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The Respiratory
System
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Organs of Respiration
Nose
Pharynx
Larynx - Voice box. Trachea - Windpipe.
Bronchi - a Bronchus to each lung) Bronchioles.
Lungs.
Lined with ciliated (hairs) epithelium.
Muscles of Respiration -diaphragm, intercostals.
Nose
 Air warmed by sinus cavities.
 Moistened by mucus producing Goblet
cells.
 Filtered as Cilia waft particles to the throat
to be swallowed or coughed up.
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Pharynx
 The pharynx allows both respiratory and
digestive system to pass both food and air
through it.
Larynx
 Links the pharynx & trachea.
 Filters, moistens, warms air.
 Voice production with vocal chords.
 Rises up so the laryngeal opening is
closed by the epiglottis during swallowing .
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Trachea - windpipe.
 Divides into the right and left bronchi.
 The trachea is anterior to the oesophagus.
 Lined with ciliated epithelium.
 Filtered as Cilia waft particles to the throat
to be swallowed or coughed up.
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Bronchus
 The bronchus divides into two bronchi 1
into each lung.
 Large passages that divide into smaller
passages called Bronchioles.
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Bronchioles
 Bronchioles divide into smaller passages.
 Alveoli are the air sacks were oxygen &
carbon dioxide exchange takes.
Pulmonary Blood Supply
 Gases move between the alveoli and the
blood by diffusion.
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Lungs
 Paired organs in the thoracic cavity.
 Right lung has 3 lobes, and the left lung
has 2 lobes.
Muscles of Respiration
 11 pairs of intercostal muscles between 12
pairs of ribs.
 Diaphragm.
Inhalation
 Scalene muscles elevate.
 Inferior sternum moves forward.
 External intercostal muscles elevate the
ribs.
 Diaphragm moves down as it contracts.
Exhalation
 Transverse thoracic muscles depress the
ribs.
 Lower part of the sternum move backward.
 Internal intercostal muscles depress the
ribs.
 Diaphragm moves up as it relaxes.
Pulmonary Blood Supply
 The pulmonary artery divides into two, one
branch conveying deoxygenated blood to
each lung.
 Exchange of gases takes place in the
alveoli and the blood across very fine
membranes by diffusion.
Function of the
Lungs
Three principal functions are
performed by this system
are:
1. Air
conduction
2. Air filtration
3. Gas exchange in the
alveoli (respiration)
Also:
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Air passing through the larynx is used to produce
speech
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Air passing over the olfactory mucosa in the nasal
cavities carries the stimuli for the sense of smell
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Air passing through the respiratory passage must be
conditioned before reaching the terminal respiratory
units. This consists of moistening, removing
particulate materials and warming the air
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Mucous and serous secretions:
Moisten the air
Trap particles that were not trapped by special
short thick hairs in the nasal cavities
Prevent dehydration of the underlying epithelium
by moving the air
The mucous and other secretions are moved
toward the pharynx by means of coordinated
sweeping movements of the cilia and are
normally then swallowed
INHALATION
 Aromatherapy results in odiferous
molecules being inhaled.
 the lungs have a large surface area, the
amount of essential oil which reaches the
bloodstream will be increased by deep or
rapid breathing.
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inhaled air carries odiferous molecules to the
olfactory epithelium, which covers an area of
about 5 square centimetres.
The surface available for absorption of
molecules into the circulation is about 4000
times smaller than that of the skin.
The lining of the nose is extremely thin, and
being well supplied with capillary blood, a high
percentage of the molecules which come into
contact with the nasal mucosa are absorbed into
the general circulation.
Inhaled substances pass down the trachea
 into the bronchi
 into finer and finer bronchioles,
 ending at the microscopic, sac-like alveoli
of the lungs, where gaseous exchange
with the blood takes place.
 These alveoli are extremely efficient at
transporting small molecules, such s
essential oil constituents, into the blood.
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The efficiency with which the molecules pass from the
alveoli into the blood increases with the rate of blood
flow through the lungs, with their fat solubility and with
the rate and depth of breathing.
The exertion required to give a massage is one of the
reasons why the Aromatherapist will often absorb more
essential oils by this route than the client. Carbon
dioxide stimulates respiration and levels can build up in a
stuffy room; such an environment might cause more
essential oil to be absorbed via the lungs than in a wellaired room.
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Because of the relative lack of interest in
the nose as a means of introducing
molecules into the body, many essential oil
components have not been studied for
their behaviour after inhalation.
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The lipophilic nature of essential oils
means that they pass the blood-brain
barrier easily. Their affinity for lipid-rich
tissues like those of the central nervous
system facilitates an exchange of essential
oils constituents from the blood into the
lipid-rich nervous system.
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Studies have shown that essential oils are
readily absorbed into the bloodstream
through inhalation. They have a high
solubility in the blood and excellent
absorption takes place through the nasal
mucosa and pulmonary system.
Methods of Treating
Respiratory System
with Essential Oils
Sense of smell has a major importance. There is
an increasing body of knowledge showing that
aromatic constituents of essential oils are
absorbed into the blood steam via the
respiratory tract. Therefore, a dual effect is
highly likely:
 A pharmacological action by the absorption of
aromatic chemicals via the respiratory tract
 An indirect, yet powerful effect on the brain via
olfactory perception
Methods
 Direct inhalation - from a tissue, essential oil bottle, hands or bowl of
steaming water with oils added
 Vaporisers & Diffusers – an effective method using a candle vaporizer with
water and essential oils in the top dish; electric vaporisers which require no
water; and micro-diffusers. These are devices that consist of an air pump,
an injector and a glass container with an opening for filling. It is
recommended that the glass container is designed to allow the finest
particle of essential oils to be diffused into the air. This not only ensures
maximum dispersion into the air, but also enhances absorption within the
lungs.
 Steam inhalation using a bowl, essential oils, towel and steaming water.
Steam inhalations are a traditional home remedy to ease congestion in the
respiratory passage caused by colds, coughs and catarrh
Conditions that responds to inhalations
 Nervous tension and stress
 Mental and physical fatigue
 Headaches
 Respiratory problems
 Asthma
 Sore throats
 Blocked sinuses
 Coughs
 Colds
How conditions such as
bronchitis, sinusitis
and catarrh may be
improved with
Aromatherapy
The best method of using essential oils for
the treatment of respiratory tract infections
is by inhalation, chest and back
massages, compresses, diffusers and oil
burners.
The therapeutic properties of
essential oils that have a
particular affinity to the respiratory
system are:
Antimicrobial- an agent that resists or
destroys pathogens
 Essential oils include lavender; lemon,
rosemary, tea tree and thyme are of
particular value for the treatment of flu,
colds, sore throats, tonsillitis and other
infections.
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Antispasmodics – an agent that prevents and
eases spasms and relieves cramps
These essential oils relax the bronchioles of the
lungs and may be used foe the treatment of
asthma, dry cough and whooping cough. [They
include] basil, cypress, clary sage, eucalyptus
and thyme.
Antitussives – an agent that relieves coughing
 Some work by soothing irritability (respiratory
demulcents), and others remove congestive
mucous (expectorants).
 Essential oils include: cypress, eucalyptus,
peppermint and thyme. Cough lozenges with
essential oils apparently function by stimulating
the formation and secretion of saliva, which
produces more frequent swallowing and thereby
tends to suppress the cough reflex.
Demulcents – an agent that soothes and
relieves irritated or inflamed mucous
membranes
 [WA] Sandalwood is an effective
demulcent essential oil as it soothes and
relieves irritated and inflamed mucous
membranes. It is recommended fro dry,
irritable and ticklish coughs.
Expectorants – an agent that promotes the
expulsion of phlegm from the respiratory
system by coughing or spitting
An expectorant may be defined as a substance
which increases the output of demulcent
respiratory tract fluid. Expectorants are also used
to alleviate coughing by:
Assisting the removal of a substance causing the
cough reflex
Providing a more demulcent respiratory tract fluid
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There are three categories of expectorants:
Stimulating and warming expectorants (Essential oils
that also have circulatory stimulant properties. Their
principal effect on the lungs is to provoke an
expectoration of congested phlegm in the airways and
dry up excessive catarrhal production. Oils include
everlasting.
Relaxing expectorants generally act to reduce spasm
and improve deficient mucous in the airway.
Antitussives
Immunostimulants – [an agent that stimulates a
physiological response in the immune system]
Essential oils can support and strengthen the immune
response in two ways:
By directly inhibiting the threatening micro-organisms, or
By stimulating the immune system.
Essential oils include eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, tea
tree and thyme, which will act against a wide variety of
bacteria and viruses whilst at the same time increasing
the immune response.
BRONCHITIS
 Definition: Inflammation of the bronchi
due to infection or irritation that may occur
as a primary disorder or as part of another
pulmonary disease. Bronchitis can be
acute or chronic.
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Acute Bronchitis: The main symptoms are
cough and phlegm, accompanied by wheezing
and dyspnoea. It is more prevalent in winter as
part of an upper respiratory tract infection, or
may develop following a cold or other viral
infection. Exposure to air pollutants, chills,
fatigue and malnutrition are often predisposing
factors.
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Chronic Bronchitis: A chronic productive
cough for at least 3 successive months in
a successive 2 years. Symptoms include
wheezing and progressive dyspnoea,
recurrent exacerbations with acute
bronchitis, and it occurs mainly in
smokers. Usually accompanied by
obstructed airways.
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Therapeutic Strategy:
Bed rest, especially if fever is present. As fever subsides, alternate
periods of bed rest with periods of moderate activity to prevent
excretions from settling in the lungs
Drink plenty of fluids such as water and herbal teas
Add moisture to the air, via humidifiers or steam inhalations, to
relieve bronchial inflammation
Cough suppression may be used is cough is troublesome and
interferes with sleep, but care should be used if client has chronic
obstructive lung disease
Stop smoking
Apply a warm, moist compress, or a hot water bottle over the chest
and back before bedtime to aid in sleeping and inflammation
reduction
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AROMATHERAPY TREATMENT
Main priorities are:
Combat the infection with antibacterial and
immunostimulant essential oils
Soothe and heal inflamed bronchial mucosa
Facilitate the removal of sputum from the
bronchi and trachea by using expectorants
Relax bronchial spasm
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Aromatherapy combats the infection, reducing
the fever, easing the cough and expelling the
mucous.
In the first stages when coughing is dry and
painful, steam inhalation with essential oils such
as Eucalyptus radiata, cedarwood, cypress or
frankincense will provide relief. These essential
oils are used for their antispasmodic and
expectorant properties.
Example Aromatherapy Formulas for Bronchitis
Method
Combat
Infection
Inhalation
Soothe
Inflammation
Chest
Cream
Expectorant
Inhalation
Relax
Bronchial
Spasm
Chest
Cream
Essential Oils
Chosen
Lavender
Thyme
Tea tree
WA Sandalwood
Frankincense
Cedarwood Atlas
Eucalyptus radiata
Thyme
Tea tree
WA Sandalwood
Frankincense
Cedarwood Atlas
Blend
%
100%
5%
100%
5%
Dosage
3 times
daily for 2
days
3 times
daily for 5
days
3 times
daily for 3
days
3 times
daily for 5
days