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Essential oil: Modern substitute of western medicine

In past few decades consumption of essential oils (EOs) continues to rise worldwide, due to their establishment as modern substitute of western medicine for remedies against disease caused by bacteria; such as respiratory diseases, skin disease and various types of infections.  Apart from its medicinal property, EOs also used for aromatherapy, insect repellents, food preservatives etc. Many essential oils have been found to have powerful antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and immune-boosting properties and they can be used separately or blended together to make powerful fragrant remedies. In recent years, researchers are focusing for the development of new antimicrobial agents from various sources to combat microbial resistance.

A recent study of the Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences have shown the benefits of essential oil as an antimicrobial agent against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. The study compared ten essential oils and their antibacterial properties against 22 gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. According to the study peppermint essential oil and eucalyptus essential oil were effective against all 22 strains of bacteria.

While Palma Rosa essential oil was shown to be an effective treatment against 21 bacterial strains. Similarly, the geranium essential oil was found to be effective against 12 types of fungal and 3 yeast strains. This suggests that different essential oils can be a perfect choice when you want to combat both bacteria and fungi. Health and Human Services and Public Health Services have recognized essential oils as safe substances and some essential oils contain compounds that can be used as antibacterial additives.

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