It's telling that only one of these studies is published in a journal where I can find the full text (with MIT journal access). Sadly, it's only really possible to judge the research in that article, which is questionable. They test the susceptibility of e. coli strains to various oils, at 8-12 uL/mL. I think the only observation one needs point out is that concentration in a person's blood would kill them too. I wish it were otherwise, but you can't believe all peer-reviewed science.
Some folks in my circle of friends have been raving about essential oils lately as home remedies for everything from general relaxation, to treating dandruff to avoiding cold/flu symptoms. I'm all about improving our understanding of microbiology and moving away from excessive antibiotics use, but honestly these folks are wellness product hype jumpers though, buying and selling from each other via stay-at-home-mom pyramid type businesses and it's hard not to dismiss it as another way to overcharge pseudo-sciencers
I used to have an incurable sinus infection that plagued me every winter. Antibiotics were worthless. Then, after X-rays confirmed my maxillary sinuses were filled to the brim with crud and doctors wanted to cut out large swaths of my sinuses, I decided to hang upside down on my personal quack theory that it might let them drain.<p>To my somewhat surprise, every day I did this an unholy brew of dark brown mucus and blood would drain out of my nose after a few minutes. A couple weeks later the crud dissipated and so did the sinus infection. I haven't had a serious infection of more than a few days since 2011.<p>What's my point? Keep an open mind here. Traditional medicine wasn't the answer here. Homeopathy is nonsense, but there are occasional bits of truth to mine from alternative approaches.
My gripe is that "essential oil" is only slightly more specific than "chemical", so it's meaningless to talk about essential oils in general as a fix for anything. You need to evaluate them on a case-by-case basis for every use. An arbitrary essential oil is as likely to be a poison as a cure, but they're all lumped together in the hype. And it's not like we didn't already know that plants are a good source of medicines. /rant
My wife and her friends are into essential oils. I have mixed feelings. Some of the oils do seem to be effective, but there are definite red flags as far as the business behind the oils.<p>On the shady side, they have the ZYTO hand scanner, a device you place your hand on for a few minutes, and then it tells you all of your deficiencies, and all of the oils you need to buy to fix those deficiencies. My wife and all of her friends swear by this scan, amazed at its accuracy. My scan was not accurate at all. Before the scan, you have to enter your info (name, address, email, etc), so I have always suspected they are using some online marketing database to profile you. If you read about the scanner online, they claim that the reason the scanner doesn't give reproducible results is because it "uses quantum physics", which just screams scam to me.<p>As far as the oils product itself, I have used several on various skin ailments such as skin tags and warts, and I have been quite impressed at how effective they have been in consistently getting rid of them.
Carl Sagan, in his book Demon Haunted World, described his bologna detection kit, a set of principals and tests used to get a feel for the veracity of a claim. Here is my Medical modality bologna detection kit.<p>1. It is claimed the modality cures or treats a wide variety of otherwise unconnected symptoms.<p>2. Claims about the modality are unspecific. "It boosts the immune system." "It removes toxins."<p>3. It is claimed the modality is as effective as already substantiated treatments but trials are not controlled.<p>4. Purveyors of the treatment invoke any benefit besides its efficacy and side effect profile. They emphasize its antiquity or how natural it is.<p>5. Top researchers of the modality stand to profit from positive outcomes of their research.<p>6. There is no likely way for the treatment to work.<p>7. Trials are not double blinded.
My wife is big into essential oils. She initially bought into the hype. Interestingly the company she started to buy from, has soured her due to their business practices. Among other things selling "pure" oils, that really are not as pure as the claim.<p>I will say this when she first started with them, I thought it was all voodoo and witchcraft, but after using various oils, I find that certain ones do give relief of certain symptoms. Like we have a blend that "aides" digestion. And when I have heartburn, I rub it on my stomach and within 15 minutes feel better. Is it magic, I have no idea, but it seems to work.<p>But I also still believe in traditional medicine. If I have an ear infection I'm not going to pour oil in my ear, I'm going to go see a Dr and get a prescription to fix it. I think that there is a group of people out there who are so turned off by the western medical system, that they are looking for anything that they can hook on too, to hopefully provide them with a means to not have to participate in the system.
Just so no one is confused (like I was for a long time), essential oils are so called because they are obtained using plant essences, not because they are essential to us in any way (though they may now be!)
It's interesting to hear about the different impacts of essential oils, though when you consider manuka honey also has healing properties as well, it stands to reason that other natural plant extracts could have similar properties.
I have used essential oils for nearly everything including internal consumption, external issues, cleaning everything(alternative to bleach, etc), veterinary and can say they work. However, there are a lot of claims out there regarding essential oils that aren't true, so make sure you check a reliable source before you proceed.<p>Quality is very important, all essential oils are not the same.<p>It takes a lot of self education to take care of your own health but well worth it in the end.
This is so cool:<p><i>Other research, from a 2011 issue of BMC Proceedings, showed that adding a combination of plant extracts—from oregano, cinnamon, and chili peppers—actually changed the gene expression of treated chickens, resulting in weight gain as well as protection against an injected intestinal infection.</i><p>I have used all three of those as part of my treatment for my health issues, rooted in a genetic disorder. This is just so, so cool.
It would help hugely if we all become Vegans or at least vastly reduced our meat/fish consumption. Producing meat and animal products is very inefficient in terms of land and resources and encourages the use of antibiotics.<p>Of course this is a pipe dream and barring a world extinction threat, is never going to happen.
The operative word here is "might". Be sure to read Ioannidis, John PA. "Why most published research findings are false." PLoS medicine 2.8 (2005): e124.