Did you know that the aromatherapy scene in Japan is huge and super active? Research into essential oils is already incredibly advanced there. The only problem is the language barrier! Even English texts are often not translated into German, and Japanese is literally a foreign language for most Europeans.
Naho Maruyama (Teikyo University, Institute of Medical Mycology) is a renowned researcher when it comes to essential oils for fungal infections. Let’s take a look at what she found out.
1. In her opinion, essential oils are more effective against fungi than bacteria.
2. Because their molecules are so small, essential oils can often penetrate nail beds and deep into the nails better than conventional medications. Sometimes a combination of both is useful.
3. Essential oils can prevent fungi from changing from the yeast form to the filamentous, uncontrolled growth of mycelia. It is often a success to keep the fungal infection in check in this way, even if it is not always possible to get rid of it completely.
4. In high concentrations, essential oils have a fungicidal effect; in lower concentrations, they inhibit mycelial growth.
5. Essential oils work particularly well against fungi when combined with heat. A 20-minute foot bath (up to 42 degrees C) is a great thing! It stimulates blood circulation and the oils can penetrate better.
At their university, they add 32 drops of essential oil to the foot bath. This dosage was used under experimental conditions and we do not recommend it for private use. But Ms. Maruyama says that it can get rid of athlete’s foot in four days. They use a mixture of palmarosa, rose geranium and tea tree in equal parts.
Aromatograms are produced in their laboratory in a different way than is usual in Europe. They work with the pure “vapor” of the essential oils. This means that the fungal colonies are not touched directly by the oils, but are only kept in check by the volatile molecules.
The studies were carried out on foot and nail fungi (Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes) and fungi that attack vaginal and other mucous membranes (Candida albicans).
Rose geranium and its main ingredient geraniol have shown very good anti-fungal effects.
In the case of oral and vaginal fungal infections in mice, it has been shown that gargling or washing with the essential oils (or the mixture) beforehand works better than simply rubbing them in.
Ms. Maruyama also emphasized that the anti-inflammatory effect of essential oils should not be underestimated. It helps the tissue to regenerate.
In their studies, they focused on the activity of neutrophil granulocytes (white blood cells). These cells rush to the infected tissue to fight off the germs. But sometimes they overdo it and cause too much inflammation.
The following essential oils have a positive effect on inflammation triggered by the cytokine TNF-alpha (in descending order of effectiveness):
• Lemongrass
• Rose geranium
• Spearmint
• Thyme
• Patchouli
• German chamomile
• Lavender
• Tea tree
• Eucalyptus
You can download the following three animal studies by the research group free of charge:
• Maruyama N, Takizawa T, Ishibashi H, Hisajima T, Inouye S, Yamaguchi H, Abe S. Protective activity of geranium oil and its component, geraniol, in combination with vaginal washing against vaginal candidiasis in mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 2008 Aug;31(8):1501-6.
• Abe S, Maruyama N, Hayama K, Inouye S, Oshima H, Yamaguchi H. Suppression of neutrophil recruitment in mice by geranium essential oil. Mediators Inflamm. v.13(1); Feb 2004.
• Abe S, Maruyama N, Hayama K, Ishibashi H, Inouye S, Oshima H, Yamaguchi H. Suppression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced neutrophil adherence responses by essential oils. Mediators Inflamm. 2003 December; 12(6): 323-328.
