As we head into the winter months, the nation can expect a sickening ‘twindemic’ of respiratory illnesses caused by predicted spikes in Covid-19 infections alongside a significant surge in seasonal flu. Fortunately, we can turn to plants, known for their ability to help boost our immune defences and infection and symptom control.
Nurture with Nature is a new report just published by Puressentiel, the brains behind an evidence-backed range of plant-based health products. The report provides us with some insights into what, why and how plants can give us the best chance for a healthy winter ahead, and in conjunction with Dr Nisa Aslam, we look at how beneficial they can be to us.
Dr Nisa Aslam, A GP and a member of the Puressentiel Expert hub, told us, “Many of the essential oils found in plants which have a history of medicinal use have well-proven winter respiratory busting properties which are incredibly useful against many winter health miseries.[1]
In fact, an evidence review by my colleagues – Dr Chris Etheridge and Dr Pamela Mason – supports this science further as they noted too, “Depending on the essential oil and its active ingredients, essential oils, like the Puressentiel Purifying Air Spray and the Puressentiel Respiratory products have clinically backed antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activity.[2]
“Adding to this research, the latest evidence includes a systematic review of the pharmacology of eucalyptus. Researchers who analysed data from 103 studies concluded the Eucalyptus plant and its chemical constituents have enormous potential for disease prevention and treatment.”[3]
“And earlier this year, Australian scientists showed that vaporised essential oils and phytochemicals, including eucalyptol, limonene, and terpinene — which feature in Puressentiel’s respiratory and purifying ranges — significantly reduce levels of airborne coronavirus and other pathogens.[4]”
Plant extracts and essential oils with recognised benefits for respiration and symptom relief include eucalyptus, echinacea, camphor, clove, and menthol. Echinacea has long been used to treat cold symptoms, and the European Medicines Agency concluded that the most recent clinical trials confirm it “can prevent and improve the symptoms of a cold more rapidly than placebo when taken early.”[5]
Getting Immune Fit
Flu is going to be a big issue this winter. Dr Nisa Aslam explains, “We can get a very good idea of what to expect in the UK flu season from looking at what has happened in the preceding winter in Australia and other countries in the Southern Hemisphere — and that is a real worry because Australia has just had its worst flu season in more than five years.[6],[7]
“The flu season started around a month earlier than usual, and there was also a huge rise in the number of people who became seriously ill because the most commonly circulating flu virus was a particularly nasty strain on Influenza A, so that’s what we should expect here, too.
“The Influenza A (H3N2) which is heading our way was responsible for the deadly pandemic of ‘Hong Kong’ flu that killed 30,000 people in the UK in the late 1960s.[8]”
Neurobiologist and an advisor to Puressentiel, Professor Robert Pickard, said, “Another factor is that lockdowns and social distancing has reduced herd immunity generally, and there are entire generations of young children who have never been exposed to a flu virus, so will have no natural immunity at all.”
Natural health and wellbeing specialist and a member of the Puressentiel expert hub, Dr Tim Bond, added, “Common sense strategies such as good hand hygiene and ventilation, supporting your general health and immunity and seeking out soothing symptom relief will all help to ease the burden of respiratory illness this winter and plants can play a big part in this.”
Another critical factor for immune health and our ability to respond and recover from respiratory infections is sleep, and plant power is invaluable there too. A recent report in Nature pointed out, “Regular sleep is crucial for maintaining immune function integrity and favouring a homeostatic immune defence to microbial or inflammatory insults.”[9]
Professor Jason Ellis, Professor of Sleep Science, Director of the Northumbria Centre for Sleep Research, health psychologist and an advisor to Puressentiel, says, “In simple terms, this means that sleep ensures our immune system is alert to viruses, bacteria and other bugs, then mounts a rapid response when there’s a threat and stands down our defences to prevent the body being in a constant inflammatory state.”
Lavender has long been recognised as a gentle but effective sleep aid, used since the 15th century, and is now acknowledged as a sleep aid and relaxant by both the European Medicines Agency[10] and the World Health Organisation.[11]
Impact of allergies
Allergies can also cause winter heartache, with dust mite allergy being a common trigger for wheezing, congestion and other respiratory symptoms in one in four people in the UK.[12] A study published in BMC Pulmonary Medicine, which tracked symptoms of 339 people with allergy issues, found that while some people who react to house-dust mites experience year-round issues, symptoms also spike during autumn, late winter, and early spring.[13]
The power of plants can even be harnessed to help combat airborne bacteria and viruses, fungal spores, and house-dust mites. Puressentiel Purifying Air Spray, which combines 41 essential oils — including two species of lavender, eucalyptus, lemon, and geranium (pelargonium) — ticks all the boxes as it busts airborne bacteria and viruses, fungal spores, and house-dust mites. A trial in patients with a history of respiratory symptoms showed significant improvements in lung function after just four weeks of use.”[14]
Last Word
Dr Nisa Aslam says, “We know that plants produce some extraordinarily beneficial natural compounds and chemicals, and many pharmaceutical medicines are simply synthetic derivatives of phytochemicals, but there is also a lot of evidence to show that the synergy which comes from combining different essential oils will often enhance their efficacy. That’s why Puressentiel gets my recommendation for respiratory, purifying and sleep solutions.”
References
- [1] A Science Review of Selected Essential Oils and their Botanical Ingredients. Focus on Essential Oils used for Respiratory and Calming Indications. On file
- [2] A Science Review of Selected Essential Oils and their Botanical Ingredients. Focus on Essential Oils used for Respiratory and Calming Indications. On file
- [3] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667031321000713
- [4] https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjZvZeUzIL6AhULUcAKHeVvBQsQFnoECAkQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mdpi.com%2F2079-6382%2F11%2F3%2F393%2Fpdf&usg=AOvVaw11vqESB5l-NfRUaGHfKsPk
- [5] https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/medicines/herbal/echinaceae-purpureae-herba
- [6] https://www.fil.ion.ucl.ac.uk/spm/covid-19/forecasting/
- [7] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(22)00503-5/fulltext
- [8] https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(2031201-0/fulltext
- [9] https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-02825-4
- [10] https://www.ema.europa.eu/documents/herbal-report/draft-assessment-report-lavandula-angustifolia-mill-aetheroleum-lavandula-angustifolia-mill-flos_en.pdf
- [11]
- [12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560718/
- [13] https://bmcpulmmed.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12890-016-0246-9
- [14] Data on file General Practitioner’s Journal review (BAT PAO 21.12.2015_16h50_PURESSENTIEL_GB.PDF page 5)
- [15] DATA ON FILE
- [16] Data on file General Practitioner’s Journal review (BAT PAO 21.12.2015_16h50_PURESSENTIEL_GB.PDF page 5)
- [17] https://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/gomenol
- [18] https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-016-1889-3
- [19] Instrumental test conducted on subjects with dry to very dry skin: 104.6% hydration increase after 1 hour and +46.7% after 8 hours of application.
- [20] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20129403/
- [21] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3141305/
- [22] Conducted by Professor Damien Léger, director of the Sleep Centre at Hôtel-Dieu Hospital in Paris, data on file
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