Antibiotic resistance is a serious threat facing all of us today. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "antimicrobial resistance (AMR) threatens the effective prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi."

For instance, "there are high proportions of antibiotic resistance (ABR) in bacteria that cause common infections (e.g. urinary tract infections, pneumonia, bloodstream infections) in all regions of the world. A high percentage of hospital-acquired infections are caused by highly resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria."

Key facts about antimicrobial resistance

Antibiotics are a foundational component of modern medicine, without which many of our current treatment modalities and medical procedures become exceedingly dangerous. We all need to be a part of the solution, using antibiotics as sparely as possible and encouraging others to do the same.

Fortunately, research investigating various plant extracts, hoping to find alternatives to antibiotic drugs, is extremely promising. Essential oils have potent antimicrobial, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Mounting research also suggests they may be powerful enough to address diseases like cancer. (Limonene is high in all citrus oils, like lemon and tangerine.)

A recent article in The Atlantic goes into great detail about how scientists and farmers are now looking to essential oils to keep people and animals healthy and discusses the experimental use of essential oils to combat disease in poultry.

The Atlantic article goes on to say that "in the lab, scientists have been testing all kinds of combinations of essential oils and antibiotics, and they’re repeatedly finding that the oils – used on their own and in combination with some common antibiotics – can fight numerous pathogens, including antibiotic-resistant strains of E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus (which causes staph infection), and other common types of bacteria. Results consistently show that combining essential oils and antibiotics significantly lowers the amount of antibiotic required to do the job. For example, two recent studies showed that lavender and cinnamon essential oils killed E. coli, and when combined with the antibiotic piperacillin, the oils reversed the resistance of the E. coli bacteria to the antibiotic. Another recent study found that basil oil and rosemary oil were both effective in inhibiting the growth of 60 strains of E. coli retrieved from hospital patients. Other research has produced similar results for many other essential oils, both alone and in combination with antibiotics. Researchers believe that one mechanism by which the oils work is by weakening the cell wall of resistant bacteria, thereby damaging or killing the cells while also allowing the antibiotic in."

Again, we all need to do our part to use alternatives to antibiotics, as often as possible, and to keep our body as healthy as possible in order to avoid the need for antibiotics.

If you need support with which essential oils you and your family might use, please call us at 608-242-0200 for general questions or to set up a personal consultation for an individualized health plan.

Here are a few of the essential oils that have been shown to have strong antimicrobial properties:

Labels: antibacterial, antibiotics, antifungal, antimicrobial, colon cleanse, essential oils

• Hyssop officinalis inhibits syncytia formation (the abnormal clustering of cells), HIV reverse transcriptase (RT, or how HIV viruses reproduce), and p17 and p24 antigen expression (an antigen is anything, like a protein foreign to the immune system, that stimulates the production of an antibody, so 'antigen expression' is the triggering of antibody release, an indicator of the presence of a foreign invader; antigens p17 and p24 are proteins found in human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV).
• Hyssop officinalis was non-toxic to the uninfected (Molt-3) cells.
• Caffeic acid was identified in the extracts. As a confirmation, commercial caffeic acid also showed good antiviral activity in i) the RT assay and ii) high to moderate antiviral activity in the syncytia assay and iii) high to moderate antiviral activity in p17 and p24 antigen expression.
• Tannic acid and gallic acid, commonly found in teas, was not identified in the extracts. But when these two acids from commercial products were tested, they showed high to moderate activity against HIV-1.
• Overall, Hyssop officinalis contains caffeic acid, unidentified tannins (a class of phytochemicals), and other compounds that show strong anti-HIV activity. Therefore Hyssop officinalis may be useful in treating AIDS patients.

• The polysaccharide MAR-10 (polysaccharides are chains of sugars) isolated from Hyssop officinalis was found to inhibit HIV-1 replication by inhibiting HIV-1 p24 antigen and syncytia formation.
• MAR-10 had no toxicity or effect on lymphocyte functions or CD4+ and CD8+ T cell counts.
• MAR-10 also has broad spectrum anti-glycosidase activity (inhibits HIV from replicating and inhibits HIV-mediated syncytium formation, ref: http://glycob.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/10/93R.long).
• This study shows that the polysaccharide MAR-10 has strong anti-HIV-1 activity and can be considered potent in treating people living with HIV or having AIDS (difference between the two here: www.healthcommunities.com/hiv-aids/hiv-aids-difference.shtml)

• www.youtube.com//watch?v=hVnbVHdW5nc
• http://devkhalsa.com/essential-oils/
• www.youtube.com/user/devkhalsa
• http://spectrumhealing.net/

• www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=111697
• www.sigmaaldrich.com/life-science/nutrition-research/learning-center/plant-profiler/hyssopus-officinalis.html

• Colonic antigen administration induces significantly higher humoral levels of colonic and vaginal IgA, and serum IgG compared to oral administration
• Pathological influences on colonic motility: implications for drug delivery
• Butyrate-induced transcriptional changes in human colonic mucosa

• Mountain savory (Satureja montana) has immune stimulant, antiviral, antifungal, anti-infectious, and anti-parasitic properties.
• Cistus (Cistus ladanifer) has antibacterial, anti-infectious, and antiviral properties. It is also an immune stimulant.
• Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica) has antibacterial, antifungal, anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral, and expectorant properties. It is a cross between the nutmeg and clove plants so it may support the adrenals.
• Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) has antidepressant, anti-infectious, and immune stimulating properties. The high sesquiterpenes level stimulates and oxygenates the limbic system of the brain which elevates our mood and helps us relax (overcome stress).
• Oregano (Origanum vulgare) has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an immune stimulant.
• Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) has antiseptic, antiviral, anti-infectious, and antifungal properties. It is COX inhibitor (anti-inflammatory) and has one of the highest ORAC values of any plant in the world!
• Cumin (Cuminum cyminum) has antiseptic and immune stimulant properties.
• Idaho Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) has antiviral, antibacterial, anti-infectious, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also an immune stimulant.

Labels: AIDS, antibacterial, antifungal, colon, essential oils, HIV, hyssop, immunity support, suppository