Interest of Aromatherapy in the Control of Antibioresistances

(La Semaine vétérinaire n°1374, 2 octobre 2009, journée de formation de l’Afvac, 12/09/09)

The aromatherapy is based on the use of essential oils extracted from aromatic plants for the prevention or the treatment of physical or psychosomatic diseases.

Contrary to plant extracts used in phytotherapy, which contain the whole chemical components of the plant, essential oils only represent a fraction of it (only around ten active principles).The active principles contained in essential oils vary depending on the vegetative cycle, the season, environment or the way of growing of the plant.

Essential oils are volatile, sensitive to light and oxidation. They are usually liquid and lipophilic, non water soluble. Several administration ways are possible, depending on the aggressiveness of the components, on the target organ or on the sensibility of the animals
treated: oral way, capsule, aerosol, transcutaneous or rectal way.

Essential oils have antiseptic, spasmolytical, sedative and healing properties. They are
bactericide, but non antibiotic. In addition, as they do not have an effect on the genetic material, they do not involve resistances. Synergetic actions exist between aromatherapy and antibiotherapy. 

Aromatherapy is recommended for respiratory infections with Pseudomonias aeruginosa which show natural resistances to many antibiotics.