3 ms·

It's telling that only one of these studies is published in a journal where I can find the full text (with MIT journal access). Sadly, it's only really possible

It's telling that only one of these studies is published in a journal where I can find the full text (with MIT journal access). Sadly, it's only really possible to judge the research in that article, which is questionable. They test the susceptibility of e. coli strains to various oils, at 8-12 uL/mL. I think the only observation one needs point out is that concentration in a person's blood would kill them too. I wish it were otherwise, but you can't believe all peer-reviewed science.

refurb 12y ago
This kind of reminds me of all the "X cures cancer" media reports. It's not that hard to kill cancer cells in a petri dish (or in a xenograph model). Tens of thousands of compounds have killed cancer cells in models, but failed entirely in humans.
- lobf 12y ago
  Yeah, a bullet kills cancer pretty well. The trick is targeting just the cancerous cells.
- palmer_eldritch 12y ago
  Reminds me of: http://xkcd.com/1217 http://xkcd.com/1217
TheSpiceIsLife 12y ago
Yeah, totally, that's ridiculous. Essential oils should never be taken internally. Having said that, the oils from most culinary herbs can usually be diluted one drop per litre safely. I studied herbal medicine formally for four years about ten years ago, and I always just tell people "never take essential oils internally" and they say things like "but what if an Aromatherpist (actually a qualification in Australia) tells me to, to which I reply "never take essential oils internally". Never take essential oils internally. Unless you want kidney failure.
- spacemanmatt 12y ago
  I wouldn't say never. A midwife recommended oregano oil for my wife when she couldn't take antibiotics, and we have used it to mitigate sore throats and possible sinus infections ever since. She did say it's not something you want to stay on forever, because that can have its own downside, but its limited toxicity is much better than a bacterial infection or stronger antibiotics, if you can safely avoid them.

refurb 12y ago

This kind of reminds me of all the "X cures cancer" media reports. It's not that hard to kill cancer cells in a petri dish (or in a xenograph model). Tens of thousands of compounds have killed cancer cells in models, but failed entirely in humans.

lobf 12y ago
Yeah, a bullet kills cancer pretty well. The trick is targeting just the cancerous cells.
palmer_eldritch 12y ago
Reminds me of: http://xkcd.com/1217 http://xkcd.com/1217

TheSpiceIsLife 12y ago

Yeah, totally, that's ridiculous. Essential oils should never be taken internally. Having said that, the oils from most culinary herbs can usually be diluted one drop per litre safely. I studied herbal medicine formally for four years about ten years ago, and I always just tell people "never take essential oils internally" and they say things like "but what if an Aromatherpist (actually a qualification in Australia) tells me to, to which I reply "never take essential oils internally". Never take essential oils internally. Unless you want kidney failure.

spacemanmatt 12y ago
I wouldn't say never. A midwife recommended oregano oil for my wife when she couldn't take antibiotics, and we have used it to mitigate sore throats and possible sinus infections ever since. She did say it's not something you want to stay on forever, because that can have its own downside, but its limited toxicity is much better than a bacterial infection or stronger antibiotics, if you can safely avoid them.