Herbal spray takes fight to mites

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Thai researchers at the King Mongkut Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), led by Ammorn Insung, have developed an organic anti-allergy spray for mattresses and bedding after eight years of study on the two herbs and their effects on dust mites.

Made from the herbs' aromatic essential oils, the spray can be an alternative to anti-allergen bedding products which have been found by some studies to not be so effective.

House dust mites are caused by allergy symptoms such as asthma. In Thailand, about 10 million people suffer allergies and about 36 billion baht is spent a year on treatment.

Even though cinnamon and cloves have long been recognised for their aromatic qualities and as ingredients for food dishes and herbal remedies, Mr Ammorn decided to try using them to kill and prevent dust mites.

This is because the two herbs are safe for consumption, making them strong candidates for use on beds, with which everybody has close contact.

"Cinnamon and clove-based products developed from our research can completely eliminate dust mites in beds, pillows and quilts and their covers. They can also kill bacteria and fungi as well as provide an aromatic fragrance," said Mr Ammorn.

While there are special anti-allergen bed, quilt and pillow covers available in local stores, some international and local studies suggest they are ineffective in reducing asthma symptoms, he said.

His own study also found that such anti-allergen covers for mattress, quilts and pillows can only ease allergic reactions for a short period of time.

They are capable of preventing transmission, from mattress to covers and the environment, of full-grown dust mites. However, they cannot stop two key small particles of the mites, their proteins and faeces, from being transferred around. These small particles are the key allergens.

"After a few times trying an anti-allergen bed cover, whenever you sit or sleep on it, these particles will be spread into the environment," he said.

Use of high-powered vacuum cleaners can help reduce exposure to dust mites but cannot eliminate them, which means buyers of these products are still left vulnerable to allergens.

The cinnamon and clove-based spray addresses the problem. It is different from other anti-dust mite spray innovations in that it contains no chemicals.

To make it, Mr Ammorn said essential oils extracted from the two herbs are mixed together with eucalyptus aroma.

Two local companies bought the patent, co-owned by the National Science and Technology Development Agency and KMITL, last year. The product is currently available in a pump spray format in a limited number of stores in Thailand and overseas.

They are sold under the brands Mite Fear, and Phumi (in Thai).

As dust mites are usually found within and on mattresses and bedding, Mr Ammorn said the spray can be applied by creating a "smoke chamber".

The chamber is made by covering a mattress with a thick blanket. Then spray the material between them and leave the mattress covered for half an hour.

The second spraying has to be done within the same week, following by the third in the second week.

All the dust mites will be killed by then. After that you have to spray once every month or two months.

"This is better than seeking medical treatment or relying solely on bedding covers which are ineffective," he said.

For a new mattress, users can wait to use the spray for three months, he said.

The spray does not stain bedding.



Mr Ammorn said despite allergies being an important public health concern in Thailand, there have only been a limited number of studies carried out on dust mites here.

He did the research after conducting surveys in 22 provinces in the Central Plains region that found almost every household had dust mites in beds at a level that posed an allergy risk.

"People seem to be less interested in the issue of dust mites in beds and allergies. But a bed is what they spend a lot of time in," he said.

His survey also showed that many people do not consider dust mites as a cause of their allergies, believing the conditions are triggered by changes in the weather, he said.He said many buyers of the herb-based product reported that their asthma improved after using it. "But the most important thing is ensuring that people keep their exposure to allergens at a minimum by regularly cleaning and drying their beds and bedding," he said.

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"The cinnamon and clove-based spray addresses the problem. It is different from other anti-dust mite spray innovations in that it contains no chemicals"

It contains no SYNTHETIC chemical, you meant.....

Sounds pretty good though.
I can only hope that they've got an International Patent applied for least they be robbed of any
future financial compensation and credit just like the Sriracha Sauce.

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