Essential Oils Might Be The New Antibiotics

image source – Eden’s Garden (via Amazon)

Essential Oils As Antibiotics

The following plants and their essential oils have been found to be effective in fighting bacteria according to numerous studies:

1. Oregano. Its antibiotic properties have been proven to kill bacteria thriving in animal intestines. ^[1] Many people also report success when using oregano leaf tincture against colds and taking oregano oil capsules in cases of bacterial stomach illness.

2. Chili peppers. The phytochemicals found in chili peppers possess immune-enhancing properties that protect animals against live coccidiosis. ^[2]

3. Cinnamon. The use of cinnamon was related to antigen presentation and humoral immune response and was found to boost the immune system against bacterial infections. ^[2]

4. Turmeric. Turmeric also provides higher protective immunity against coccidiosis. ^[3]

5. Rosemary. Rosemary essential oil has been found effective in killing salmonella. ^[4]

6. Thyme. It also exhibits antibacterial properties beneficial to humans, and is found to be effective in bacterial vaginosis. ^[5]

7. Tea tree oil. It effectively clears MRSA, an infection that has become resistant to most commonly-used antibiotics. ^[6]

8. Lemongrass. Lemongrass oil also reduces MRSA when used as a component for hand gels and cleansers. ^[6]

Another potent antibiotic spice is garlic, which has been found by studies to be 100x more effective than antibiotics against food poisoning bacteria

Antibiotics And Livestock

In today’s drastically growing population, the demand for food supply is also enormously increasing. In the U.S. alone, poultry consumption has gone from 34.7 kilograms per capita to 46 kilograms per capita from the year 1990 to 2016. ^[1] With the increasing statistics, livestock farmers are also increasing their production to meet the consumers’ demands, resulting in overpopulated, unhygienic livestock farms.

Farmers have been using antibiotics on an ongoing basis to cure animal diseases, but the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention reported that the excessive/routine use of the drugs has resulted in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. ^[2] This spells bad news for us because drug-resistant microbes could cause more than 10 million deaths by the year 2050. ^[3]

Fortunately, numerous studies have been conducted by scientists to explore new alternatives for curing bacterial diseases among livestock. These studies have led to the use of essential oils – whether on their own or in combination with antibiotics – as a safer alternative in fighting numerous pathogens.

Researchers believe that essential oils weaken the cell wall of the resistant bacteria, killing the cell and allowing the antibiotic to work. ^[4] The phytochemicals found in the plants where the essential oils are derived from also provide resistance to infectious diseases and promotes tumor killing, according to Dr. Cyril Gay, senior national program leader at the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service. ^[3]

Check out the pictured set of 6 most popular essential oils on Amazon (great reviews and superb price!)

For a more detailed study of herbal antibiotics, check out this amazing book on Amazon: Herbal Antibiotics, 2nd Edition: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-resistant Bacteria