Essential Oils Considered Antimicrobial

Information presented here is educational and not meant as a substitute for or alternative to information from healthcare practitioners, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.” Always check with your healthcare professional for any interactions with medications you are taking. “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.

“Antimicrobial” is a general term that refers to plants or drugs that includes antibiotics/antibacterials, antifungals, antiprotozoals, and antivirals. The main “objective” of an antimicrobial agent is to inhibit or kill other microorganisms. An antimicrobial is destructive to or inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Such agents (plants or drugs) tend to destroy microbes, to prevent their multiplication or growth, or to prevent their pathogenic action. Antimicrobial is a broad category that includes Antibiotics/Antibacterials, Antivirals, Antifungals, and Antiparasitic.

Essential Oil General Safety Information: Essential Oils (EOs) are highly concentrated extractions of plants and can be harmful if not used carefully. Incorporating EOs into your lifestyle should not cause unnecessary work, but it is important to heed all safety precautions. Never take EOs internally, even if a label say it is safe for consumption by mouth. Never put undiluted EOs directly onto your skin (NEAT) to avoid sensitization of skin, and never apply NEAT to broken skin. Some EOs can cause irritation, sensitization or allergic reactions in some individuals. When using a new oil topically for the first time, perform a skin patch test on a small area of the skin. Some EOs are phototoxic and can cause irritation, inflammation, blistering, redness and/or burning when exposed to UVA rays of the sun. Discontinue using EOs immediately if you encounter any irritation, redness or reaction. Take care when adding EOs directly to bathwater. EOs do not stayed mixed in water, and can, therefore “pool” causing the EO to touch body areas in full strength with the potential for irritation. Some EOs should be avoided during pregnancy or by those with asthma, epilepsy, or other health conditions. Avoid using EOs near the genitals, mouth, nose, eyes and ears. Extreme caution should be used with children and elderly (due to medication mix). Care should be taken when using EOs near animals as not all EOs are safe to use on dogs, cats, birds, horses or other pets. EOs are flammable; keep them away from fire hazards.

The following list includes essential oils and the therapeutic antifungal properties generally attributed to them. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These oils are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.