Fight Bacteria Naturally! 5 Powerful Antibacterial Essential Oils
There’s more than one way to fight bacteria. Have you tried everything mother nature has to offer? Here are five antibacterial essential oils to start!
Humans have used all kinds of natural substances to fight bacteria. Honey and compresses made of moldy bread are two examples.
Traditional medicine only caught up in the early 20th century. The development of antibiotics helped get germs under control.
But you don’t always need to reach for pharmaceuticals to kill bacteria. The natural world still offers plenty of solutions in the form of essential oils.
Which are the best antibacterial essential oils? Read on to learn more.
1. Tea Tree
Also known as melaleuca, tea tree has amazing antibacterial properties. It often appears in skincare. Dabbing a drop onto the skin is an old cure for spots!
Used externally, it can be a topical product for cuts and scrapes or athlete’s foot.
Studies into its scientific uses are in their infancy. But it looks promising as a way to fight antibiotic-resistant infections like MRSA.
2. Oregano
Ancient civilizations started adding oregano to food to stop it going bad. So it’s not surprising that oregano oil can help prevent the growth of E-coli.
Add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply topically. Or run oregano oil in a diffuser to get its antibacterial power into the air of your home.
Put oregano oil in your cleaner spray for an added boost.
You can also use tea tree or oregano essential oils for parasites.
3. Peppermint
Peppermint is a flexible choice, used to flavor food and ease indigestion. It’s also one of the best essential oils for bacteria.
A 1996 study pitted a range of essential oils against 22 bacteria and 12 fungi. Peppermint could treat all 22 bacteria and 11 fungi.
This makes it a great ‘all-rounder’ in your fight against bacteria.
Use peppermint in your diffuser to get the benefit throughout your home.
4. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is great for clearing the sinuses when you have a cold. But it’s also a powerful antifungal and antibacterial oil.
Its antifungal properties make it a great dandruff solution. Mix a few drops into coconut oil and massage into your scalp.
The coconut oil acts as a moisturizer. While the eucalyptus soothes dandruff or itchy skin.
In the 1996 study mentioned above, eucalyptus performed as well as peppermint. Eucalyptus shares chemical components with peppermint, so it’s not surprising.
5. Citronella
Like eucalyptus, citronella is both an antifungal and antibacterial essential oil. It’s particularly good for respiratory infections.
Citronella has the added bonus of helping to get repel mosquitoes. It’s often added to scented candles or pesticide sprays.
You can add it to a carrier oil to help wounds because it helps prevent bacteria growth. Just be careful about using it near children.
The Top 5 Antibacterial Essential Oils
At the first sign of infection, reach for these five antibacterial essential oils. Add a few drops to a carrier oil and apply to a wound.
And you don’t have to wait until you have cuts and scrapes. Combine these oils in a diffuser to deodorize your home.
Drip a few drops into your cleaning sprays. Or add to skincare for extra benefits.
They’re all multi-purpose so you’ll soon wonder how you managed without them.
