The role of aromatherapy in the treatment of viral hepatitis

Hepatitis B and C constitute an important problem for public health. Currently in France, the prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) is estimated at 1.1% (approximately 500,000 people 80% of which are viraemic). Its worldwide prevalence is 3%. The prevalence of hepatitis B (HBV) is between 0.2% and 0.5% (at least 100,000 people). 85–90% of persons with HCV go onto develop chronic hepatitis whereas for HBV, this is only 5–10% in immunocompetent carriers.

For HCV, the current treatment is bitherapy with interferon pegyl alpha-2a or alpha-2b (IFN-α) and ribavirin. This leads to eradication of the virus in almost 85% of patients infected with genotype 2 or 3 and only 50% in those with genotype 1. Negative side effects of treatment are common.

For HBV, allopathic treatments rely on IFN-α and nucleoside analogues such as lamivudine and adefovir. The objectives of treatment are to render the virus non-infective rather than lead to virus eradication.

This study was conducted on 60 patients that were chronic carriers of hepatitis B or C (50 HCV and 10 HBV). 42 women and 8 men were recruited between the ages of 12 and 75 years. Essential oils such as ravintsara, Labrador tea, carrot seed, thyme ct thujanol, laurel, niaouli and helichrysum were used orally either in monotherapy or as a complement to allopathic treatment. In patients with HCV treated with bitherapy and essential oils, tolerance and response to treatment was improved (80% good tolerance and 100% complete response especially for genotype 1). For patients with HCV treated with monotherapy (essential oils), an improvement in hepatitis was noted in 64% of cases. For HBV, two cures were obtained with essential oils in monotherapy.

Treatment with essential oils may thus offer treatment opportunities either in monotherapy or as complements to allopathic interventions.