Eucalyptus Oil
manfred
Eucalyptus Oil: a potentially useful agent for cancer patients.
Jacob Schor, ND, FABNO
November 17, 2009
Eucalyptus Oil: a possible aid for cancer patients
Eucalyptus oil may be a useful adjunct to consider for patients
undergoing cancer chemotherapy. This essential oil may activate
innate cell mediated immune responses and counter the immuno-
suppressive effects of therapy. At the same time it may reduce
production of inflammatory cytokines that stimulate cancer cell
growth. It’s classic action as an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent
may also be of benefit.
Eucalyptus oil of course comes from eucalyptus trees that are part of
the genus of flowering trees of the myrtle family. These Myrtaceae
are the dominant trees of Australia. There are more than 700 species
of Eucalyptus, almost all natives of Australia. Eucalyptus trees were
brought to California in 1850 and planted in the hope they would
provide timber especially for producing railroad ties. The wood from
these American grown trees eventually proved to be unsuitable for use
as lumber. Eucalyptus trees ended up being used for windbreaks in the
central valley. Their high water demand proved useful for draining
swamps.
Last Spring Davis Lamson, ND passed along some fascinating information
on eucalyptus oil for me to distribute to members of the Oncology
Association of Naturopathic Physicians (OncANP). The two of us
produce a monthly literature review for OncANP members in a gallant
but seemingly futile attempt at keeping our membership kept abreast of
new developments in the field of naturopathic oncology.
A paper published in April 2008 tells us that the essential oil of
eucalyptus can stimulate innate cell-mediated immune responses.
Eucalyptus oil (EO) can activate the monocyte/macrophage system, one
of the primary cellular immune responders against pathogenic attack.
The ability of macrophages to attack their targets was tested both in
laboratory experiments and in animals. In some of the tests the immune
system was artificially suppressed using the chemotherapy drug 5-
fluorouracil (F-FU).
EO turned on the macrophages and stimulated their attack response both
in the ‘test tube’ and in animal experiments. Adding EO to the chemo
treated animals reduced the toxic effects of 5-FU and increased the
germ hunting action of the monocytes.
The authors suggest, “…this might drive development of a possible new
family of immuno-regulatory agents, useful as adjuvant in immuno-
suppressive pathologies, in infectious disease and after tumour
chemotherapy.” Or in the more exuberant words of Dr. Lamson, “This
could be a potential boon for those of us guiding patients through the
Hawaiian Fire Walking Ceremony of chemotherapy, without having their
feet burned!.... EO is an agent that actually enhances immune function
after chemotherapy, as tested against 5-FU.”
Lamson pointed out a second paper that tells us that EO reduces
cytokine production. In this 2004 study the authors tested the anti-
inflammatory effect of eucalyptus oil measuring its ability to limit
cytokine production by chemically stimulated lymphocytes and
monocytes. The immune cells were incubated with their ‘triggers’
along with small amounts of eucalyptus oil. The presence of the EO
sharply decreased cytokine production. Doses of only 1.5 mcg per
milliliter reduced TNF-alpha secretion in lymphocytes and monocytes by
92% and 99% respectively. Thus it appears eucalyptus oil while
increasing defensive capabilities of immune cells at the same time
reduces their inflammatory cancer potentiating action.
Lamson commented on this, “This major component of eucalyptus oil
shows a definite reduction of inflammatory cytokines so undesirable in
most malignant situations. This brings to mind pancreatic cancer cells
that constitutively synthesize IL-1, which then acts in an autocrine
manner to stimulate cell proliferation. …. Further in lung cancer the
inhalation route has the possibility of getting the agent directly to
the cells involved, as well as into the circulation via the lung
capillaries.”
Another paper from 2004 tells us that Alpha-pinene, a constituent of
most eucalyptus oils, contributes to the anti-inflammatory activity of
eucalyptus oil by decreasing the effectiveness of NFkB.
Lamson suggests we consider two different methods to administer
eucalyptus oil to cancer patients. The first is simple, we simply
give it orally in capsule form. A product is available on the market
that contains 200 mg of eucalyptus oil per capsule that is 95% 1,8-
cineol, considered a chief active principle. Lamson, apparently
through personal experience, reports that these capsules may cause
constipation, likely a result of the bactericidal action of eucalyptus
on bowel bacteria. A second method that Dr. Lamson suggests to his
patients to dose eucalyptus oil is by inhalation. Lamson has his
patients add some eucalyptus oil to a mug of water and keep it warm on
a ‘cup warmer and inhale the vapors.
Being of a far humbler mindset than Dr. Lamson, my approach is to tell
patients to simply dab a few drops of eucalyptus oil just below their
noses and a few more drops midsternum on their chest just before
getting in a hot shower or bath. Some of the oil will be absorbed
transdermally and some via inhalation.
Eucalyptus oil is far better known for its antibacterial and
antifungal actions. In fact, Dr. Lamson explained to me that one of
the grad students working for him stumbled upon these cancer related
studies while preparing a presentation on some research they had done
on using eucalyptus oil to treat respiratory infections.
References:
Serafino A, Sinibaldi Vallebona P, Andreola F, et al. Stimulatory
effect of Eucalyptus essential oil on innate cell-mediated immune
response. BMC Immunol. 2008 Apr 18;9:17.
Juergens UR, Engelen T, Racké K, Stöber M, Gillissen A, Vetter H.
Inhibitory activity of 1,8-cineol (eucalyptol) on cytokine production
in cultured human lymphocytes and monocytes. Pulm Pharmacol Ther.
2004;17(5):281-7.
Zhou JY, Tang FD, Mao GG, Bian RL. Effect of alpha-pinene on nuclear
translocation of NF-kappa B in THP-1 cells. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2004
Apr;25(4):480-4.
Ashour HM.Antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer activities of
volatile oils and extracts from stems, leaves, and flowers of
Eucalyptus sideroxylon and Eucalyptus torquata. Cancer Biol Ther. 2008
Mar;7(3):399-403.
JRStern
<manf...@lycos.com> wrote:
>TNF and NFkB are players in P as well as cancer.
>
>
>Eucalyptus Oil: a potentially useful agent for cancer patients.
I dunno what to make of this.
Pretty much everyone who has tried tea tree oil for psoriasis has
reported it both very irritating and ineffective.
I cannot tell from this report if it increases or decreases immune
response - if it decreases cytokines, that's a decrease, yet they
claim it increases immune actions, and seem to recommend it as a
counter to immunosuppressive therapies - but what if it undoes that
very same therapy?
J.