Inhaling potent essential oils can open the body’s airways
ESSENTIAL OILS – the kind commonly used in spa treatments and aromatherapy – are gaining a following among athletes who claim they enhance lung function and aid performance.
But is there any evidence that the scented oils really do have an effect on opening and clearing the airways?
For a study published in the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, researchers recruited 20 male athletes and randomly assigned them to one of two groups: those inhaling sweet orange (citrus sinensis) flower oil or those inhaling spearmint (mentha spicat) leaf oil.
Each group was asked to inhale the oil in a concentration of 0.02ml/kg of body mass for five minutes before a 1500m time trial. Lung function tests were measured before and after the test.