Protection against the Flu and Essential Oils

As the bubonic plague ravaged Europe in the year 1413, the story of the four thieves arrived on the scene and the story has changed history. They were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims but it was noticed that they remained free of the plague. When the thieves were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they resisted contracting the infection as they performed their gruesome acts. The four thieves explained that they were perfumers and spice traders and finally exposed their special concoction of aromatic herbs, including cloves and rosemary, that they rubbed on their hands, ears, and temples. This prevented them from contracting the disease! And as a result the “bird-masks” were invented to be worn by doctors as protection against airborne bacteria. In the beak was placed a material infused in a blend of essential oils that would filter, and kill, bacteria. These masks later became the “prototype” for the well-known Venetian carnival-mask.

The essential oil blend of the Four Thieves was tested at Weber State University for its potent antimicrobial properties. Thieves oil was found to have a 99.96% percent kill rate against airborne bacteria. The oils are highly antiviral, antiseptic, anti-catarrhyal, antibacterial, anti-infectious and also help to stimulate the immune system circulatory and respiratory systems and help protect the body against such illnesses as flu, colds, sinusitis, bronchitis, pneumonia, sore throats, cuts etc.

A study by researchers in France in 2008 tested bactericidal activity of 13 different essential oils and had similar results, with cinnamon being the most effective. At concentrations as low as 10 percent or less, cinnamon oil was also effective against several antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and E. coli. During this study, after only 10 minutes there was a reduction of 82% in Micrococcus luteus, 96% in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 44% in Staphylococcus aurous.

There are a few recipes floating about for the Four Thieves:

Clove oil (Syzgium aromaticum) 200 drops or 1/2 ounce
Lemon oil (Citrus limon) 175 drops
Cinnamon Bark oil (Cinnamoomum verum) 100 drops
Eucalyptus oil ( Eucalyptus radiata) 75 drops
Rosemary oil (Rosimarinus officinalis) 50 drops

And, here are two recipes for Thieves Oil. One from Karen another from Debbie.

Thieves Oil recipes:

Equal amounts of eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, clove and lemon. Mix with base of olive oil. I usually put a tablespoon of each in a 2 oz. bottle and then fill the rest with olive oil. you can make a larger batch in a quart jar following the same proportion method.
Same ingredients, but measured out in different strength's. Clove Bud Oil 200 drops, Lemon Oil 175 drops, Cinnamon Oil 100 drops, Eucalyptus Oil 75 drops, Rosemary 50 drops.

Then there is also the essential oils being touted as combating the H1N1 Swine Flu of 2009: Oregano, Lemon, Cinnamon, Clove, Eucalyptus, and Tea Tree. Not so much different from the Four Thieves. I would say whatever you have on hand from any of these list would absolutely be beneficial to your immune system and to help fight off any form a cold or flu.

How to use the essential oils:
*Place in a diffuser for 10-15 minutes every hour up to 4 hours to kill airborne germs.
*Dilute 2 drops of the blend in a carrier oil and apply to chest to relieve cough, bronchitis, pneumonia, clear phlegm and to heat up the body if chilled.
*Place 2 drops of diluted blend on to the lymph nodes to attack the virus and massage gently.
* Place 1 drop on the bottom of each foot for an overall kick start to your immune system. This also allows your body to start the detox process to rid the germs and virus. This is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

My research includes but not limited to: Scent, Annick LeGuerer; The Foul & Fragrant, Alain Corbin; Aroma, The Cultural History of Smell, Classen/Howes/Synnott
http://politicolnews.com/protection-against-swine-flu/#comments http://stanford.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/four-thieves-vinegar-oil/801645

Natural Hand Sanitizers- Getting ready for the Flu Season

Nothing beats old-fashion soap & water, but when your out and about and that's not available, having a natural sanitizer will keep you of harms way and germ free. Here's a couple of recipes.

Start with a liquid container-fill it 2/3 of the way with water-add a tablespoon or 2of Aloe Vera Gel-you can choose between 3 & 5 of the listed essential oils and then add 5 drops each of lemon, cinnamon, eucalyptus, clove bud, lavender, tea tree. Add a splash of either rubbing alcohol or vodka and top off with water, shake it and gently apply to hands.

Or

10% Ravensara in Aloe Vera gel = Natural Hand Sanitizer

Citrus essential oils could be anti-fungal additives for food

By Stephen Daniells

02-May-2008 - Essential oils from citrus like mandarins and lemon could be natural anti-fungal agents for food, tapping into the search for natural alternatives to synthetics, suggests new research from Spain.

The tide is currently turning against chemical-based anti-fungal additives for food use, opening up opportunities for alternatives from natural sources. The reasons for this are manifold and include general consumer preferences for natural foods, legislative changes, and the isolation of antibiotic resistant pathogens.

"It seems that citrus essential oils could be considered suitable alternatives to chemical additives for use in the food industry, attending to the needs for safety and satisfying the demand of consumers for natural components," wrote the researchers from Miguel Hernandez University in Alicante.

The study, published in the journal Food Chemistry, reports that essential oils of lemon, mandarin, grapefruit and orange all exhibited antifungal activity against the common food moulds Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium verrucosum.

According to the researchers, essential oil from orange was the most effective against A. niger (50 per cent reduction). The mandarin produced the best effects against A. flavus (65 per cent reduction), and grapefruit came out on top against P. chrysogenum and P. verrucosum (48.1 and 48.3 per cent, respectively).

The protective effects against growth were proposed to be due to toxic effects of the essential oil on the functionality and structure of the cell membrane in the mould.

The researchers also note that other studies have indicated that inhibition may also be due to the monoterpenes content of essential oils. "These components would increase the concentration of lipidic peroxides such as hydroxyl, alkoxyl and alkoperoxyl radicals and so bring about cell death," they said.


Potential for essential oils

"The main advantage of essential oils is that they can be used in any foods and are considered generally recognized as safe (GRAS), as long as their maximum effects is attained with the minimum change in the organoleptic properties of the food," wrote the Alicante-based researchers.

Indeed, the search for natural alternatives to synthetic additives has increased the attention on essential oils. Katie Fisher and Carol Philips of the University of Nottingham's School of Health, UK, reviewed the potential of essential oils as inhibitors of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

The review, published in Trends in Food Science and Technology, noted that the antimicrobial properties of citrus essential oils have only started to be explored quite recently.

Fisher and Philips sounded a note of caution, however: "Should essential oils be applied to food they may be able to inhibit a wide range of organisms, but they could also cause an imbalance in gut microflora," they wrote.

Thus, while more research is conducted on the effect of certain essential oils throughout the whole intestinal tract, they recommend that a good starting point for the food industry would be to look at using those citrus oils that are already being used as food flavours.

Source: Food Chemistry
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2007.12.003
"Antifungal activity of lemon (Citrus lemon L.), mandarin (Citrus reticulata L.), grapefruit (Citrus paradisi L.) and orange (Citrus sinensis L.) essential oils"
Authors: M. Viuda-Martos, Y. Ruiz-Navajas, J. Fernandez-Lopez, J. Perez-Alvarez
http://www.foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp?n=85051-citrus-essential-oils-mould