The potential of phythotherapy in otorhinolaryngology 359 © Wydawnictwo UR 2018 http://www.ejcem.ur.edu.pl/en/ ISSN 2544-1361 (online); ISSN 2544-2406 European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2018.4.15 Eur J Clin Exp Med 2018; 16 (4): 359–365 REVIEW PAPER Wojciech Domka 1(ABDGF), David Aebisher 2 (ABDGF), Zuzanna Bober 3(AB), Łukasz Ożóg 4(AB), Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher 5(ABCDGF) The potential of phythotherapy in otorhinolaryngology 1 Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland 2 Department of Human Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland 3 Department of Electroradiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland 4 Centre for Innovative Research in Medical and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland 5 Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rzeszów, Poland Abstract Introduction. The objective of this paper is to review the evidence of the use of herbs in phytotherapy. Aim. To discuss plant properties and applications in otorhinolaryngology. Materials and methods. We analysed literature and collected information of phythotherapy in otorhinolaryngology. Results. The databases were searched using various keywords such as phytotherapy, otorhinolaryngology, and herbs such as: echinacea, eucalyptus, garlic, ginkgo, ginseng, kava, pelargonium sidoides, rosemary, spirulina, St John’s wort, and thyme. Conclusions. Due to the beneficial impact of meicinal plants in medicine there is a growing interest in analytical identification and quantification for clinical medicine and forensic toxicology. Keywords. phytotherapy, medicinal plants, otorhinolaryngology Introduction to Phytotherapy ing each plant and wrote the first International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. The botanical name identifies The world of plants surrounding us is invariably rich each plant kingdom, sub-kingdom, division, class, or- and diverse. Plants serve as a source of food for peo- der, family, and species divided into two names which ple and many are known to contain therapeutic phyto- are a genus and species epithet. Botanical names are chemicals. Plants, with the help of assmilatory dyes, can convenient in communicating plant identification inter- produce organic substances from water and carbon di- nationally.1 oxide and other inorganic substances. From year to year, Thanks to over several thousand years of observa- the number of new varieties of plants on the market is tion and experience, people have learned to distinguish growing. In the 18th century, botanist Carl Linnaeus edible plants from the inedible and even poisonous. Ex- developed an internationally accepted system for nam- perience also taught them to use the healing properties Corresponding author: Dorota Bartusik-Aebisher, e-mail: [email protected] Participation of co-authors: A – Author of the concept and objectives of paper; B – collection of data; C – implementation of re- search; D – elaborate, analysis and interpretation of data; E – statistical analysis; F – preparation of a manuscript; G – working out the literature; H – obtaining funds Received: 28.09.2018 | Accepted: 16.10.2018 Publication date: September 2018 Domka W, Aebisher D, Bober Z, Ożóg Ł, Bartusik-Aebisher D. The potential of phythotherapy in otorhinolaryngology. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2018;16(4):359–365. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2018.4.15 360 European Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine 2018; 16 (4): 359–365 of certain species. Many medicinal plants were identi- ginning to become interested in. Treatment using phy- fied by the ancient Sumerians, Assyrians and Egyptians. totherapy should be used wisely and properly under The Middle Ages did not favor discoveries in the field the direction of an experienced doctor or phytother- of herbal medicine as during this period, numerous ex- apist. Little data is available on complementary and cesses and beliefs existed in relation to certain plants. alternative medicine use in children attending otolar- yngology services.2 Most often, an herb is prepared in the form of fresh- ly-made water extracts. In principle, there are three ways to prepare herbal tea, depending on the type of substances contained in the herbs (Figure 1). 1. maceration – the herbs are flooded with the pre- scribed amount of cold water and after some time the extract is drained 2. preparation of a brew – the herb is filled with boil- ing water and leaves under cover for 15 minutes 3. making the decoction – the herb in a covered dish is boiled over low heat. Herbs consisting of various parts of plants and con- taining various substances are combined with a combi- nation of, for example, decoction after maceration. Fig. 1. Three ways to prepare herbal extracts History of otolaryngology, laryngology and The healing properties of plants have been known otorhinolaryngology since recorded history. Phytotherapy is a scientif- Table 1, Table 2 and Table 3 present a historical listing of ic medical method that recently, as part of a return to a selection of main achivements in otolaryngology, lar- nature, millions of people around the world are be- yngology and otorhinolaryngology respectively. Table 1. History of otolaryngology Year Scientist Achievements References 1500 published chapter titled: “Medications for the hard of - Nogueira et al. 2007 1 B.C. hearing” Empedocles described the cochlea as the part of the inner ear - Singer 1957 3 (490-430 B.C.) involved in hearing Aristotle Gitter 1990 4, Nogueira - created a theory on hearing (384-322 B.C.) et al. 2007 1 Galeno - dissected the ears of dogs and monkeys Nogueira et al. 20071 (129-201 d. C.) Versalio 1543 described the structure of the malleus and the incus Nogueira et al. 20071 (1514-1564) Gabriel Fallopius - described the facial nerve canal Nogueira et al. 20071 (1523-1562) Nogueira et al. 1649 Riolanos described the technique of mastoidectomy 2007 1 Domenico Cotugno Nogueira et al. 1761 described the perilymph (1736-1822) 20071 Antonio Scarpa 1772 described the endolymph Brackmann et al. 2016 4 (1752-1832) Jean Cruveilhier described a pearl-like tumor in the central nervous 1829 Nogueira et al. 20071 (1791-1874) system 838 Toulemouche described malignant external otitis Karaman et al. 20125 1860 Evenberg reported the first case of sudden hearing loss Nogueira et al. 20071 Joseph Toynbee 1860 published “Diseases of the ear” Nogueira et al. 20071 (1815-1866) performed pioneering studies on the vestibular 1875 Mach Nogueira et al. 20071 excitability threshold The potential of phythotherapy in otorhinolaryngology 361 Adam Politzer 1883 described auditory dystrophies Lasmar and Seligman 2004 6 (1835-1920) Hermann Schwartze published papers systematizing the mastoidectomy 1885 Hawkins 20047 (1837-1910) technique Emanuel Zaufal 1889 (1837-1910) described the radical mastoidectomy Nogueira et al. 20071 and Stacker Ernst Julius Richard Ewald 1892 established the labyrinthine origin of nystagmus Nogueira et al. 20071 (1855-1921) Adam Politzer 1894 described the hypoacusis Lasmar and Seligman 20046 (1835-1920) opened the inner ear canal of a patient with 1901 Perry Lasmar and Seligman 20046 Ménière’s disease described a surgical technique for apical Gustave Bondy Nogueira et al. 1910 cholesteatoma with ossicular chain preservation and (1870-1954) 20071 perforation of the tympanic pars flacida Robert Bárány successfully trephinated the posterior semicircular 1910 Nogueira et al. 20071 (1876-1936) canal without opening the antrum described a tympanoplasty for the first time, in Harold Albert Kisch 1912 a paper published in the “Proceedings of Royal Nogueira et al. 20071 (XIX-XX) Society” trephinated the horizontal semi-circular canal, in an 1913 Jenkins Nogueira et al. 20071 attempt dry the labyrinth Robert Bárány received the Nobel Prize because of his work on 1914 Nogueira et al. 20071 (1876-1936) vestibular apparatus physiology and pathology published a pioneering thesis in Brazil on topics 1918 Diniz Borges Lasmar and Seligman 20046 related to the vestibule Marcel Lermoyez described the syndrome that carried his name with 1919 Lasmar and Seligman 20046 (1858-1929) the symptoms Harold Gillies was the first to use cartilage in remodeling the Chauhan and Guruprasad 1920 (1882-1960) framework in cases of pinna reconstruction 20128 Carl Nylen introduced the monocular microscope for ear 1921 Nogueira et al. 20071 (1892-1978) surgeries introduced the audiometric exam in screening 1922 Fletcher and Wegel Nogueira et al. 20071 patients for hearing loss 1929 Lüscher described the middle ear acoustic muscle activity Møller 19749 Charles Ballance (1856-1936) and introduced the facial nerve decompression 1932 Nogueira et al. 20071 Arthur Duel technique by opening its temporal bone canal (1870-1936) measured for the first time the middle ear 1934 Schuster Nogueira et al. 20071 impedances 1940 Boettcher introduced the electrical burr for mastoid surgery Nogueira et al. 20071 introduced modern microscopic ear surgery with the 1953 Zeiss Optical Company Lasmar and Seligman 20046 development of the binocular microscope introduced a polyethylene tube in the tympanic Edwin Armstrong 1954 membrane, in order to treat cases of serous otitis Nogueira et al. 20071 (1890-1954) media attempted to record the electrical activity of the 1967 Sohmer and Feinmesse Nogueira et al. 20071 human brainstem 1968 Aran and Lê Bel established the basis for electrocochleography Nogueira et al. 20071 Jewet, Romano and Jewett