Antifungal Activity Of Essential Oils

Infection-causing microbes come in three distinct types: bacteria, viruses and fungi. If you have ever had common infections such as athlete's foot or ringworm, then you've had a fungal infection. Luckily, you can treat fungal infections with commercial medical products and also, possibly, with essential oils.

Oils

A number of essential oils have the ability to kill fungi and help treat fungal infections. Aromatherapist Patricia Davis explains that she often uses tea tree oil, lavender and myrrh against fungal infections. While those are commonly used there are additional oils you can employ, too. In her book, "375 Essential Oils and Hyrdrosols," Jeanne Rose says that geranium, eucalyptus and patchouli also have antifungal properties.

Conditions

Davis, a clinical aromatherapist, discusses using essential oil to treat different fungal infections. Conditions such as ringworm and athlete's foot tend to respond well to the essential oils' fungal fighting actions. You may also use essential oils to help to treat thrush, a fungal infection from the Candida albicans fungi. These infections can occur in the mouth and in the vaginal area.

Methods

You can use essential oils against fungi in a number of application methods. Davis notes that she often uses her selected essential oil in a skin cream or lotion when she treats skin infections such as athlete's foot and ringworm.

Research Support

Essential oils' antifungal activity has more than just anecdotal support from aromatherapists. Some scientific research studies have found essential oils work against fungi. A general research review by the University of Maryland Medical Center concluded that lab tests show some essential oils can kill fungi in test tubes.
MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, advises that early research shows that tea tree essential oil has antifungal ability against many different fungi strains; but more research need to occur before advising it as an effective treatment for athlete's foot or other fungal infections. A 2008 study published in the journal Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy also found that thyme essential oil treated a fungal infection in rats.

Safety

Treating yourself with essential oils works best with consultation with a certified aromatherapist or your doctor. Neglecting to treat even common skin infections such as athlete's foot can lead to secondary infection. Essential oils also have side effects and you might have a negative reaction to some of the antifungal essential oils. You also need to usually dilute all these essential oil before applying them to your skin; using an oil too strongly concentrated increases the likelihood of an adverse reaction.