| > Research > Herbs, Essential Oils and Anthrax |
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| Herbs, Essential Oils and Anthrax, by CJ Puotinen |
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Before anthrax arrived in the mail, warnings from biological weapons experts sounded like science fiction. Now these experts are regular guests on the nightly news, and anthrax frightens everyone.
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) is a gram-positive, aerobic (oxygen-utilizing), rod-forming, spore-producing bacterium. It produces one of the world's oldest recorded diseases and is mentioned in the Bible and by Homer, Hippocrates, Ovid, Galen, Pliney, and ancient Chinese and Tibetan medical texts. Anthrax was the first disease for which a causative agent was positively identified (1863 and 1875) the first infectious disease against which a bacterial vaccine was proven effective by Louis Pasteur (1881).
Anthrax occurs naturally around the world, usually in herbivorous animals such as cattle, sheep, horses, deer, buffalo, guinea pigs, and mice. Swine usually survive infection, while dogs, cats, rats, and most birds are naturally resistant. Humans are not as susceptible as cattle and other herbivores, but the illness does infect people and can be fatal. Reptiles and other cold-blooded animals are not affected by anthrax.
Anthrax is unusual for being the only aerobic pathogen that forms spores, and it is the spores that make anthrax persistent and dangerous. Boiling anthrax for 10 minutes destroys spores, although some strains of anthrax survive this treatment. When exposed to temperatures above 248 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius) for one hour, most anthrax spores die; they die more rapidly at temperatures above 320 degrees F (160 degrees C). Ultraviolet light destroys the spores, prompting postal authorities to install UV decontamination equipment in post offices. Other anthrax disinfectants include formaldehyde, lye, ammonia, chlorine bleach, and sodium hypochlorite.
Although contagious, anthrax is not usually transmitted from one individual to another, and no cases of human-to-human transmission have ever been reported.
In nature, anthrax spores are spread by vultures and other scavengers carrying tissue from infected animals, by floods that carry spores long distances, by tanneries that discharge animal matter into streams, infecting large areas and causing permanent contamination, by skins or hides (anthrax was traditionally called "woolsorters disease" and is still an occupational hazard for those who work with wool), by imported feeds, especially protein concentrates or raw bone meal containing spores, and by biting insects such as flies. Infection occurs through the alimentary tract, skin, and inhalation. The skin form of anthrax in humans usually begins as a sore that resembles a pimple, boil, or carbuncle on the hand, arm, or neck. It rapidly grows and develops a black center. Approximately 5 to 20 percent of untreated cutaneous anthrax cases are fatal. Pulmonary anthrax is more serious, beginning with mild upper respiratory symptoms, followed by fever and shock, usually within three to five days.
Public health officials monitor anthrax outbreaks by waiting for people to become infected; then they work backward to try to find what the victims had in common in order to find the source. In some recent cases, victims shared exposure to envelopes in which anthrax spores were mailed; in others, the source remains a mystery. Those suspected of being exposed, such as postal workers or congressional office workers, have been treated with antibiotics as a preventive.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) strongly advises against using natural or alternative therapies to treat anthrax or any other serious illness, except in support of conventional therapies. Prescription antibiotics are the only recommended treatment for anthrax. Because some strains of anthrax resist penicillin, ciproflaxacin (Cipro) is the recommended drug. When used as a preventive, Cipro should be taken within a day or two of exposure -- advice that is difficult to follow because few victims know when and where they were exposed. If Cipro were a harmless substance, one could simply stay on it, but Cipro comes with a lengthy list of adverse side effects, including possible kidney failure. It is also expensive, in short supply, and available only by prescription.
Another complication is the widespread use of antibiotics in our food supply. Trace amounts of antibiotics used in small doses to fatten cattle and poultry for market have been shown to interfere with antibiotics prescribed to fight infection in humans who consume those animals. Public health officials warn that eating chicken treated with Baytril, a widely used veterinary antibiotic, reduces the effectiveness of Cipro.
Biohazard experts offer differing advice about preventive measures, but most agree that timing is the most important factor. The more quickly one acts against anthrax, the more successful a treatment is likely to be.
Two Approaches to Health
For the last 150 years, Western medicine has focused on the germ theory of disease. In this model, infecting microbes (viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, and other pathogens) are defined as the cause of illness. Killing germs means averting or curing the diseases they produce. But another theory says that microbes can't cause infection unless conditions within the body encourage their growth and reproduction. If the body is a poor host, invading microbes can't take up residence. This explains why in every epidemic, some recover, some die, some have only minor symptoms, and some never become ill at all.
It makes sense in these uncertain times to do everything one can to improve immunity and increase resistance to the agents of disease -- and not just anthrax but all pathogens.
The simplest way to become a less inviting host to harmful microbes is to wash your hands, not only whenever you handle mail but throughout the day. Washing removes germs before they take up residence in respiratory and digestive organs or on the skin. Getting enough sleep is essential, for a lack of rest weakens immunity. For those who can't sleep, meditation and relaxation exercises help. Exercise that stimulates lymph circulation, including deep breathing, boosts immunity. Some studies show that ending hot showers with a cold rinse stimulates immune function.
Building a strong immune system with the right diet, lifestyle, and supplements offers a strong first line of defense against agents of infection. In addition, Mother Nature offers a powerful arsenal of medicinal herbs and essential oils that kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other pathogens.
In Herbal Antibiotics: Natural Alternatives for Treating Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Storey Books, 1999), Stephen Harrod Buhner describes several herbs and the pathogens against which they are effective, including garlic and grapefruit seed extract.
Garlic (Allium sativum) has antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, antiparasitic, antiprotozoan, antiviral, antifungal, and immune-stimulating properties. It is effective against tuberculosis, Shigella dysenteriae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Campylobacter pp., Proteus mirabilis, herpes simplex influenza B, HIV, and many others, including both gram-positive and gram negative bacteria. "Clinical studies have repeatedly shown that garlic is active against strains of bacteria that are highly resistant to antibiotics," says Buhner. It can be used raw, cooked, in capsules, or as extracts, some of which are deodorized. The recommended dosage is 3 capsules 3 times per day as a preventive, and during acute episodes up to 30 capsules a day.
Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) (Citrus paradisi) is the only herbal product that is an all-purpose antibiotic, having been shown effective against nearly every yeast, mold, virus, and bacterium on which it was tested, including gram-positive and gram-negative strains. Liquid GSE, which is widely available, can be used to sterilize everything from kitchen floors to surgical instruments. Three to five drops will kill bacteria in an 8-ounce glass of water. The liquid extract is extremely bitter; debittered GSE powder in capsules is sold for internal use. Unlike other herbal preparations, GSE does have side effects, for prolonged internal use will kill intestinal bacteria just as antibiotics do. The liquid should be diluted for most purposes, although it can be applied undiluted in small quantities to wounds, skin sores, ringworm, and other topical infections. Keep away from the eyes.
Other herbs with broad-spectrum infection-fighting properties include olive leaf (Olea europaea), echinacea (E. angustifolia, E. purpurea), neem (Azadirachta indica), goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis), sage (Salvia officinalis), and usnea (Usnea spp.). Bee propolis, the "glue" bees make from plant resin, is a similar broad-spectrum infection fighter. The Chinese herb astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) is considered a deep immune system tonic, which helps the body resist infection when taken over long periods as a preventive. Most herbalists recommend taking tonic herbs like garlic and astragalus daily, while saving echinacea, olive leaf, and usnea for periods of exposure or active infection.
Essential oils are the "life blood" of plants, and when concentrated by steam distillation, they are potent medicines. Therapeutic-quality essential oils are prepared from organically grown or wildcrafted plants and distilled in small batches, as opposed to essential oils produced for the perfume and pharmaceutical industries from commercially grown plants that are chemically standardized after being distilled under high heat and pressure. For best results, use only therapeutic-quality essential oils.
Aromatherapist Suzanne Catty of Toronto, Canada, has studied medical aromatherapy in Europe and the U.S. Her company, Acqua Vita, supplies therapeutic-quality essential oils, and she is the author of Hydrosols: The Next Aromatherapy (Healing Arts Press, 2001). Suzanne Catty kindly shared the following information regarding anthrax, suggesting an approach that combines protection and treatment on a number of levels.
"This subject requires in-depth study," she explains, "but it makes sense to examine the scientific and aromatherapy literature for essential oils that inhibit other gram-positive bacteria, other aerobic bacteria, other rod bacteria, and other spore-forming bacteria. I have found no evidence of experiments undertaken with either animals or humans and the Bacillus anthracis bacteria; however, my guess is that such tests exist primarily in France, Germany, Morocco, the UK, and Australia. These are all areas where sheep, goats, cows, and horses are kept for food and skins and where the animals are processed in a variety of conditions from highly modern to rustic. According to two medical doctors with whom I have spoken, cases of anthrax show up every year, and a variety of penicillin-resistant anthrax has been known for at least a decade. But it is the opinion of these doctors that the dissemination of anthrax in the U.S. (or anywhere) as a means of biological warfare would take a very different profile from what we are currently seeing. Both MDs believe recent cases are isolated and that we should not panic. Both favor prophylactic or preventive treatments that empower the individual to move away from the panic state. Panic and fear are very hard on the immune system, and if you want to stay healthy, you have to get your head in a good space!"
Catty lists the following essential oils as potentially effective against aerial or inhaled B. anthracis: clove bud (A), cinnamon leaf (A+, a "must"), Eucalyptus globulus (A), tea tree (A), Niaouli chemotype viridifloral and chemotype cineole (A), thyme chemotype thymol (A), balsam fir (B), lemon, bergamot, and petitgrain (B, supportive to other more powerful oils), purple bee balm (B), sage (B), and winter savory (A).
"Combine at least five of these oils," she suggests, "three from the A list and two from the B list. Diffuse this blend into your environment or place on a tissue and inhale for at least 60 seconds, three or more times per day. A good way to inhale is to place one drop of the blend in your palm, rub your hands together, then cover your mouth and nose with your hands and inhale. This simple method is very powerful. I have used this technique on airplanes for many years. You can also add this blend to your dish soap, hand soap, or dishwasher, or place drops on the ventilation system outlets in your home, office, or car.
"Using a blend of these oils three or more times daily will provide significant prophylactic defense against a variety of bacteria, including, possibly, anthrax. Dilute the blend to 30 percent or less for children, and use caution or consult an aromatherapist before using it on very young children. Aerial diffusion is the most effective method."
To prevent or treat cutaneous (skin) anthrax, Catty recommends a blend of palmarosa, niaouli, lemon, tea tree, thyme chemotype thuyanol or saturieoides, and black spruce. "Make a blend of these oils and apply it to the whole body every morning after your shower," she suggests. To do this, spread 10-15 drops of the blend on wet skin and allow it to air-dry, avoiding mucus membranes. If you find this too intense, dilute it 50 percent with a body lotion or a good oil like jojoba. You may also add 50 drops to each 1/4 cup of liquid hand soap or hand cream and use it frequently throughout the day, especially before and after eating, shopping, or handling newspapers, cash, or mail. If you have any cuts, scratches, or open wounds, apply 1 drop of undiluted tea tree oil three to five times per day to prevent bacteria from entering the wound."
For thorough prophylactic protection, Catty recommends the following essential oils: cinnamon bark, oregano, thyme chemotype thymol, thyme chemotype thuyanol, Eucalyptus radiata, niaouli, ravansara, winter savory, tea tree, lemon, peppermint, and black spruce. "I make blends of these oils in varying amounts for a variety of conditions and have sent clients traveling all over the planet with these oils to protect them," she says. "So far, so good. All of these oils are powerful and are the closest things to `anti-biotics' that we have from nature. Besides being specifically effective against the same `type' of bacteria as anthrax, most of the essential oils in this group have shown significant anti-viral effects. They may also provide a complex system of attack against the bacteria helping to defeat the phagocyte resistance that anthrax and some other bacteria exhibit. A blend of these oils can be taken internally, one drop three to five times daily. Do not be tempted to take more than this recommended dose. Less is more with these substances, and they will work with your body's natural immune system. Excessive consumption will not lead to greater levels of protection. If I were working on the cleanup crew at the World Trade Center, I might take six drops per day, but not more. Three to five is more than enough. I do not recommend the oils in this last group for application to the skin, for they can be irritating, even in dilution. However, they would also be effective in aerial diffusion. But they taste really good and work well internally, so why not use them that way?
"You can make a personal spray of any of your blends by adding 100 drops to a 4-ounce bottle containing 2 tablespoons vodka or other alcohol, then top it up with water. Mist this blend frequently into the air, on clothing, and to wipe surfaces such as phones, steering wheels, etc.
"The biggest issue with anthrax is protection," Suzanne Catty concludes, "as diagnosis is often too late or incorrect. By using essential oils to prevent infection and boost immunity, you have a stronger first line of defense against not only anthrax but all infections and biohazards."
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