils (mixes of up to 450,000 natural molecules with biological effects) are a pleasure for the senses but also powerful allies for health. Their antiseptic properties are recognised by centuries of tradition, and confirmed by scientific studies. For example, according to recent research published in Microbiology Open, essential oils have shown activity against several pathogens (bacteria, fungi and viruses) to such a degree that, in the near future, they could represent an interesting alternative in combating the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance.
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But which ones are best suited to strengthening the body's defences and improving breathing? We discussed this with Lina Suglia, phytopreparation specialist, herbalist and scientific consultant at Fitomedical, a leading company in the production of food supplements and phytopreparations that, with over one hundred product references, offers a very broad range of essential oils, all one hundred percent pure and of the highest quality.
Based on your experience as a scholar and researcher, which oils do you recommend for facing the challenges of this time of year?
All essential oils act on the limbic system, modulating emotions and also influencing the neuroendocrine and immune systems, on which the efficiency of our defences depends. The most interesting for their antiviral properties are, in my view, those of copaiba and palmarosa. Let us start with copaiba. It is the distillate of an oleoresin extracted from the trunk of South American leguminous trees of the genus Copaifera officinalis. With its balsamic aroma, copaiba is an excellent tonic, indicated for states of fatigue and hypotonia. It improves non-specific defences and, thanks to its antiseptic properties, helps to combat respiratory infections. The ideal way to use it is by diffusing it into rooms. I should point out that in diffusers — even the simplest candle-powered ones — heat encourages the diffusion of aromatic molecules, amplifying their effect. Eight to 15 drops are sufficient, depending on the size of the room. But copaiba is also an effective antiviral through contact. One good idea, for example, is to prepare a sanitising hand gel by mixing 1–3 drops of copaiba into a teaspoon of aloe gel.
And palmarosa?
This essential oil, obtained from Cymbopogon martinii, a herbaceous plant native to India and Indochina, has a sweet, rosy aroma — hence the name. It is a broad-spectrum antibacterial and a potent antiviral, useful in cases of pharyngitis, rhinitis and bronchitis, but it is also an excellent calming agent for the nervous system. Through its psycho-emotional effects it improves resistance to stress. Our palmarosa essential oil can be used both by diffusion and internally, given that it is recognised as a food supplement by the Ministry of Health (3–5 drops two or three times a day in a teaspoon of olive oil), and it is very well tolerated.
And what can you tell us about ravintsara oil?
It is also well known for its antiseptic properties and is often confused with ravensara oil. Ravintsara oil is obtained from the leaves of Cinnamomum camphora, and is a potent immunostimulant and antiseptic. To be used primarily by diffusion in cases of viral infections, it is also effective against herpes simplex. Another interesting essential oil is that of ravensara (Cryptocarya agathophylla). Anti-inflammatory, it is useful for disorders of the upper respiratory tract and can also be used internally, from one to three drops two or three times a day in a teaspoon of olive oil.
To keep in your handbag and inhale directly from the bottle, or by pouring a few drops onto a handkerchief, or to diffuse in the rooms of people who are unwell to keep viruses at bay. The Miscela freschezza by Fitomedical is composed of five balsamic oils (cajeput, eucalyptus, juniper, mountain pine, ravensara and rosemary): it purifies rooms of pollutants, microorganisms and fine particles, and improves breathing. It can also be used in the bath, with 5–10 drops dissolved in a tablespoon of dispersing bath foam.