Which essential oils are antibacterial

Essential oils with antibacterial properties

Which essential oils are antibacterial

The antibacterial property of essential oils has been well known. Research has been provided about essential oils with bactericidal effects.

The bactericidal effect of essential oils is in affecting bacteria’s ability to resist the essential oils that interfere with energy metabolism taking place in their cells’ membranes.

Low concentrations of the terpenoid compounds of the essential oils are able to significantly inhibit oxygen intake and energy storing compound formation in the cell wall of bacteria. The oxygen intake was completely inhibited by phenols (thymol and carvacrol), alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones according to the numerous clinical trials.

Numerous clinical trials have confirmed tea tree oil’s antibacterial activity.

Essential oils have been used in treating infections due to

their anti-microbial action working directly against micro-organisms

their immune-stimulant action boosting the body’s own defences

their detoxing properties eliminating waste and toxins which become a prime environment for microbes to breed.

Importantly, essential oils respect the protective activity of the microbiome of the organism.

Anti-microbial property of the essential oils

It has been known that essential oils cause damage to a biological membrane thanks to their lipophilic properties (solubility in cell membranes). The constituents of the essential oils called terpenoids interfere with the cell’s metabolism which takes place in the cell membranes of bacteria.

The essential oils containing thymol, menthol, borneol, camphor, eugenol and cymene offer antibacterial properties.

Essential oils with antibacterial properties are:

• Bergamot
• Cardamom
• Clove
• Cedarwood
• Chamomile
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Fennel
• Grapefruit
• Ginger
• Helichrysum
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Lemongrass
• Nutmeg
• Patchouli
• Peppermint
• Ravintsara
• Rosemary
• Siberian fir
• Sweet orange
• Tea tree
• Thyme