Abstract
Background: Essential oils have gained massive attention. We aimed to assess the effects of inhalation ofClinopodium serpyllifolium and Cymbopogon citratus volatile oils on exercise performance and lung function.Methods: Twenty physical education students were randomly assigned into two groups: Clinopodiumserpyllifolium and Cymbopogon citratus (10 participants each). One group was nebulized with Clinopodiumserpyllifolium oil and the other by Cymbopogon citratus oil at a concentration of (0.02 ml/kg of body mass)which was mixed with 2 ml of normal saline before 800 m running tests. Lung function tests were measured usinga spirometer pre and post nebulization.Results: There was a significant increase in Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second and Forced Vital Capacityafter inhalation of both oils. The normal spirometry after inhalation of C. serpyllifolium oil increased by 30%.A sharp decrease in mild spirometry (50% before to 10% after inhalation of the C.citratus oil) was observed.Significant reductions in the means of the running time were observed.Conclusion: Our findings support the effectiveness of C. serpyllifolium and C. citratus essential oils on exerciseperformance and respiratory function parameters.
Publisher
Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
First Page
271
Last Page
279
Recommended Citation
Zabadi, Hamzeh Al; Hussein, Azmi; Shaker, Jamal; Rahhal, Belal; Jaradat, Nidal Amin; and Qub, Malik Al
(2019)
"Lung function and exercise performance assessment after inhalation of naturally essential oils: A descriptive observational study,"
Chulalongkorn Medical Journal: Vol. 63:
Iss.
4, Article 9.
Available at:
https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/clmjournal/vol63/iss4/9