A few years ago the University of Manchester researched three essential oils and found that they destroyed MRSA and E.coli bacteria in two minutes.

Has anyone tried essential oils as a preventative against the new pandemic Swine Flu?  We can use essential oils as a practical application which can be of an enormous benefit to those who are vulnerable to this flu.

Inhalation of essential oils is a pleasant and most effective therapy. 
 
The advice from the NHS to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus is to:

• cover the mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, using a tissue
• throw the tissue away quickly and carefully
• wash your hands regularly with soap and water
• clean hard surfaces (like door handles and remote controls)

Essential oils that are beneficial both for inhalation and use in our cleaning products to minimise the risk of infection are:

Ravensara Ravensara aromatica

Chemical constituents: Terpinyl acetate (Ester) pinene, sabinene 13-15% (Monoterpenes) caryophyllene (Sesquiterpenes) 1,8 cineole 60% (Oxide) terpineol 6-7%, terpinen-4-ol 2% (Monoterpenols)

Properties: Anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, detoxicant, expectorant, neurotonic

Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia

Chemical constituents: a-pinene 0.8-4%, b-pinene 0.1-1.6%, a-terpinene 4-12% y-terpinene 9-28%, p-cymene 0.4-12%, limonene 0.4-3%, terpinolene 1.6-6%, a-thujene 0.1-2.1%, sabinene 0-3%, myrcene 0.1-1.8%, a-phellandrene 0.1-1.9%, b-phellandrene 0.4-1.6%, terpinolene 3% (Monoterpenes) b-caryophyllene 1%, aromadendrene 0.1-6%, viridiflorene 0.3-6%, cadinene 0.1-7.5%, allo-aromadendrene 0.3%, muurolene, bicyclogermacrene, gurjunene, calemenene (Sesquiterpenes) terpenen-4-ol 28-58%, a-terpineol 1.5–8% (Monoterpenols) globulol 0.1-3%, viridiflorol 0.1-1.4%, cubenol (Sesquiterpenols) 1,8 cineole 0.5-18%, 1,4 cineol trace (Oxides)

Properties: Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, bactericidal, balsamic, cicatrisant, diaphoretic, expectorant, fungicidal, immuno-stimulant, parasiticide, vulnerary.

Veronica Sibley

Please find below  a link onto the University of Brighton website - News & Events - Aromatherapy Oils Could Kill Superbugs

http://www.brighton.ac.uk/news/2010/100312aromatherapy_oils.php?PageId=810