Resistance is Futile by Robert Tisserand

"Essential oils can sometimes REVERSE antibiotic resistance in bacteria. While essential oils can't get rid of the resistance entirely, sometimes they can effectively turn it off, making bacteria susceptible to traditional antibiotics again. The most tested mechanism is in something called an efflux pump. This is a 'channel' in the bacterial cell wall that spits out an antibiotic before it has time to fatally damage the cell. Both grapefruit oil and eugenol (the major constituent of clove oil) have been shown to turn off efflux pumps in some bacteria, thus removing their resistance to antibiotics." 

"Resistance in bacteria to antibiotics generally happens through genetic mutations that are passed rapidly to other bacteria. However “…it is difficult to envisage a single genetic mutation or series of mutations that would render microbial membranes impervious to essential oils yet allow normal cell functioning. Any potential mutations to membrane properties that confer resistance to essential oils are likely to also negatively impact general microbial growth and survival.” (Hammer & Carson 2011). The fact that essential oils can kill bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics is amazing in itself. The fact that they can sometimes reverse antibiotic resistance in bacteria is seemingly miraculous." - Robert Tisserand, founder of Tisserand Institute and author of Essential Oil Safety for Health Professionals

Antibiotic Formula from research by Dr. Terry Friedmann, M. D.
Anti-biotic literally means "against life." Though the essential oils have properties that can be used to support the body in dealing with "bugs," they don't have the same "wipe out everything" propensity that pharmaceutical antibiotics have. We therefore will most likely not deal with a yeast overgrowth as you might with an antibiotic. We suggest that you don't take more than is necessary to support the body. In other words, don't take the "antibiotic formula" everyday, because Warrior is truly "big gun" ammunition. We usually do not have to take a blend such as this internally for more than just a few days because they are very effective.

When you need the power of an anti-biotic, think of Warrior, which is HEO's version of a formula created by Dr. Friedmann M.D., which has a powerful team of essential oils: Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata, Rosemary, Oregano and Frankincense.

Dr. Friedmann M.D. recommends that at the first sign of the flu, take one capsule every four hours for three days, and then take one capsule every eight hours for four to six days. [Enteric-coated capsules allow the essential oil to pass the stomach and release into the intestines.]

Warrior is a powerful infection-fighting blend and has potent antimicrobial, antiviral, antiseptic, anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.

Application Suggestions
Dr. Friedmann suggests to take 18 drops, but we've found that a little as 2-3 drops of Warrior diluted in a capsule three times a day is effective for infection. Reduce the frequency as indicated by return of health. This blend, appropriately diluted and applied as a gentle back massage, has been very effective for our family. Diffuse the oil to purify the sickroom or to prevent spread of illness. Warrior is considered a "hot" oil because of the Oregano and Cinnamon. Use caution when applying it to skin. Be sure to test on a small area first before applying to a larger area.

Can essential oils & antibiotics be used together? by Robert Tisserand

Combination of essential oils and antibiotics reduce antibiotic resistance in plasmid-conferred multidrug resistant bacteria.
"The finding highlighted the potential of peppermint, cinnamon bark and lavender essential oils being as antibiotic resistance modifying agent. Reduced usage of antibiotics could be employed as a treatment strategy to decrease the adverse effects and possibly to reverse the beta-lactam antibiotic resistance."

Research on MRSA and Essential Oils

Essential Oils of Aromatic Plants with Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiviral and Cytotoxic Properties - an Overview

General Information about Anti-biotics
Antibiotics kill both the beneficial and problematic bacteria. The intestinal flora has natural antibiotic action of its own, and we kill it off when we take antibiotics. Yeast is always present, but it is held in check by Bifidus, Lactobacillus, Acidiphilus and so on. Once the antibiotic comes in, the good bacteria are killed off along with the bad, and the yeast, which isn't affected at all, begin reproducing like a wild fire. In a nutshell, that explain why yeast infections follow antibiotic use.

Antibiotics also adversely affect the immune system and digestion. These are just some of the negative side effects: gas, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, indigestion and rashes.

Yeast can affect fingernails and toenails. It is also called a fungal infection. The nail starts disintegrating. Cleansing essential oil blend is fantastic in combating yeast/fungal overgrowth.

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is high in FOS, which is supportive to intestinal flora. Raw honey, with its enzymes intact, can kill yeast also.

Essential oils have the ability to disable problematic bacteria and support the beneficial bacteria. They are safe and balancing to the body when used in moderation. They boost and support the immune system. Hopewell Essential Oils has several blends noted for their effectiveness in lieu of antibiotics:
Warrior
Top Gun
Mercy
Ancient Shield
Absolve

Essential Oils in the Treatment of Intestinal Dysbiosis PubMed article
Caraway, Lavender and Bitter Orange are stand-out examples of essential oils that harmonize well with the beneficial bacteria in the body. The linked study demonstrates the excellent ability that these essential oils have to affect detrimental bacteria while remaining gentle on the body and beneficial bacterial strains. See Hopewell's Intestinal Pro blend.

The following was written by Dr. Joan Barice
Speaking as a medical doctor, all physicians are aware of the increasing problem of resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. This is especially a problem with bacteria which cause life threatening infections. It is a result of overusing antibiotics, and of using them when they are not appropriate.

Overusing antibacterial soaps may also contribute to the problem. Prevention is best, of course. Allowing natural immunity to work when infections are self-limiting or not likely to cause serious consequences is also important, as is not treating viruses with antibiotics which won't work anyway.

Essential oils can be very effective in treating many bacterial, viral and other infections, without causing resistance. The natural variation in the chemical constituents in whole plants depending on climate, altitude, and other factors protects against this resistance, as do the many chemical constituents in whole oils as opposed to using one isolated "active" ingredient.

The problem is, most doctors are not trained in using oils, but are well trained in using potent antibiotics. If you are trying to enlighten a doctor, who generally has had no training on essential oils, I would suggest providing scientific references that give the available evidence of the effectiveness of essential oils in treating infections.

We are impressed by scientific research and usually will not listen to "anecdotal" evidence" that it worked for some people. Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt's book Medical Aromatherapy, healing with essential oils, has been suggested and is a great reference. I have used it to give talks to medical doctors about essential oils.

Published articles on essential oil research, especially those in medical journals would be very good. Here are just a couple examples:

The Essential Oil Desk Reference cites some research:
1998: Chao studied a blend of oils patterned after that used by 15th century thieves containing cinnamon, rosemary, clove, eucalyptus and lemon was diffused in a closed room in which bacteria cultures were sprayed. There was an 82% reduction in M. Luteus, a 96% reduction in P. Aeruginosa, and a 44% reduction in S Aureus bioaerosols following 10 minutes of exposure.

Another study compared the effectiveness of essential oils to antibiotics - preliminary results showed cinnamon and oregano are comparable with penicillin and ampicillin in inhibitory activity against e coli and staph aureus.

Tea Tree oil: The Science Behind the Antimicrobial Hype 
Because of increasing resistance to antibiotics, interest in finding alternatives is strong.  Tea tree oil (TTO) has been widely used in Australia for 80 years and is active against many micro-organisms.

A pilot study of 30 MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) carriers comparing routine mupirocin nasal ointment and triclosan skin wash with TTO ointment and wash, showed one third were completely cleared by TTO but only 13% by conventional treatment.

In another trial of TTO in the treatment of herpes cold sores, the oil was found to assist healing to a similar degree as topical 5% acyclovir. The oil has about 100 components but 7 terpenes and their related alcohols constitute 80 to 90% of the whole oil.  Several of these components have been shown to reduce levels of Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.  Terpenes are lipophilic and partition into the phospholipid layer of cell membranes, disrupting normal structure and function. Allen, P., LANCET 2001, 358 (9289) 1245 or: Janssen AM et al, 1987.

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils: 1976-1986 literature review. Planta Med 53 (5) 395-398.

Antiviral and Antimicrobial Properties of Essential Oils, by Dominique Baudoux

Schnaubelt's book has a list of some basic research, including the following:

1960: Maruzella demonstrated antibacterial and antifungal effects of hundreds of aromatic compounds
1987: Deininger and Lembke demonstrated antiviral activity of essential oils and their isolated components
1973: Wagner and Sprinkmeyer in 1973 did research on a 170 year old blend of distilled oils still available in Germany. The effects of melissa and the other oils in Kosterfrau Melissengeist had been empirically known since Paracelsus (about 1500). They concluded that, with varying degrees of intensity, there was an inhibiting influence on all the bacteria tested, (Pneumococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphlococcus aureus haemolyticus, Neisseria catarrhalis, Streptococcus haemolyticus, Proteus vulgaris, Hemophilus influenza, Haemophilus pertussis, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli-Aerobacter group, various Corynnebacteria, and Listeria) and stated the large spectrum of this inhibitory action is as broad as or even greater than that of wide-spectrum antibiotics.

They also showed KMG has sedative and spasmolytic properties.
1995 Deininger et al. Demonstrated the broad spectrum of antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal activity of essential oils and their components as well as effectiveness for upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urogenital systems and for nervousness and arterial conditions.

Included many different bacterial species, aflatoxin forming fungi, quantitative proof of the antiviral effectiveness of different essential oil constituents with special attention to their cell toxic effects on human cells. Showed antiviral effects against herpes and adenoviruses with a broad spectrum of activity. Showed oils including Klosterfrau mellisengeist terpenes could be shown curatively and preventively in animal experiments after otherwise lethal herpes injections were administered, and induce a significant increase of immunoglobulins.

Schnaubelt lists even earlier basic science research showing it has been known a long time that essential oils have antimicrobial effects:

1800-2002: Numerous animal and in vitro studies - evidence that all essential oils are antiseptic, some more than others and that many are effective against certain fungi, bacteria and viruses.
1881: Koch demonstrated the bactericidal action of essence of turpentine against anthrax spores
1887: Chamberland demonstrated bactericidal activity of essences of oregano, cinnamon and clove on bacillus anthracis
1910: Martindale showed essential oil of oregano is the strongest plant-derived antiseptic known to date, 25 to 76 times more active than phenol on colobacillus.

Because of our training, because we are not trained about essential oils, and do not want to harm our patients by using something we do not know anything about, many doctors will insist on having still more research, and conclusive "evidence-based" research data before they will consider recommending oils for patients with an infection, and they will use antibiotics when they know them to be effective treatment for a particular infection.

I know from my own experience that essential oils can be very effective, and will not hesitate to use them when they are the most appropriate treatment. If, on the other hand, I had a life-threatening infection, and I do not have time to try something that will take longer, and there is a medical treatment that is known to be highly effective and safe, I would use it. Hope this helps.

Joan Barice, MD

Beyond Antibiotics by Lawrence Wilson, MD
Myths About Antibiotics
Antibiotics are a class of medications that can save lives. However, antibiotics are extremely overprescribed and most are quite toxic. They should be used as a last resort, not the first. Very often, simple, inexpensive natural methods described here work better with far fewer adverse effects. Infections are always serious conditions, even seemingly mild ones. Therefore, take care of all infections rapidly, and aggressively. Natural remedies often work superbly.

Testimony
The following anecdotal testimony has not been reviewed by the FDA.
The products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, prevent, treat or cure disease.
Information shared on the HEO website is not intended to be a substitute for medical advice given by your trusted health care provider.
We believe that essential oils are provided by the Lord to support our health and well-being.
The Lord is our wisdom, protector and healer.
(Genesis 1:29-30, Ezekiel 47:12) 

1. After taking antibiotics for two weeks for a double ear infection, my daughter ate very little and seemed nauseous all the time. The antibiotics had wiped out all of her good gut bugs and perforated her leaky gut further. So it hurt her stomach when she ate. We resolved this issue by giving her digestive enzymes with each meal, increasing her probiotics to twice a day, and adding 1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil to her milk substitute (given three times a day). The coconut oil help to seal the leaky gut. The nausea went away after the first week I gave her these supplements. To increase her appetite and help her gain her weight back, I gave her fruit on an empty stomach. It was the first thing she ate in the morning and before each meal as a snack. When fruit is eaten on a empty stomach its natural enzymes break it down faster. It leaves you feeling very hungry 30 minutes later. That's when I would serve her meals. After two weeks she regained her normal appetite, but it was two months before she regained her normal weight. - Facebook post

For more testimonies, see the detail pages for the oils linked at the top of this page.

Peroxidizer - Use 3% peroxide - 3 bottles of peroxide to 5 bottles of water in a cool mist humidifier. I use the ultrasonic humidifier because it cranks out more volume. Sit in front of it and breathe deeply - pathogens in the lungs and sinuses can't live in an oxygen enriched environment. Usually the flu and so on is gone within 24 hours using this method. You can also put it by your bed or the bed of your children at night when flu and cold strikes. Some have also had good results adding a few drops of Lugols iodine solution, which sounds like a good idea to me. - Kay Ness, certified neurodevelopmentalist with ICAN