CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THYMUS SERPYLLUM L. ESSENTIAL OIL IN PATIENTS WITH SYNCOPE
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Dysautonomia, reflecting autonomic nervous system dysfunction, is frequently observed in patients with syncope, particularly those with orthostatic hypotension. </span><em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">Thymus serpyllum </span></em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">L. (wild thyme) has demonstrated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cardiometabolic properties in preclinical studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of </span><em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">T. serpyllum </span></em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">essential oil on autonomic function and selected biochemical markers in patients with syncope. This prospective, single-center study included 15 patients with a history of syncope who received a capsule formulation of </span><em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">T. serpyllum</span></em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none"><em> </em>essential oil for three months. Autonomic function was assessed using beat-to-beat heart rate and blood pressure variability analysis, 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring, and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Biochemical parameters were evaluated at baseline and after treatment. After three months, the beat-to-beat analysis showed increased LFnu values and a higher LF/HF ratio, along with decreased HF values, indicating a shift toward sympathetic predominance. No significant changes were observed in 24-hour heart rate or blood pressure parameters. Biochemical analyses revealed significant reductions in AST and C-reactive protein levels after treatment. In this pilot study, three-month supplementation with </span><em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">T. serpyllum </span></em><span class="a_GcMg font-feature-liga-off font-feature-clig-off font-feature-calt-off text-decoration-none text-strikethrough-none">essential oil was associated with changes in autonomic balance and favorable reductions in selected inflammatory and biochemical markers in patients with syncope. Further and larger placebo-controlled studies are required to confirm these findings and clarify their clinical significance.</span></p>