The effects of aromatherapy with thyme oil on disease symptoms, vital findings, and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients.

2024-07
Explore (New York, N.Y.) 20(4)
- Uğur Öner
- Zeliha Cengiz

PubMed: 38129231
DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.12.004

Study Design

Type: Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT)
Sample size: n = 19
Population: 140 (experimental group=70, control group=70) COVID-19 patients
Methods: randomized controlled trial; thyme oil inhalation 3 times a day during 5 days; control group received routine treatment
Blinding: Open-label
Duration: 5 days
Funding: Unclear

Objective

To determine the effect of aromatherapy with thyme oil on disease symptoms, vital signs, and hemodynamic parameters in COVID-19 patients.

Methods

We conducted the randomized controlled trial with 140 (experimental group=70, control group=70) COVID-19 patients. Patients admitted to the COVID-19 service of the Batman Training and Research Hospital were included in the sample between 31.01 - 31.08 2022. Patients in the experimental group inhaled thyme oil 3 times a day during 5 days. At the end of day 5, symptoms and hemodynamic parameters were measured as posttest. Vital signs were measured 3 times a day during 5 days. The control group only received routine treatment.

Results

Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of shortness of breath, dizziness, secretion, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, cough, headache and muscle joint pain. Although there was improvement in the symptoms of nausea-vomiting, runny nose and loss of taste-smell, the effect was not statistically significant. Thyme oil significantly decreased body temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate (p<0.05), increased SPO 2 (p<0.05), and did not affect systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p>0.05). It had a significant effect on the regulation of pH, decreased CO₂ and increased O₂ significantly (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Thyme oil aromatherapy was effective in reducing symptoms, regulating vital signs and hemodynamic parameters. Accordingly, thyme oil is recommended as non-pharmacological treatment method in COVID-19 patients.

Research Insights

Thyme→Increased Hemoglobin Levels
It ... increased O2 significantly (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Increased Oxygen Saturation
Thyme oil significantly ... increased SPO2 (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Appetite Loss
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... loss of appetite
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Body Temperature
Thyme oil significantly decreased body temperature ... (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Carbon Dioxide Level
It ... decreased CO2 ... significantly (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Cough
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... cough
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Diarrhea
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... diarrhea
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Diastolic Blood Pressure
Thyme oil ... did not affect ... diastolic blood pressure (p>0.05)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Dizziness
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... dizziness
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Faecal pH
It had a significant effect on the regulation of pH ... (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Headache
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... headache
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Loss of Taste-Smell
Although there was improvement in the symptoms of ... loss of taste-smell ... the effect was not statistically significant
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Muscle Joint Pain
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... muscle joint pain
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Pulse Rate
Thyme oil significantly decreased ... pulse rate ... (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Respiratory Rate
Thyme oil significantly decreased ... respiratory rate (p<0.05)
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Runny Nose
Although there was improvement in the symptoms of ... runny nose ... the effect was not statistically significant
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Secretion
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... secretion
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Shortness of Breath
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of shortness of breath
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Systolic Blood Pressure
Thyme oil ... did not affect systolic ... blood pressure (p>0.05)
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Vomiting Frequency
Although there was improvement in the symptoms of nausea-vomiting ... the effect was not statistically significant
Effect
Neutral
Effect size
Small
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day
Thyme→Reduced Weakness
Thyme oil was found to be effective in relieving symptoms of ... weakness
Effect
Beneficial
Effect size
Moderate
Dose
inhalation 3 times a day

Adverse Events Reported

Thyme→Overall tolerability
Thyme oil aromatherapy was effective in reducing symptoms, regulating vital signs and hemodynamic parameters. Accordingly, thyme oil is recommended as non-pharmacological treatment method in COVID-19 patients.
Finding
Reported