Are essential oils the way to go? My answer, most definitely. But I'm biased.

As an Aromatherapist and creator of the unique Prana+Therapy formula, I have used them for over 20 years. I've seen first-hand how incredible they are and what a difference they have made in both my own life, my family, my friends and my customers.

Now, more than ever before, we need to ask ourselves if we (humans) are willing to trust the power of nature and plants. But why? Simply because we may have to.  

You see by all accounts the increasing resistance of pathogenic microbes and the emergence of new strains of bacteria, fungi, and viruses. Consequently, this has led to extensive research on medicinal plants' unique antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and cytotoxic active materials. 

Is it possible to apply essential oils for this purpose? Is Mother Nature to be trusted?

Read on to learn more about the fantastic Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral, and Cytotoxic Properties of Essential Oils. 

The Unique Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral and Cytotoxic Properties of Essential Oils.

The use of renewable plant resources instead of primary sources of organic chemicals has prompted the exploration of essential oils from aromatic medicinal plants for potential exploitation in drug development. 

There are more than 500 compounds in essential oils, making them highly complex mixtures. They typically possess a high degree of diversity in their chemical composition among different species and varieties, field locations, growing seasons, and climatic conditions.

Essential oils represent less than 0.5% of the weight of most flowering plants, with the odoriferous compounds occurring in minute amounts and highly variable among species. 

However, the individual chemical components of essential oils can be pretty potent and are sufficient to kill microbial cells. Research has revealed that essential oils from various aromatic plants have antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer activities and cytotoxic effects on tumour cells. 

This article describes some of the important therapeutic applications of essential oils, such as treating viral infections and cancer.

Which Essential Oils have antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal and cytotoxic properties?

Essential oils of aromatic plants with antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic properties have been reported to be effective against several viral infections. 

1. Thyme, rosemary, cinnamon, sandalwood, chamomile, and lemon have been proven effective against HSV-1 and HSV-2. 
2. Cinnamon bergamia oil was found to be effective against herpes zoster (chickenpox and shingles). 
3. The important antibacterial essential oils, including cinnamon, lemon, thyme, sandalwood, chamomile, and blue tansy, have also been recorded as effective against several types of bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

The antiviral effects of essential oils have been found to cause capsid disintegration and viral expansion, which prevents the virus from infecting host cells by adsorption via the capsid. 

Essential oils also inhibit hemagglutinin (a vital membrane protein on the viral envelope) of influenza viruses.

Scientific Research into Essential Oils Ability to Fight Viruses

Over the years, scientists have identified essential oils and their components by observing their therapeutic effects in cell culture assays. In life science research and biomanufacturing, cell-based assays and analysis are essential. Live cells are grown in vitro and used as model systems for assessing the biochemistry and physiology of both healthy and diseased cells.

 The majority of the research studies carried out up to date focus on two major areas of research: 

(1) development of new antiviral agents targeting particular viruses and 

(2) evaluation of antiviral mechanism of essential oils. 

Essential oils are a vast source of natural compounds with therapeutic applications. 

The current review examines the ability of specific essential oils to inhibit viral infections.

The antiviral properties of many essential oils have been confirmed in vitro, and it has been estimated that over 70% of all viruses do not have natural inhibitors, so one must prevent infectious disease, especially those caused by viruses. 

One should also consider that these antiviral compounds are not only effective against human viruses but also against those infecting viruses reported in animals.

So, Where does that leave the Prana+Therapy Formula?

The Prana+Therapy formula has "19 Antiviral and Antibacterial components" in the form of essential oils.

Through Synergy this amplifies these essential oils and combining "together" this amplifies their action10,000 fold.

We can only claim the antibacterial aspect of our product as we have had it independently tested by analysis. 

However, in my own experience, since I created the Prana+Therapy formula over 17 years ago, this is a high-quality product and when used the way intended the Prana+Therapy Infection Prevention Protocol (P.I.P.P.) has been developed,  and Prana+Therapy has proven outstanding results in an infectious Viral environment.

Prana+Therapy Infection Prevention Protocol (P.I.P.P.)

 Remember L.A.S.H.:

Step 1: LAUNDRY – disinfect your clothes.

Add one cup of Prana+Therapy to the rinse cycle of a full load. (purchase of 5KG & 20KG bottles recommended)

Step 2: Purify the A.I.R. you breathe.

Diffuse full strength Prana+Therapy in electronic diffuser 24/7 (purchase of 5KG and 20KG recommended)

Step 3: Sanitise SURFACES

Spray Prana+Therapy onto exposed common surfaces, wipe with a paper towel and dispose. Repeat spray and let settle.

Risky areas: door handles, handrails, taps, sink basins and kitchen surfaces. (use any size bottle, 5KG and 20KG great for refills)

Step 4: Cleanse HANDS

Use Prana+Therapy to sanitise, hydrate and maintain the skin's natural pH balance. Wash hands as normal, spray with Prana+Therapy and dry with paper towels.

While washing hands with soap or with Alcohol infused products have been recommended, excessive use can also dry & crack the skin, which can leave it vulnerable as it strips the "acid mantel" of the skin leaving the skin susceptible to infection.

You can use this protocol where infection is already present or to protect yourself.

Method: Pranatherapy formulation was screened against four gram-negative bacteria :

(Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa Proteus vulgaris) and two gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus at four different concentrations (1:1, 1:5, 1:10 and 1:20) using disc diffusion method. 

The M.I.C. of the active formulation was tested 

The two-fold agar dilution method was used at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 25.6 mg/ml.

Findings: Treatment or prevention of some infectious diseases with essential oils.

The possible use of essential oils in traditional and natural treatments might be viable for preventing and treating some infectious diseases. The most attractive point about essential oils is that most have no side effects at the concentration levels used. 

In fact, the correct and safe usage of essential oils from aromatic medicinal plants may yield promising results in controlling microbial pathogens that cause infectious diseases. 

The World Health Organization (WHO) noted that majority

of the world's population depends on traditional medicine for primary healthcare.

Conclusion

The increasing resistance of pathogenic microbes and the emergence of new strains of bacteria, fungi, and viruses have led to extensive research on new antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and cytotoxic active materials from medicinal plants.

Essential oils have considerable health benefits, and anyone can benefit from their use. However, before you mix up your home remedy, you must first understand essential oils' complexity, composition, and properties, including dilution ratios. Yet even with all the basic knowledge there is no guarantee of a successful outcome.

So how does one know if an essential oil preparation will be successful and can treat a particular pathogen? The only way to ensure an E.O. formulation is viable is to have a trial efficiency test done by a credible laboratory. 

That will provide and prove the science of your formulation.  

If you'd like to try Prana+Therapy you can view your options here.