Thanksgiving Hope: Eucalyptus Essential Oil

A potential natural therapeutic for COVID, Post-COVID Condition and COVID Vaccine Side Effects

Structures of eucalyptol and jensenone, the active components of eucalyptus oil. 

Happy Thanksgiving to all in the United States and a Happy Thursday to all other readers! 

I thought I would show my thanks for your readership and support by posting this week’s Friday Hope as Thanksgiving Hope. In my continuing search for natural therapeutics, I spent time this week reviewing Eucalyptus Essential Oil. I found that it has great promise for treating COVID, Post-COVID Condition and COVID Vaccine Side Effects. 

Let’s start by looking at the properties and history of this essential oil. 

Eucalyptus globulus, commonly known as blue gum tree, is a species of tall, evergreen tree. It has a wide distribution in China, and trees in Yunnan Province in particular has a high content of 1,8-cineole (more than 70%) in leaves, commercially used for the production of essential oils in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries (Dhakad et al., 2018), which has rich ethanomedicinal and therapeutic importance (Kesharwani et al., 2018). It is an aromatic medicinal plant with main pharmacological constituent 1,8-cineole (Yadav and Chandra, 2017) also known as eucalyptol (de Cássia da Silveira e Sá et al., 2013). Independent studies have reported anti-inflammatory properties of eucalyptus oil (EO) and its principle component eucalyptol (1,8- cineole) (Santos and Rao, 2000; Silva et al., 2003; Sadlon and Lamson, 2010; Yadav and Chandra, 2017), which, depending on the source species of eucalyptus, accounts for up to 75% of eucalyptus oil’s content (Aziz et al., 2019). Essential oils of various eucalyptus species are utilized in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries (Marzoug et al., 2011). Studies show that EO containing eucalyptol has a strong broad-spectrum antibacterial effect against many microorganisms in clinical settings (Hendry et al., 2009). EO also possesses potent antiseptic, astringent, diaphoretic, deodorant, inhalant, expectorant, insect repellent, and suppurative properties. 

Effects of Different Doses of Eucalyptus Oil From Eucalyptus globulus Labill on Respiratory Tract Immunity and Immune Function in Healthy Rats 
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2020.01287/full 

Based upon this cursory summation of the therapeutic benefits of Eucalyptus Essential Oil, one can see how this compound could demonstrate great benefit in treating COVID and Spike Protein related pathologies. A paper from Mansoura University in Egypt and the University of Tabuk in Saudi Arabia showed that Eucalyptus Essential Oil (EEO) has significant benefits in treating COVID. 

Eucalyptus oil demonstrated antiviral activities against different viruses including herpes simplex viruses HSV1 and HSV2, enveloped mumps viruses (MV), influenza A (H1N1) virus, rotavirus Wa, coxsackie B, poliovirus, and echovirus 6. Additionally, eucalyptus oil exhibited disinfection properties and inhibited the proliferation of viruses on different filters and utensils. In an ex vivo model of rhinosinusitis and in human stem cells, eucalyptol exhibited an antiviral response stimulation both by decreasing the activity of the proinflammatory NF-κB and by enhancing the activity of antiviral transcription factor IRF3, and in mice, it has shown a protective effect against influenza-virus-induced pneumonia. 

Based on the antiviral activity of eucalyptol and eucalyptus oil toward respiratory viruses, many researchers have used molecular docking techniques and in vitro assays to investigate the antiviral bioactivity of eucalyptus oil and its major components “eucalyptol and jensenone” against SARS-CoV-2. The reported docking studies of both eucalyptol and jensenone have shown the antiviral potential to inhibit the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2. 

Essential Oils and COVID-19 
https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/27/22/7893 

In addition to inhibition of the Mpro of SARS-CoV-2, EEO also appears to mediate levels of cytokine IL-6 during COVID disease. 

Methods: 52 mild-moderate COVID-19 patients were randomly assigned for a prospective clinical trial. A group of 26 patients was given standard COVID-19 treatment as a control group, while another 26 patients as the treated group were given standard therapy and use Eucalyptus oil as an adjuvant. The clinical sign and symptoms, cytokines interleukin (IL) 6, IL-10, and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) profiles were recorded during the study period. 

Result: There was a trend of better improvement of clinical symptoms among patients who received adjuvant treatment than the control group. Altered smell (p = 0.003) and cough (p = 0.641) recovered faster in the treated group. While there was no marked difference in IL-10 and TGF-β levels among both groups, IL-6 level in the treated group was significantly lower and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly decreased (p < .05) than the control. 

Conclusion: Using Eucalyptus oil as an adjuvant of COVID-19 treatment promotes faster recovery of mild-moderate COVID-19 patients, probably via inhibition of the IL-6-mediated inflammation process. 

Eucalyptus oil as adjuvant therapy for coronavirus disease 19 (covid-19): a randomized clinical trial 
https://www.balimedicaljournal.org/index.php/bmj/article/view/4388 

In addition to the potential to treat COVID, EEO also appears to be beneficial in treating Post-COVID Condition, or Long COVID. The Journal of Immunology and Clinical Microbiology published the following study in December of 2022. 

Methods: The study included patients diagnosed with post-COVID syndrome at the chest diseases outpatient clinic of Adana City Training and Research Hospital. Before and after eucalyptus oil application, as components of post-COVID syndrome, dyspnea was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) scale, back pain using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI).  

Results: A total of 15 individuals, of whom 11 were female (73.3%) and 4 were male (26.7%), were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 45.7±10.7 years, and the mean body mass index was 24.7±3.4. The mean post-treatment values of mMRC, VAS, and BAI statistically significantly decreased compared to the pre-treatment evaluation.  

Conclusion: Eucalyptus aromatherapy oil inhalation was found to be effective in recovery from post-COVID syndrome symptoms, such as dyspnea, back pain, and anxiety, which affect many people across the world and can cause labor and financial losses. Therefore, we recommend considering the use of this aromatherapy oil in the complementary treatment and follow-up of these patients. 

Effects of Eucalyptus Essential Oil in Post-COVID Syndrome: A Pilot Study 
https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/2848323 

The other intriguing discovery I made is that EEO is also helpful in alleviating some discomfort side effects for those who had to or chose to receive COVID vaccination.  

The results revealed a statistically significant difference between the groups in swelling, injection side pain, lump, fever, and muscle ache (p = .05, 0.04, <0.00, 0.02, 0.02, respectively) for T1; but for T2, a significant difference between the two groups was found only in lump and fever (p = .05, 0.03). Aroma-Tea Tree oil and Eucalyptus oil may be recognized and accepted by more people worldwide to provide a safe and healthy option not only for post-vaccination care but also to relieve pain, fever, and skin lumps associated with other diseases or conditions. 

Effectiveness of aroma-Tea Tree Oil and Eucalyptus oil in alleviating COVID-19 vaccine discomfort side effects 
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830723000708#fig0001 

A word of caution, however. If used, EEO must be done carefully. I would recommend consulting your Primary Care Provider before trying it. It can be toxic. 

Eucalyptus oil is a popular household product, commonly presented as an essential oil, medicinal product, cleaning product, inhalational/vaporiser fluid or topical preparation 

Pharmacokinetics 
Onset: Within 30 mins to 4 hours post ingestion 
Duration of symptoms: usually resolve within 24 hours 

Dose related toxicity 
Small ingestions of pure oil can lead to severe symptoms.  A dose of 2-3 mL can induce mild CNS depression with drowsiness and/or dizziness and ataxia. A dose of ≥5 mL can induce significant CNS depression with coma 

Eucalyptus Oil Poisoning 
https://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Eucalyptus_Oil_Poisoning/ 

The above being stated, it appears that, if used correctly, EEO has potentially very significant benefits in treating COVID, Long COVID, Spike Protein related pathologies and COVID Vaccine Side Effects. This is a work of medical research and not medical advice. Consult your Primary Care Provider before using any supplement or medicine. 

Again, I cannot emphasize enough how thankful I am, especially on this day, for those who read and support my research. Blessings to all and have a peaceful, joyous and harmonious holiday weekend.