Evidence supporting the use of: Essential oil blend
For the health condition: Colds (antiviral)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Essential oil blends have a long history of traditional use for supporting or treating colds, particularly those blends containing oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, and thyme. These oils have been used in folk medicine for their perceived antiviral and antimicrobial properties, most commonly through inhalation or topical application (often diluted). The rationale is based on the volatile compounds in these oils, such as menthol in peppermint and 1,8-cineole in eucalyptus, which are believed to help ease respiratory symptoms by acting as mild decongestants and possibly offering some antimicrobial activity.

However, while some in vitro studies show that certain essential oils have antiviral properties against cold viruses, robust clinical evidence in humans is lacking. There are few high-quality randomized controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of essential oil blends in treating or preventing common colds. Most human studies focus on symptomatic relief (e.g., subjective improvement in congestion) rather than true antiviral effects. Thus, their use for colds is primarily justified by traditional usage patterns and anecdotal reports rather than strong scientific validation.

In summary, while there is a plausible basis and a tradition of use for essential oil blends in addressing colds, the evidence supporting their antiviral efficacy in humans is limited and not conclusive.

More about essential oil blend
More about Colds (antiviral)

Other ingredients used for Colds (antiviral)

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Allium tuberosum
Allspice
Allyl isothiocyanate
Allyl sulfide
Aloe vera
alpha-terpineol
alpinia galangal
amentoflavone
anamu
Andrographis
andrographolide
anthocyanins
apigenin
arabinogalactan
Asam gelugor
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Asteraceae
atractylone
Aureobasidium pullulans
Autumn elaeagnus
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
balsam
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Basidiomycota
basil
Bassia scoparia
bee hive
bee products
bee propolis
berry
beta-pinene
Bidens pilosa
bilberry
bishop\'s weed
bitter grass
black cumin
black currant
black galingale
black garlic
black nightshade
black seed
blueberry
Bombax
borneol
Broussonetia
buckthorn
caffeic Acid
Camellia sinensis
capillary artemisia
carrageenan
carvacrol
cat's claw
catechins
Celosia
Chinese mountain ant
Chinese raisintree
Chondrus
chrysanthemum
cinnamaldehyde
cinnamon
Cistus
citron
Citrus
citrus bioflavonoids
Clerodendrum trichotomum
clove
coconut
commiphora
common madia
coriolus mushroom
costus
cowherb
curry leaf
David\'s milkberry
deoxyandrographolides
Echinacea
echinacea purpurea
Elder
elderberry
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG)
essential oil blend
European Elder
flavones
flavonoids
flavonones
forsythia
fruit
fulvic acid
fungus
Galangal
Gallesia
gallotannin
gamma-terpinene
ganoderma
garlic
garlic bulb
ginger
glyceryl monolaurate
Glycyrrhetinic acid
Glycyrrhizin
goji berry
goldthread
green tea
Hedyotis
Himalaya berry
honey
honey loquat syrup
honeysuckle
Houttuynia
hyssop
Indian frankincense
Indian kinotree
indigo leaves
Isatis
knotweed
labrador tea
Lactoferrin
Lactoperoxidase
Laggera pterodonta
lauric acid
lemon
lemongrass
lichen
licorice root
Ligusticum
ligustilides
Ligustrum
Litsea
liverwort
Lomatium
luffa
luteolin
mangostin
Mastic gum
Melia
Mineral ascorbate
Monolaurin
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Morus
Mugwort
Mushroom
Naphthoquinones
Neem tree
Neoandrographolides
nut grass
Nymphaea nouchali
oregano
oriental arborvitae
Osha
Osmanthus
Oxystelma
papaya
Paris polyphylla
Patrinia
pau d'arco
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Petiveria
Phaeophyceae
Phellodendron
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phenolic compounds
Phenylpropanoids
Phyllanthus
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Piper nigrum
Polygonum
pomegranate
Propolis
quercetin
ravinsara
resveratrol
rhizome
rosemary
Salvia
Sambucus nigra
Sandalwood
saponins
schizonepeta
Sesquiterpenes
shiitake mushroom
Shikimic Acid
Shogaol
Smartweed
Solanaceae
Solanum indicum
Sophora
soursop
spirulina
Tagetes
Tamaricaceae
Tayuya
Tea
Terpenoids
Theaflavin
Thiosulfinate
thyme
Thymus
Trametes
Triterpenes
turmeric
Verbascoside
Viola
Violet
Visnea Mocanera
vitamin C
vitamin D
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Waterhyssop
White Tea
xanthium (cockleburs)
Xanthorrhizol
zanthoxylum
Zinc
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Products containing essential oil blend

We currently have no products on Vitabase that contain this ingredient.