At doTERRA, our mission is to bring natural solutions to the world—supported by science and guided by safety. One of the ways we ensure this is by investing in clinical research on our products, including essential oils used as dietary supplements.

One product we’ve been especially excited to study is Copaiba Softgels. These softgels contain copaiba essential oil, which comes from the resin of Copaifera trees in the Amazon. Copaiba has long been used in traditional wellness practices, but our recent human clinical study takes that understanding a step further—by exploring how Copaiba Softgels affect the body at a cellular, molecular, and microbiome level.

Here’s what we learned in this comprehensive, first-of-its-kind clinical trial.

What Is Copaiba and Why Study It?

Copaiba essential oil is known for its high concentration of beta-caryophyllene (BCP), a naturally occurring plant compound called a bicyclic sesquiterpene. BCP is special because it interacts with the body’s CB2 receptors, which are part of the endocannabinoid system—a biological system that helps regulate healthy inflammatory response, healthy immune response, mood, and more.

BCP works outside the brain, offering a non-psychoactive way to support the body’s balance, or homeostasis.*

This study was designed to investigate how Copaiba Softgels, taken daily, might support*:

• Gene expression
• Markers of inflammatory response and immune balance
• Gut microbiome composition
• Quality of life indicators, such as discomfort, sleep, and movement

Study Design at a Glance

Participants: 21 healthy adults (aged 18–55)
Intervention: 1 Copaiba Softgel, twice daily, for 30 days
Assessments Included:

• Blood, urine, and stool samples before and after
• Gene methylation (a marker of gene expression)
• Inflammatory response protein levels
• Movement evaluations
• Wellness and quality-of-life surveys

The study was reviewed by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) and followed Good Clinical Practice guidelines to ensure participant safety.

Gene Expression Findings: Your Body’s Inner Operating System

Perhaps the most exciting part of this study was how Copaiba Softgels impacted gene expression. Gene expression refers to how your body “turns on” or “turns off” specific genes in response to your environment, stress, nutrition, and more.

Over 100 genes showed significant changes—most were upregulated, meaning they became more active. These genes were linked to some of the body’s most essential tasks:

DNA Function and Cellular Stability

• BRCA1: Known for helping DNA function and maintaining genome stability. Its upregulation may support your cells’ natural ability to fix themselves when stressed.*
• FANCI, E2F3, POLR2F: Also involved in DNA function and transcription accuracy.*

Why It Matters: DNA is like the blueprint of your cells. When your body improves how it reads and functions with this blueprint, it may better maintain long-term cellular health.*

Mitochondrial and Metabolic Support

• NDUFB9, SDHD, ATP5MK, ETFBKMT: These genes support mitochondrial function—the process that generates energy inside your cells.*
• MTHFD1: A key player in metabolic and detoxification pathways.*

Why It Matters: Mitochondria are the “power plants” of the cell. Supporting their function may enhance energy efficiency and stress resilience.*

Neurological and Synaptic Function

• SCN2A: Involved in brain signaling and nerve excitability.*
• GNAI3, KCNQ1OT1, TIA1: Regulate neurotransmitter balance and brain plasticity.*

Why It Matters: These genes may support healthy nerve function and communication—important for mood, cognition, and neurological balance.*

Immune Modulation and Healthy Inflammatory Response Balance

• ITCH, RAPGEF3, TRIM59: These genes help fine-tune the immune system’s response, supporting to avoid overreaction.*
• RNF19B: Involved in breaking down damaged proteins and immune regulation.*

Why It Matters: A well-regulated immune system helps your body respond appropriately—without going into overdrive.*

The Bigger Picture: Markers of Epigenetic Aging

The researchers also analyzed what’s called the epigenetic clock, a way of measuring the markers of how fast your cells are “aging” based on DNA methylation patterns.

The results showed:

• A significant improvement in markers of the DamAge clock, which measures accumulated cellular damage over time.*
• Modest improvements in markers of overall biological age and metabolic “fitness” age.*

What This Means: Although the changes were small, they suggest that Copaiba Softgels may help the body reduce molecular changes in function and support long-term cellular resilience.*

Microbiome Insights: A Healthy Gut Response

Another groundbreaking part of this study was the analysis of how Copaiba Softgels affected the gut microbiome—the trillions of bacteria in your digestive tract that help regulate digestion, immune response, and even mood.

What Improved:

• Bifidobacterium: These “friendly” bacteria are known for supporting digestion, immune function, and gut lining integrity.* Their levels increased significantly.
• Fusicatenibacter: A beneficial bacteria linked to a healthy inflammatory response and gut balance.* Also significantly increased.
• Lachnospiraceae family: Known for producing butyrate, a fatty acid that nourishes the cells lining your gut and supports a healthy inflammatory response.*

Why It Matters: These changes suggest that Copaiba Softgels support a gut environment that favors beneficial, protective bacteria—without disturbing the delicate balance of the microbiome.*

What Decreased:

• Tannerellaceae family: While not always harmful, some strains are associated with gut dysbiosis and oral issues.* This family decreased significantly, which may represent a positive rebalancing effect.*

What Didn't Change (and Why That’s Good):

Some essential oils are thought to have cleansing effects. But this study found that Copaiba Softgels did not disrupt microbiome diversity or wipe out healthy bacteria. In fact, changes were selective and beneficial.*

Why It Matters: This supports the idea that Copaiba acts gently and intelligently, rather than acting like a broad-spectrum cleansing solution.

Real-World Wellness: How Did People Feel?

In addition to the lab data, participants shared how they felt during and after the 30-day supplementation period. They reported improvements in:

• Sleep quality*
• Perceived discomfort*
• Physical movement and flexibility*

These improvements were matched by better movement test scores, suggesting the experience of wellness was backed by physical benefits.*

Safety Profile: No Significant Adverse Effects

Safety is always a top priority. Here’s what we found:

• No serious side effects reported
• No negative impact on liver, kidney, or metabolic markers
• All participants tolerated the supplement well

What This Means: When taken as directed, Copaiba Softgels appear to be a safe and well-tolerated supplement for healthy adults.

Final Thoughts: What the Research Suggests

This study offers a growing body of evidence that Copaiba Softgels may support whole-body wellness by:

• Encouraging healthy gene expression*
• Supporting gut microbiome balance*
• Helping maintain healthy inflammatory response*
• Possibly reducing cellular changes in function associated with aging*
• Providing a safe, gentle plant-based supplement option*

More research is always welcome, especially with larger and more diverse populations. But these results mark an exciting step forward in understanding how essential oils can be more than aromatic—they can be biologically active partners in wellness.*

_*Estas declaraciones no han sido evaluadas por la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos. Este producto no está destinado a diagnosticar, tratar, curar o prevenir ninguna enfermedad.