Medical Studies
Links listed in alphabetical order:

Acne
Candida (Thrush & Vaginitis)
Eczema
Herpes (Cold sores & Genital herpes)
Shingles (& PHN)
Warts (Body, hand, foot & Genital warts)


Medical Study - Acne
Antimicrobial effects of melaleuca oil and its major components on Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes.

Raman A, Weir U, Bloomfield SF.
Department of Pharmacy, King's College London, UK.

Major components of two melaleuca oil samples were identified using thin layer and gas-liquid chromatography (TLC and GLC). Using a TLC-bioautographic technique, the melaleuca oils, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpineol and alpha-pinene were found to be active against Staphylococcus aureus, Staph. epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes whereas cineole was inactive against these organisms.

The MIC values of the three active compounds increased in the order alpha-terpineol < terpinen-4-ol < alpha-pinene for all three micro-organisms. MIC values of the melaleuca oils and terpinen-4-ol were lower for P. acnes than for the two staphylococci.

This study supports the use of melaleuca oil ( found in Heal Acne) in the treatment of acne, and demonstrates that terpinen-4-ol is not the sole active constituent of the oil.

PMID: 7576514 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Return to Top

Medical Study - Candida (Thrush & Vaginitis)
In-vitro activity of essential oils, in particular Melaleuca alternifolia oil and products carrying this oil, against Candida spp.

Hammer KA, Carson CF, Riley TV.
Department of Microbiology, The University of Western Australia, The Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, Nedlands.

The in-vitro activity of a range of essential oils, including Melaleuca alternifolia oil, against the yeast candida was examined.

....Melaleuca alternifolia oil, found in Heal Candida, was investigated for activity against 81 C. albicans isolates and 33 non-albicans Candida isolates. By the broth microdilution method, the minimum concentration of oil inhibiting 90% of isolates for both C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species was 0.25% (v/v), the Melaleuca alternifolia in the Heal Candida exceeds the percentages necessary for minimum inhibition of both C. albicans and non-albicans Candida. The minimum concentration of oil killing 90% of isolates was 0.25% for C. albicans and 0.5% for non-albicans Candida species, again the concentration levels of Melaleuca alternifolia found in Heal Candida exceeded the minimum concentrations.

Fifty-seven Candida isolates were tested for sensitivity to oil by the agar dilution method; the minimum concentration of oil inhibiting 90% of isolates was 0.5%.

Tests on three intra-vaginal Melaleuca alternifolia oil products showed these products to have MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations comparable to those of non-formulated Melaleuca alternifolia oil, indicating that the Melaleuca alternifolia oil contained in these products has retained its anticandidal activity and is a proper treatment for candida.

These data indicate that some essential oils (Melaleuca alternifolia in Heal Candida) are active against Candida spp., suggesting that their use in the topical treatment of.... candida infections.

PMID: 9848442 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Return to Top

Medical Study - Eczema
Evaluation of massage with essential oils on childhood atopic eczema. Phytother Res 2000 Sep;14(6):452-6

School of Applied Science, South Bank University, London, UK.

Childhood atopic eczema is an increasingly common condition in young children. As well as being irritating to the child, it causes sleepless nights for both the child and the family and leads to difficulties in parental relationships and can have severe effects on employment. A test group of children was studied to test the hypothesis that massage with essential oils used as a complementary therapy in conjunction with normal medical treatment, would help to alleviate the symptoms of childhood atopic eczema.

The children were randomly allocated to the massage with essential oils group and both counselled and massaged with a mixture of essential oils every day over a period of 8 weeks. The preferred essential oils, were those which can be found in Heal Eczema (German chamomile, benzoin..)

A control group of children received the counselling and massage without essential oils. The treatments were evaluated by means of daily day-time irritation scores and night time disturbance scores, determined by the mother before and during the treatment, both over an 8 week period; finally general improvement scores were allocated 2 weeks after the treatment.

The study employed a single case experimental design across subjects, such that there were both a within-subject control and between-subjects control, through the interventions being introduced at different times. The results showed a significant improvement in the eczema in the two groups of children following essential oil therapy.. Further studies on the essential oil massage group showed an improvement in the eczematous condition after two further 8 week periods of therapy, following a period of rest after the initial period of contact. ..

Publication Types: · Clinical trial · Randomized controlled trial

PMID: 10960901 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Return to Top

Medical Studies - Herpes (Genital Herpes & Cold Sores)
GENITAL HERPES
Antiherpes virus activity of extracts from the medicinal plant Geranium sanguineum L.

Serkedjieva J, Ivancheva S.
Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia.

The herpes virus inhibitory effect of five extracts from the Bulgarian medicinal plant Geranium sanguineum L, found in the product H-Away. (Geraniaceae) was investigated.

The water extract (WE) from the aerial roots of the plant was the least toxic for cell cultures and inhibited significantly the replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 (EC50 = 3.6-6.2 microg/ml) as shown by the reduction of virus induced cytopathogenic effect (CPE) and the protection of cells in MTT assay.

The inhibition was dose-related, strain-specific and depended on virus inoculum. In higher concentrations (MIC90 = 120 microg/ml) the preparation exhibited strong extracellular virus inactivating activity. The presence of WE throughout the whole replicative cycle was necessary for the full expression of the antiviral effect.

In a preliminary experiment in albino guinea pigs the extract (constituents found in H-Away) delayed the development of herpetic vesicles following primary infection with HSV-1, strain Kupka. Phytochemical investigation of the plant preparation revealed the presence of flavonoids, catechins, a polyphenolic acid and condensed tannins. The inhibitory effect of the extract on herpes simplex virus replication is related to the rich content of polyphenol compounds.

PMID: 10075123 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

It can therefore be concluded that quantitative proof exists in vivo that H-Away effectively and safely inhibits HSV2 (genital herpes).

Oral Herpes / HSV1 (cold sores)
Enhancement of anti-herpetic activity of antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides 5' modified with geraniol.
Shoji Y, Ishige H, Tamura N, Iwatani W, Norimatsu M.
Institute of Medical Science, St. Marianna University, School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.

We have previously shown that antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide (SON) targeted against immediate early (IE) pre-mRNA5 of the herpes simplex virus type I (HSV-I) possessed potent anti-herpetic activities in vitro system. However, anti-herpetic activities of SON were not still efficient enough.

In this study, we selected geraniol as a lipophilic compound and newly synthesized SON bearing 5' terminal geraniol (geranyl-SON) toward IE pre-mRNA 5 of the HSV-1 to enhance the anti-herpetic activity.

Geraniol is a olefinic terpene alcohol which is found in the essential oils of H-Away. It possesses lipophilic characteristic. It is thought to be absorbed in tissue.

Geraniol enhanced the anti-herpetic activity of SON with less cytotoxicity in a sequence specific manner. Terminal modification with geraniol did not affect binding affinity with complimentary DNA. Cytoplasm distribution of geranyl-SON was confirmed by confocal microscope. While some of the geranyl-SON was seen in the nucleus, unmodified SON had a punctate distribution in the cytoplasm with little in the nucleus.

These results suggested that geranyl modification in H-Away enhances anti-herpetic activity by changing the subcellular distribution of the oligonucleotides. Consequently geraniol-modifica-tion could provide new means for the efficient delivery of oligo-nucleotides and eliminate HSV1 (cold sores).

PMID: 9713976 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Conclusion: the anti-viral constituent geraniol in H-Away is able to penetrate into cell membranes to safely inactivate HSV1 (cold sores, fever blisters).
Return to Top

Medical Study - Shingles (& PHN)
Inactivation of enveloped viruses by anthraquinones extracted from plants.
Sydiskis RJ, Owen DG, Lohr JL, Rosler KH, Blomster RN.
Department of Microbiology, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.

To determine the extent of antiviral activity present in a number of plant extracts, (some of which is found in the product Heal Shingles), extracts were prepared from Rheum officinale,...Rhamnus frangula, Rhamnus purshianus, and Cassia angustifolia and their virucidal effects were tested against herpes simplex viruses.

All the plant extracts inactivated the virus. The active components in these plants were separated by thin-layer chromatography and identified as anthraquinones.

A purified sample of (these extracts) was prepared and its effects on the infectivity of herpes simplex virus...varicella-zoster virus (shingles),... were tested...and as saying the amount of infectious virus remaining in the sample.

The results showed that some of constituents tested (which are also in the Heal Shingles) inactivated the viruses .... Electron microscopic examination of anthraquinone-treated herpes simplex virus demonstrated that the envelopes were partially disrupted.

These results show that anthraquinones extracted from a variety of plants (some of which are in Heal Shingles) are directly virucidal to enveloped viruses.
PMID: 1810179 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Return to Top

Medical Study - Warts
The web site is being updated. We are sorry for any inconvenience...
Return to Top