Essential Oil Monoterpenes Contributions by ColleenO

Essential oil monoterpenes are thought to help by thinning mucus.

In studies, this essential oil combination was taken at a dose of 300 mg three to four times daily.

68. Sengespeik HC, Zimmermann T, Peiske C, et al. Myrtol standardized in the treatment of acute and chronic respiratory infections on children: a multicenter post-marketing surveillance study [in German; English abstract]. Arzneimittelforschung. 1998;48:990-994.
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150. Kehrl W, Sonnemann U, Dethlefsen U. Therapy for acute nonpurulent rhinosinusitis with cineole: results of a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Laryngoscope. 2004;114:738-742.

Numerous double-blind trials have found essential oil monoterpenes to be effective when taken orally for acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis, sinus infections, and other respiratory conditions, in both adults and children.^68-72,101 Cineole alone at a dose of 200 mg three times daily showed benefit in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study of 152 people with cold symptoms.¹⁵⁰ And a second study involving 150 subjects also demonstrated favorable results of cineole compared to a combination of five other herbal products.¹⁶⁸

A standardized combination of eucalyptus oil plus two other essential oils has been studied for effectiveness in a variety of respiratory conditions, including cold and flu. This combination therapy contains cineole from eucalyptus, d-limonene from citrus fruit, and alpha-pinene from pine. Because these oils are all in a chemical family called monoterpenes, the treatment is called “essential oil monoterpenes.”

Essential oil monoterpenes are thought to help by thinning mucus.