Rhinitis Phytotherapy with Immunostimulating Herbal Oily Macerates as an Alternative Treatment Approach: A Hypothesis

The hypersensitivity of the nasal mucosa to pathogens, allergens, or nasal drugs, accompanied by a dysfunctional immune response, is the cause of various types of rhinitis. Regardless of the commercial drugs used in treatment, rhinitis is a chronic disease of the modern population. Hence the dilemma: can commercially-available drugs cure rhinitis or only temporarily suppress the disease symptoms. This article aims to contribute to clarifying the dilemma and highlight some possible solutions to the problem of rhinitis. Screening of the scientific literature, both in the field of pharmacotherapy and traditional herbal medicine, on the mechanisms of rhinitis treatment and the possibility of restoring the atrophied nasal mucosa led us to an acceptable idea. Namely, the evidence-based review indicates that herbal medicines may be considered a new class of immune adjuvants. Traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Indian herbal medicine dominate studies that indicate the importance and efficacy of herbal extracts of various medicinal plants in this indication area. However, most phytotherapy-related studies focus mainly on alcoholic plant extracts. Due to possible incidences of irritation, herbal oily macerates may bea better option for direct application to an already livid or atrophied nasal mucosa. We indicate that oily macerates are enriched in liposoluble phytocomponents that can prevent the inflammatory reaction and exert their immunoregulatory effect as efficiently as those in the alcoholic extract. We hypothesize that the selected herbal oils could not only alleviate existing rhinitis symptoms but also restore atrophied nasal mucosa. The oily macerates are characterized by better stability than ethanolic extracts, higher concentration of medicinal substances, synergistic effect in polyherbal formulation, prolonged release and improved penetration of bioactive compounds, epithelizing properties, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activity, and only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect in the nasal cavity.