Summary
see also
Infections to compare bacterial, viral, fungal,
and parasitical.
The flu is probably the most common of viral infections
but there are many others.
Below is a brief description of viral infections in general and links
to the flu and some other common illness caused by viral
infections.
A virus is even smaller than the one-cell bacteria.
Unlike all other infectious agents it is not even a living
“thing”. It rather is some molecules (DNA or RNA)
surrounded with some protein that is only able to exist if
it invades a (human) cell. It is submicroscopic
meaning that it is so small that with the typical microscope
it cannot be seen. It survives and multiplies at the
expense of the cell it has invaded and moves on to invade
other nearby cells thus spreading its harmful effects.
Interestingly enough, science has not yet found a beneficial
virus. Common diseases caused by viruses are:
•
AIDS
•
Bronchitis
•
Chicken Pox (Shingles)
•
Common cold
•
Conjunctivitis (pink eye)
•
Influenza
•
Meningitis
•
Mononucleosis
•
Mumps
•
Rabies
•
Tonsillitis
•
Warts
Note: A number of infectious diseases can be the result
of bacterial, viral, and/or fungal infections.
Infections – Bacterial vs. Viral
(see also
MRSA)
Robert James
Viruses are about 100 times smaller that bacteria. And
about 100 times harder to get rid of than bacteria. Viruses
also live and reproduce inside a host cell. They are
basically a protein that has either a DNA or RNA gene
molecules. Viruses are harder to kill because they are not
exactly alive in the first place. Antibiotics have no
effect on viruses. Most control of virus comes in the form
or prevention or immunization. If a doctor prescribes an
anti-biotic for a virus, it is likely for a placebo effect.
It will not help.
Bacterium, is a living cell that has all the biological
workings for carrying out life processes, including
reproduction. Unlike the bacterium a virus is nothing
more than a single or double strand of RNA or DNA wrapped in
a coat of protein. Not all bacteria are bad, and the good
bacteria in our body is essential for many functions.
Some essential oils have been studied for their
anti-viral activity. Many more are considered effective
against bacteria. The most amazing thing about essential
oils and bacteria is their ability to effectively kill bad
bacteria while leaving good bacteria alone!
Oils that inhibit the growth of micro organisms like
bacteria or fungi (antibacterial) are basil, cassia,
cinnamon, clove, cypress, eucalyptus, geranium, lavender,
lemon, marjoram, melaleuca, myrrh, orange, oregano,
peppermint, rosemary and thyme.
Oils that have been studied to help control viral
infections include, basil, cassia, cinnamon, eucalyptus,
frankincense, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram, melaleuca, myrrh.
oregano, and thyme.
It is difficult to make clear cut decisions on which oils
do what. Some oils may have properties that test as very
effective at inhibiting viral growth, but the percentage of
the property contained as a constituent may be quite small.
They also may have two such properties, and synergistically
they might be fairly effective together at attacking
bacteria or virus respectively.
In reading several books by trusted doctors, PhD's and
scientists, we find that they often do not cite the same
oils as having the same results but I have looked for those
with a common consensus. Constituents that seem to have that
common consensus for antiviral activity include, but are not
limited to; anethole, carvone, beta-caryophyllene, citral,
eugenol, limonene, linalool, and linalyl acetate.
Some essential oils are believed to attack viruses in the
host cells, at a cellular level. That is why I personally
believe I've seen oils like oregano effective against SARs
and shingles. Of course, many essential oils are well known
for their ability to stimulate the immune system and offer
some indirect protection against viral infection through
these effects.
Oils, blends & products
recommended:
Oils & Blends:
The most common antiviral oils/blends are: basil, Breathe, cassia, ClearSkin, cinnamon,
clove, eucalyptus, frankincense, helichrysum, lemon, lemongrass, marjoram,
melaleuca, melissa, myrrh, OnGuard, oregano, thyme.
Suggested protocols:
See individual health concerns for detailed protocols.
Note that an infection can be the result of a variety of
strains of bacteria, virus, etc. and that different oils may
be more potent than others against a particular strain.
That is the advantage of some of the blends of oils such as
ClearSkin, DigestZen, OnGuard, Purify. These blends
are made up of some of the most potent oils hence the blend
when used will cover a much wider variety of potential
strains.
What Science & Research are saying
Protective essential oil attenuates
influenza virus infection: an in vitro study in MDCK cells.
BMC Complement Altern Med. 2010 Nov 15;10:69;
Wu S, Patel KB, Booth LJ, Metcalf JP, Lin HK, Wu W.;
Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Affiliated
Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, PR
China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and
mortality. The recent pandemic of a novel H1N1 influenza
virus has stressed the importance of the search for
effective treatments for this disease. Essential oils from
aromatic plants have been used for a wide variety of
applications, such as personal hygiene, therapeutic massage
and even medical practice. In this paper, we investigate the
potential role of an essential oil in antiviral activity.
METHODS:
We studied a commercial essential oil blend, On
Guard™, and evaluated its ability in modulating influenza
virus, A/PR8/34 (PR8), infection in Madin-Darby
canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Influenza virus was first
incubated with the essential oil and infectivity in MDCK
cells was quantified by fluorescent focus assay (FFA). In
order to determine the mechanism of effects of essential oil
in viral infection inhibition, we measured hemagglutination
(HA) activity, binding and internalization of untreated and
oil-treated virus in MDCK cells by flow cytometry and
immunofluorescence microscopy. In addition, the effect of
oil treatment on viral transcription and translation were
assayed by relative end-point RT-PCR and western blot
analysis.
RESULTS:
Influenza virus infectivity was
suppressed by essential oil treatment in a dose-dependent
manner; the number of nascent viral particles
released from MDCK cells was reduced by 90% and by 40% when
virus was treated with 1:4,000 and 1:6,000 dilutions of the
oil, respectively. Oil treatment of the virus also decreased
direct infection of the cells as the number of infected MDCK
cells decreased by 90% and 45% when virus was treated with
1:2,000 and 1:3,000 dilutions of the oil, respectively. This
was not due to a decrease in HA activity, as HA was
preserved despite oil treatment. In addition, oil treatment
did not affect virus binding or internalization in MDCK
cells. These effects did not appear to be due to
cytotoxicity of the oil as MDCK cell viability was only seen
with concentrations of oil that were 2 to 6 times greater
than the doses that inhibited viral infectivity. RT-PCR and
western blotting demonstrated that oil treatment of the
virus inhibited viral NP and NS1 protein, but not mRNA
expression.
CONCLUSIONS:
An essential oil blend significantly attenuates influenza
virus PR8 infectivity in vitro without affecting viral
binding or cellular internalization in MDCK cells. Oil
treated virus continued to express viral mRNAs but had
minimal expression of viral proteins, suggesting that the
antiviral effect may be due to inhibition of viral protein
translation.
Influence of viral infection on
essential oil composition of Ocimum basilicum (Lamiaceae).
Nat Prod Commun. 2011 Aug;6(8):1189-92; Nagai
A, Duarte LM, Santos DY.; São Paulo State
University - Júlio de Mesquita Filho - Campus of Botucatu,
Institute of Bioscience, Deparment of Botany, Botucatu-SP,
Brazil, 18618-000.
Abstract
Ocimum basilicum L., popularly known as sweet basil, is a
Lamiaceae species whose essential oil is mainly composed of
monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes and phenylpropanoids. The
contents of these compounds can be affected by abiotic and
biotic factors such as infections caused by viruses. The
main goal of this research was an investigation of the
effects of viral infection on the essential oil profile of
common basil. Seeds of O. basilicum L. cv. Genovese were
sowed and kept in a greenhouse. Plants presenting two pairs
of leaves above the cotyledons were inoculated with an
unidentified virus isolated from a field plant showing
chlorotic yellow spots and foliar deformation. Essential
oils of healthy and infected plants were extracted by
hydrodistillation and analyzed by GCMS. Changes in essential
oil composition due to viral infection were observed.
Methyleugenol and p-cresol,2,6-di-tert-butyl were the main
constituents. However, methyleugenol contents were
significantly decreased in infected plants.
Ready, Set, Grow
