Essential Oils Thwart Germs
Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 10:14AM
Essential oils, particularly those from thyme and cinnamon, could help thwart bacteria, including superbugs such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (the notorious MRSA that resists treatment with many common antibiotics and is to blame for tens of thousands of deaths in hospitals and nursing homes every year). The latest MRSA-fighting strategy comes from Greek researchers who tested the antimicrobial activity of eight essential plant oils and found that thyme essential oil worked best. It almost completely eliminated the bacteria it was pitted against within an hour. The investigators, from the Technical Educational Institute of Ionian Islands reported their findings at the spring meeting of the Society for General Microbiology in Edinburgh, Scotland. They viewed essential oils as an inexpensive and effective treatment option for emerging antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, and noted that substituting the oils for antibiotics could minimize the risk that additional resistant strains would emerge. They suggested that the oils or their active ingredients could be incorporated into antimicrobial creams or gels for application to the skin and noted that these agents also could be used for preservation of packaged foods instead of today’s synthetic chemicals.
My take? This is a return to the historical use of essential oils and welcome news. I hope that further research substantiates the findings. We need an effective way to counter MRSA, and if these results hold true, essential oils could be at least part of the solution. I have long recommended using a mixture of water plus lavender or tea tree essential oils for an environmentally and people-friendly antibacterial spray for kitchen or bathroom surfaces. In addition, studies have shown that a wash of one-percent basil essential oil effectively eliminates bacteria on fruits and vegetables, and is much friendlier to human beings and the environment than bleach.
Reader Comments (4)
dr. weil. i am an avid follower since i discovered you in my 'natural health' magazine subscription.
i hope you cen help me. last year my appendix ruputured. i went 4 days thinking i has the flu or food poisoning. i was very sick for many months and out of work for six. i was on high doses of antibiotics for almost 6 months. i had 3 abcesses. my current problem is a battle in fighting off various infections.
the worst is: YEAST. i have these ongoing and recurring skin yeast infections. under my arms. the crack of my butt. around my breast where my bra touches my skin. amazingly i do not have vaginal yeast infections.
i have been on bactrim which is very hard on me. been through tubs of triamcinolone, two tubes of nystatin.
i have been talking 30 billion count probiotics 2x daily. garlic, peppermint supplements. is there anything i can do? i am willing to change diet, take other supplements. i was hoping an essential oil formula might help me. i am so very tired of this awful infection. summer is here and i am so scared it may get worse with heat and moisture of perspiration. i just dont know what to do anymore. please advise. jacque
I think more and more people are beginning to learn of the benefits of Essential Oils which is wonderful. I love all the research that is currently being done. Dr. H.K. Lin of the University of Oklahoma is currently doing research with Frankincense oil and Bladder Cancer Cells. The oil suppressed cancer growth and activated mechanisms which kill the dangerous cells.
Here is a link to the article http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/frankincense-used-to-treat-bladder-cancer/story-e6frfku0-1225698139880?from=public_rss
Jacque,
Here is a link to information about treating Yeast Infections with essential oils.
http://www.everythingessential.me/HealthConcerns/Candida.html#page=page-1
Hope that's helpful.
QUOTE:
"We need an effective way to counter MRSA"
Very true. Every time I've been admitted to a hospital, I've quickly gotten a staph infection, then MRSA, then VRE. Hospitals are a great place for getting sicker.
Jim Purdy