Antiviral, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Essential Oils

Viruses, bacteria, and fungi, and can be challenging to keep at bay due to their adaptive nature. When we approach these microorganisms with the intent to kill, we must prepare to move as quickly as they do.  They “think on their feet,” mutating and evolving rapidly in response to our offensive measures.  

When a bacteria or virus realizes it is under attack from an antibacterial or antiviral, it swaps DNA with other nearby bacteria species to essentially become an entirely new organism - one resistant to the pharmaceutical that was effective just moments before.  This is known as bacterial conjugation. 

For the last few decades, antimicrobials have been routinely administered to and used in the breeding of livestock, in fish farming, for plant agriculture, in industrial plants, and for oil pipeline maintenance.  All of these drugs end up in our environment, in our water, in our bodies.   

Because of this, we are now facing AMR, antimicrobial resistance, on a global scale.  Viruses and bacteria have had decades to mutate and grow stronger in their opposition to our defenses. 

Thankfully, God equipped us with plants to use as food and for healing as well.  (Genesis 1:29; Ezekiel 47:12)  Essential oils are, in fact, the very defense mechanisms that the plants use.  Plants are susceptible, just as we are, to viruses, bacteria, and fungi. The job of the essential oil within the plant is to protect them from these aggressive microbes. 

While all essential oils are antiseptic, the degree of each varies.

"In the world of microbes, there are two groups - the Gram-positive type and the Gram-negative type.  This is a complex subject, but put simply, the distinction is based on whether the cell wall has a single or a double layer.  In the world of pharmaceutical antibiotics, whether an organism is Gram-positive or Gram-negative will very strongly determine whether a particular antibiotic will be effective against it.  Also, there are a multitude of micro-organisms, and, as we know, a particular pharmaceutical drug may be effective against some, but not others.  The same is true of essential oils."   
-Valerie Worwood, in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy

 

What this means is that the antimicrobial properties of an essential oil will be effective against some microbes, but not all of them.  The benefit of essential oils is that they offer a divine complexity - a plethora of isolated compounds that we have yet to fully understand scientifically.  These compounds, however, are what makes essential oils so effective in their work.  Individual essential oils can be used together in blends, unlike pharmaceuticals, to deliver comprehensive antimicrobial action.  

Using synergistic, tested, and proven effective, antimicrobial essential oil blends gives us a considerable advantage and lends to us outwitting these quick-thinking microbes.  Alternating two or three blends is even better as this will allow multiple constituents from the range of oils in the blends to boost our immune systems as they continue to protect us.

Below is a list of the antimicrobial action of single essential oils offered in our store, as well as the top blends we would recommend to you.  

*This list does not apply to those who are PREGNANT or to BABIES & SMALL CHILDREN.  Please go to the following separate list for each:

Pregnancy - Labor, Delivery, & Postpartum - Babies & Small Children

Click here for a printable pdf of this Antimicrobial Quick Reference Chart.  We recommend printing and keeping this handy!

*Note: click on the name of the individual oil to read more about its Applications and Cautions (or drug interactions) and age-appropriate usage.

Essential Oil Antibacterial Antiviral Antifungal Antimicrobial
Armor Blend * * * *
Armor Blend Spray * * * *
Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) * * *
Basil, sweet (Ocimum basilicum) *
*
* *
* * * *
Cajuput (Melaleuca cajuputi) * *
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) * *
Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutita) *
Chamomile, Roman (Anthemis nobilis) *
Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) * * * *
Cistus/Labdanum/Rosckrose (Cistus ladaniferus) * *
Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) * * *
Clarify Blend * * * *
Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) *
Cleanse Blend * * * *
Clove Bud (Syzygium aromaticum) * * *
Copaiba (Copaifera officinalis) * *
Comfort Blend * * * *
Ease Blend * * * *
Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus globulus) * * * *
Eucalyptus Lemon (Eucalyptus citriodora) * * * *
Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus radiata) * *
Fennel, sweet (Foeniculum vulgar var, dulce) *
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii/frereana) * *
Geranium (Pelargoinum graveolens/Pelargonium x asperum) * * *
Ginger (Zingiber officinale) * *
Immunity Blend * * * *
Inhale Blend * * * *
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) * *
Lemon (Citrus limon) * *
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus/flexuosus) * * *
Marjoram, sweet (Origanum majorana) * *
Myrrh (Commiphora myrrha) * * * *
Orange, sweet (Citrus sinensis) *
Oregano (Origanum vulgare) * * * *
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) * *
Peppermint (Mentha piperita) * * * *
Ravintsara (Cinnamomum camphora ct. cineole) * * *
Regulate Blend * * * *
Resolve Blend * * * *
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) * * *
Sandalwood (Santalum album) *
Soft Blend * * * *
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) *
Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) * * *
Thyme linalol (Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool) * * *
Tummy Troubles Blend * * * *
Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanoides) * * *