More and more people are looking to natural remedies for their fungal infections. If this is you, you should consider trying an antifungal essential oil. Drug resistant fungal strains are on the rise as many antifungal drugs have been historically overused.
With the rising problem of drug resistance, why not try natural essential oils to treat fungal infections? Antibiotics are often broad-spectrum and end up killing the good bacteria as well as the bad, causing more problems down the line.
Let’s look at some potent antifungal essential oils to add to your arsenal.
Tea Tree Oil
The most widely known essential oil used for treating fungal and bacterial infections is tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia), native to Australia and widely recognized for its efficacy. Used by Aboriginal people for centuries, it has now become popular in many health and beauty products.
Its powerful antifungal properties are used to treat acne, athlete’s foot, ringworm, toenail fungus, dandruff, and more. It is also a useful addition to natural cleaning products for use around the house. Visit Wellness Nova for more information on tea tree oil and other essential oils.
Clove Oil
Clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum) is used in the treatment of acne and to kill off parasites. It’s very effective used orally as a dental treatment. You can often find it in natural toothpaste and it works well mixed with a carrier oil such as coconut or sesame oil in oil pulling. It works well in reducing gum disease as well, as it is a powerful anti-inflammatory agent.
In this 2017 study, clove oil was shown to have the most effective broad-spectrum inhibitory effect for growth across all fungal species.
Thyme
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) is known to be very effective against fungi and is used in a wide range of cleaning and health products. Thyme essential oil, specifically thymol chemotype, is useful in healing the gut and in battling antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It’s a potent antifungal used in an array of natural products including mouthwashes, deodorants, soaps, and insect repellants.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus) is best known for respiratory support, but it also contains powerful antifungal properties. In recent studies, these properties have been shown to be effective against toenail fungus, skin rashes, and dandruff. It has also been proven effective against 22 other types of bacteria and 12 strains of fungi, making it a viable broad-spectrum option.
Lavender
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) is perhaps the second most popular essential oil after tea tree oil. Apart from its common uses for alleviating headaches, helping with sleep, anxiety, and stress, lavender oil is extremely quick and effective for fighting fungal infections.
There is even some research that lavender oil may be lethal to candida infections and dermatophytes, the infections found in the nails and skin.
The Bottom Line
There are many uses and remedies possible with these antifungal essential oils. You can treat many common health issues without using medications, and avoid any nasty side-effects while protecting against antibiotic resistance. For beauty applications, they can be used in treating acne, toenail fungus, athlete’s foot, and more. They can also be used around the house for deep cleaning.