Complementary Alternative Cardiovascular Medicine

Chapter 15 / Aromatherapy and CVD 247
metic products contain 2–5% tea tree. Carson also found that although
tea tree inhibited MRSA, it did not inhibit coagulase negative staphylococci
and, therefore, preserved the skin flora.
The effective antimicrobial activity of an essential oil in vitro does not
necessarily predict a similar action in human subjects. However, Caelli
et al. (25) conducted a study with human subjects using 4% tea tree nasal
ointment and 5% tea tree body wash against a control of 2% mupirocin
nasal ointment and triclosan body wash on MRSA. The tea tree combination
was better than the conventional one. Because of the small number
of patients (n = 30), no statistical significance could be drawn.
A recently published case report in BioMed Central Surgery suggests
a role for essential oils in MRSA osteomyelitis. Sherry et al. (26) reported
on a chronic case of MRSA osteomyelitis. A 49-yr-old man had sustained
an open fracture to his left tibia. He underwent debridement and insertion
of an intramedullary nail and later a free-flap to the lower tibia,
repositioning of the nail, and a femoral-popliteal bypass graft. Eight mo
later, he underwent debridement of the flap, and 15 mo later he underwent
a debridement of an infective focus of the left tibia. He subsequently
developed chronic osteomyelitis (MRSA). Long-term antibiotic
therapy with flucloxacillin and dicloxacillin had been unsuccessful.
Before a planned amputation a percutaneous incision was drilled in
the lower tibia and washed and packed with calcium sulfate pellets
impregnated with lemongrass, eucalyptus, tea tree, clove, and thyme
in an ethanol base. A catheter was left to allow delivery of further delivery
of essential oils. Three months later, the wound had healed, the
culture was clear, and a plain X-ray showed resolution of the infective
process with incorporation of the bone graft.
Chao et al. (27) demonstrated that airborne colonies of S. aureus and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa were reduced by 44% and 96%, respectively,
when a diffusion of essential oils (cinnamon, clove, rosemary, eucalyptus,
and lemon) was diffused for 2 min before and during culture in a
microbiology laboratory. After only 12 min of exposure, the bacteria
was reduced 10-fold.
Borderline Hypertension
Many of the main classes of antihypertensive drugs are associated
with adverse events, such as dizziness, headache, or rash. If essential oils
were effective, a lower dose of conventional medication could be used.
Freund (28) conducted a small pilot study on 13 patients with borderline
hypertension (21–71 yr, five men and eight women). Baseline blood
pressure was obtained, and patients rated their stress level based on a
visual analog scale. Subjects were asked in inhale five drops of ylang