Healthy Tidbits

(Dr. Weil)

Herbal Oils Thwart Germs

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.

I love this! We need to explore all the natural plants and herbs that have been provided for us.