Uses For Thymol Antifungal

Thymol is a component of oil of thyme, or Thymus vulgaris, and oil of oregano, or Oreganum vulgare. Thymol has powerful antimicrobial properties, including a demonstrated ability to fight a number of different fungi which can negatively effect human health and a healthful environment. Antifungal medical uses of thymol have not been sanctioned by the Food and Drug Administration, however, so consult a doctor before using thymol for fungal infections.

Nail Fungus

Thymol or essential oil of thyme traditionally have been used topically to combat nail fungal infections including paronychia and onycholysis. Resources such as Wellness.com, however, give thymol only a 'C' rating for this application, noting that the safety and effectiveness of thymol for fungal infections has not been scientifically proven. Always consult a health care professional before using thymol or any unproven natural remedy for a fungal infection.

House Molds

Mold growing in damp houses can create significant negative health impacts for residents in those dwellings, particularly those who have respiratory disorders or allergies. Many chemical fungicides, however, can also be unhealthy for humans to breathe. Thymol may provide a more healthful alternative for cleaning away house molds. Researchers at the Department of Microbiology in the University of Zagreb, Croatia, determined in a study published in the Letters of Applied Microbiology in January 2007 that thymol and essential oil of thyme, in relatively low concentrations, exhibited a wide range of antifungal properties against a variety of common house molds.

Beekeeping

Honey bees are an essential part of the environment, not only for their production of honey but for their role in pollination of numerous fruit and vegetable crops. Honey bees face a number of critical challenges, including fungus infections and a related infestation of varroa mites, which leads to a syndrome called colony collapse disorder. Beekeepers are successfully fighting back against this potentially devastating disorder with essential oils like oil of thyme and its derivative, crystalline thymol. Thyme oil is commonplace in beekeeping to control varroa mites, according to Ross Conrad, author of "Natural Beekeeping." David Cushman, a Leicestershire, England beekeeper, notes that thymol crystals are used as an antifungal agent in the sugar syrup used to feed honey bees in winter.

Candida

Candida albicans is a fungal yeast which exists naturally in the flora of the human intestines, but can cause an infection called candidiasis or thrush if if grows out of balance. Thymol, particularly in the form of oil of oregano, is a traditional herbal treatment for candidiasis. Three drops of oregano oil taken in a capsule or in juice three times a day for several weeks can bring candida overgrowth back into balance, according to The Herbal Digest website. However, this treatment for candidiasis has not yet been proven by scientific medical methods; always consult a qualified health practitioner before attempting to treat a candida infection with thymol.