Posted on 01/13/2005 4:48:49 PM PST by Coleus
| Essential Oils Can Be Used As a Natural Antibacterial |
| It is estimated that infections such as MRSA (staph infection) kill 5,000 people each year. This is partly due to the fact that current treatments are only successful in around 50 percent of cases; such treatments can also cause skin irritation. However, researchers may have discovered a much more efficient, not to mention pleasant, way to treat staph infections: Essential oils (compounds found within aromatic plants). It seems that the use of these oils, typically used in aromatherapy, have been found to kill deadly MRSA bacteria within just two minutes of contact. By simply inhaling these essential oils, patients are able to prevent the risk of infection. And, unlike the current treatments made of single compounds, essential oils are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds that MRSA and other bacteria have a hard time resisting. While testing, researchers used 40 essential oils against 10 of the most dangerous and deadly bacteria and fungi. Three of the oils successfully killed:
Researchers proved that any soaps or shampoos made by blending these three oils would be effective over a period of time. Further, hospital staff, doctors and patients can eliminate the spread of MRSA by using products made from these essential oils. Note: The three oils involved in the study will not be named until a clinical trial has been completed. University of Manchester December 21, 2004 |
Essential oils usually used in aromatherapy have been found to kill the deadly MRSA bacteria according to research carried out at The University of Manchester.
Tests revealed that three essential oils killed MRSA and E. coli as well as many other bacteria and fungi within just two minutes of contact. The oils can easily be blended and made into soaps and shampoos which could be used by hospital staff, doctors and patients in a bid to eradicate the spread of these deadly `super bugs'.
Researchers are now desperately looking for funding to develop their work and carry out a clinical trial. Peter Warn from the University's Faculty of Medicine who worked on the research said: 'We believe that our discovery could revolutionize the fight to combat MRSA and other `super bugs', but we need to carry out a trial and to do that we need a small amount of funding ' around £30,000.
'We are having problems finding this funding because essential oils cannot be patented as they are naturally occurring, so few drug companies are interested in our work as they do not see it as commercially viable. Obviously, we find this very frustrating as we believe our findings could help to stamp out MRSA and save lives,' added Peter, who is based at Hope Hospital.
Essential oils are chemical compounds found within aromatic plants, which the plants use to fight off infections. Researchers tested 40 essential oils against ten of the most deadly bacteria and fungi. Two of these oils killed MRSA and E. coli almost instantly, while a third was shown to act over a longer period of time, meaning that any soaps or shampoos made by blending these three oils would be effective over a period of time.
Jacqui Stringer who is Clinical Lead of Complementary Therapies at the Christie Hospital instigated the research and said: 'The use of plants in medicine is nothing new but some people regard the use of essential oils as unconventional. Our research shows a very practical application which could be of enormous benefit to the NHS and its patients.
'The reason essential oils are so effective is because they are made up of a complex mixture of chemical compounds which the MRSA and other super bug bacteria finds difficult to resist. The problem with current treatments is that they are made of single compounds which MRSA relatively quickly becomes resistant to, so treatment is only successful in around 50% of cases.
'While a wide range of products currently exist to help prevent the spread of MRSA these are often unpleasant for patients as their application can cause skin irritation. MRSA is often carried inside the nose which means that patients often have to insert treatments up their nostrils, whereas these essential oils can simply be inhaled to prevent the patient being at risk,' added Jacqui.
Jacqui works with leukemia patients at the Christie Hospital using essential oils to help in their treatment. Patients receiving treatment for cancer and leukemia are often left with weakened immune systems which makes them vulnerable to infection from MRSA.The National Audit Office estimates that infections such as MRSA kill 5,000 people each year and hospital-acquired infections cost the NHS around £1 billion a year.-ends-
For further information contact Rachael McGraw, Media Relations Officer at The University of Manchester
yup.....wild mediterranian oil of oregano and maybe tea tree oil which is topical only...
The best is sap of a pine tree.
Can one buy that?
It goes by the generic name of turpentine. :)
Maybe Marigold oil as the third one.
You can buy it, and it's great.
It was used until the 1950s to sterilize surgical equipment.
It can take the fish smell off of hands after cleaning fish, or fishing.
ping
But then you're left with the smell of turpentine, which I happen to like having been raised by a mother who was an artist, but others may find too strong to use.
True...but it may beat fishguts.
Sounds plausible.
By simply inhaling these essential oils, patients are able to prevent the risk of infection.
BS. There's a world of difference between direct contact between oils and germs in a lab dish, and "simply inhaling these oils to prevent risk of infection." This is hogwash.
BS. There's a world of difference between direct contact between oils and germs in a lab dish, and "simply inhaling these oils to prevent risk of infection."
Maybe the oils were aerosolized?
btttttt
Interesting post. Thanks for the ping.
Ping
hey, I got one right today.....time to retire
What an interesting topic. Surfing produced a study in Japan at:
http://jac.oupjournals.org/cgi/content/full/47/5/565
RESULTS: All of the essential oils examined exhibited antibacterial activity, which generally increased in the following order: E. coli < S. aureus < streptococci < H. influenzae. No cross-resistance was observed between penicillinresistant and -susceptible S. pneumoniae and no significant difference in susceptibility between S. pneumoniae and S. pyogenes was identified. Among the 14 essential oils, cinnamon bark, lemongrass and thyme (wild and red) oils showed the highest activity, inhibiting six strains at <12.5 mg/L air, with the exception of lemongrass oil, which exhibited weak activity against E. coli (MID, 100 mg/L air). Perilla, thyme (geraniol), peppermint, tea tree, coriander and lavender (spike and true) oils showed moderate activity against all isolates except E. coli. However, tea tree and coriander oils showed activity against E. coli comparable to that against other strains. Eucalyptus (radiata) oil, and especially citron oil, were weakest in activity.
and "simply inhaling these oils to prevent risk of infection." This is hogwash. >>
to kill bacteria, I certainly agree.
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