Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Naturally antibacterial vs Chemically antibacterial

Lemon myrtle is one of the most active essential oils against microorganisms. An Australian University study showed that antimicrobial activity increased accordingly when the concentration of lemon myrtle essential oil was increased. 

The results of microbiological tests show lemon myrtle essential oil to be significantly more active than tea tree oil against a broad range of microorganisms. Lemon myrtle inhibited all organisms tested at concentrations of less than and equal to 0.2%. This included a strain of P.aeruginosa, an extremely resistant strain of Pseudomonas which was inhibited at 2% concentration (compared with teatree's 8%). 

When you use Lemon Myrtle Essentials' products like the Organic Lemon Myrtle Self-foaming liquid soap, it has naturally hygienic antibacterial actions. It is formulated to be gentle and good for everyday use and for children. Similarly, using the Lemon Myrtle Essentials Hand Lotion provides more hygienic protection than another hand lotion might.

However many people don't differentiate between a chemical anti-microbial and a natural one like lemon myrtle essential oil. There is a growing proliferation of antimicrobial handwashes, wet wipes and gels on our supermarket and pharmacy shelves. 

Let me tell you why I would prefer to use a natural antimicrobial than a chemical one, for everyday purposes. Man-made antibacterial products do a mass wipeout, not discriminating between good and bad bacteria. 

We need good bacteria - the bacteria cells in our body outnumber those of our body cells by a factor of 10! There are 10 times more bacteria cells than body cells in us! Most of these bacteria are friendly ones, performing a host of useful and life supporting functions, like defending us against harmful bacteria, promoting digestive functions, and a host of other important functions. 

Trying to kill bacteria by using chemical antibacterials or antimicrobials is a fruitless exercise, causing us to kill good bacteria which are better at helping us ward off harmful bacteria than chemicals can. I avoid using chemical antibacterial hand gels or washes. I notice they cause me to get eczema. My educated guess is that they wipe out the good with the bad, and reduces my skin's natural defences. Friendly bacteria are an important part of my skin's and body's defences, as I realised when a serious bout of pneumonia requiring a dosing of 3 super strong antibiotics and later, intravenous antibiotics, caused me to deal with a host of skin, digestive and immune disorders for years afterwards. 

Why are naturally anti-microbial essential oils different? Many foods we eat have naturally antimicrobial effect - for instance, cinnamon, coconut oil, olive leaf extract, various herbs, and so much more.. They appear to selectively inhibit certain harmful bacteria and not the beneficial ones. 

The Lemon Myrtle Essentials self-foaming soap contains organic lemon myrtle essential oil which is naturally antibacterial and kind to your skin, and leaves your skin feeling clean and smelling delicately citrusy!


Other Lemon Myrtle Essentials products here