Moldicidal properties of seven essential oils

[Guest guest]

I found this research article on essential oils and mold.

 Seven essential oils were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of

Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Penicillium chysogenum on Southern

yellow pine (SYP) specimens that were either dip-treated or exposed to volatiles

of the test oils. Dip treatment with thyme or geranium (Egyptian) oil inhibited

growth of test fungi for 20 weeks. Vapors from dill weed oil also inhibited all

test fungi for at least 20 weeks when the vapor source remained in the test

apparatus. Essential oils may be useful as moldicidal surface-treatments or

fumigants for wood and wood products.

 

 

THE INFLUENCE OF ESSENTIAL OILS ON MOULD STRAINS ISOLATED FROM

POULTRY FARMS

 

http://www.lva.lt/vetzoo/data/vols/2007/40/en/mickiene.pdf

 

 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2006/fpl_2006_yang001.pdf

[Guest guest]

The text in the link is different than the text quoted. The text in the

link includes the phrase " ...created 10 mm diameter inhibition

zones... "

That's a strange way of describing efficacy. It sounds more like

they put a drop of essential oil on a culture plate and it spread to

a size of 10 mm where the mold wouldn't grow.

Also, it's an " inhibition zone " not a kill zone or a denature zone.

I'd want to know more.

In the text provided, it specifies " ...at least 20 weeks when the

vapor source remained in the test apparatus. " This requires

constant vaporization. Fine unless the occupant is reactive.

Which several on this group have previously stated.

I'd want to know more.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

I found thisresearch articleon essential oils and mold.

Seven essential oils were evaluated for their ability to inhibit growth of

Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma viride, and Penicillium chysogenum on

Southern yellow pine (SYP) specimens that were either dip-treated or

exposed to volatiles of the test oils. Dip treatment with thyme or

geranium (Egyptian) oil inhibited growth of test fungi for 20 weeks.

Vapors from dill weed oil also inhibited all test fungi for at least 20 weeks

when the vapor source remained in the test apparatus. Essential oils may

be useful as moldicidal surface-treatments or fumigants for wood and

wood products.

THE INFLUENCE OF ESSENTIAL OILS ON MOULD STRAINS

ISOLATED FROM

POULTRY FARMS

http://www.lva. lt/vetzoo/data/vols/2007/40/en/mickiene.pdf

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen http://www.fpl.

fs.fed.us/documnts/pdf2006/fpl_2006_yang001.pdf

[Guest guest]

I found this regarding this study.

http://www.faqs.org/patents/app/20090017142

 

n tests conducted in France by Professor Griffon, Director of the French Police

Toxicology Laboratory, the antiseptic effect of a blend of essential

oils---including pine, thyme, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cloves and

cinnamon---was studied in order to test the ability of the oils to purify the

air of harmful disease-causing bacteria. First, Professor Griffon set up a

number of Petri dishes approximately 15cm from ground level in an open room,

allowing them to stand for 24 hours, the germs from the air being collected

naturally as they settled into the open Petri dishes. After 24 hours he analyzed

the dishes, finding them to contains 210 colonies of various microbes, including

numerous molds and staphylococci. He then sprayed the mixture of essential oils

in the form of an aerosol into the air in the room. After only 15 minutes, only

14 colonies of microorganisms out of the original 210 were left alive. After 30

minutes, only FOUR colonies of the

original 210 were left. Importantly, ALL of the potentially harmful disease-

causing molds and staphylococci had been killed within the first 30 minutes.

 

http://www.miqel.com/reading_library/archived_stories/essential-oil-infection-he\

alth.html

  

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

[Guest guest]

Merely spraying on oil to a fungus, and thinking you are now safe... not true.

You MUST CLEAN the surface completely of all " by products " . Why? Read below.

I've not followed the " oil " threads very closely, but some 'facts' do

need to be expressed.

Aromatic oils as most of them are known, have certain intrinsic

physical properties,

that means the oil gets classified as

aromatic. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aroma_compound

1) the compound needs to be volatile - meaning it will evaporate like

water does.

It enters the air, and is light enough to be transported by air currents upward

and away. Not sink to the ground.

2) It needs to interact with the olfactory receptors of the

nose. That is, it is biologically

active. The oil molecule strikes the outer cell membrane of a living

thing (small like a

single cell bacteria or virus, or larger like a mold, or larger

still, like an elephant or whale).

The latter is most important for any disinfection effect. That is a

single cell organism

when it's outer membrane is struck by the right parts of the oil

molecule do not

survive intact. That is the oil molecule is biologically active, in

some way, when

it strikes the cell outer membrane. The molecule does not merely bounce off,

or rest there, not interacting. Instead the aroma molecule does

" something " to the

cell membrane. Typically, it's disruptive in some manner, that is,

not beneficial.

It's not nutrition to be drawn into the cell for reproductive

purposes. The oil molecule

could simple cut into the membrane, slicing it open, to let all the

inner fluids flow

out of the virus or bacteria or fungus. That typically " kills " the mold.

HOWEVER, it does not fully neutralize a person's sensitivity to the

" by products. "

These by products can become air borne and create the same sensitivity reaction

as a spore, or mycotoxin, or contact with the fungus

itself. Why? It's the nature

of the immune system that a group of molecules, where just one molecules is the

cause of the original ailment, the MCS, but as it's a group, where

most times, all

the molecules in the group are present, the immune system learns to

react equally

to them all. Equally to them all.

Thus, merely spraying on oil to a surface, and thinking you are now

safe... not true.

You MUST CLEAN the surface completely of all " by products " .

Your mileage may vary. YMMV.

If you are " hyper sensitive " this the above is true. If you are

merely " sensitive " , then YMMV.

So, as long as one has to " clean the entire surface " with soap and

water and elbow grease,

well, guess what? Forgo the extra cost of the oil, and the labor

time, and just clean it.

Then, disinfect it with cheap vinegar, to get where the soap could not go well.

Then apply a fungus inhibitor, like borax, in a dilute mix, and let it dry on.

Why inhale all that aromatic oil doing the cleaning, disinfecting,

and mold inhibitor?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for this study, Mayleen.

This is interesting info and the following is not a criticism of you or

the other researchers of studies on this group. Many of which are

very helpful and often found before the " professionals " become

aware of them. So keep searching and keep posting what you

find!

My comments are to illustrate the absolute necessity to carefully

read the words and understand what they mean. Especially

because of the current discussion about essential oils and mold.

The message of the study sounds very promising. Even I was

impressed on first reading. But a closer look reveals many, many

concerns about what the study actually demonstrates vs what we

think it does vs what we desparately need it to prove.

First, its purpose is clearly stated but the description of the study

is much broader. Which makes it easy for us to mentally " fill in

the blanks " and believe it will do whatever we need.

There is confused terminology. It states: " ... test the ability of the

oils to purify the air of harmful disease-causing bacteria. " But

then it talks about mold! Mold is not bacteria. This decreases

credibility that they actually know what they are talking about.

1. The test for effectiveness was for whether or not the mold was

killed. Nothing about it being removed or denatured. But the

original pupose was for bacteria, not mold.

2. The test for death only included the mold and bacteria colonies

already on the settling plates. It tested nothing in the air.

3. The test only included residual effectiveness (they stayed

dead?) on the colonies already on the plate. Keep it dry 1000

years and there won't be new growth for 1000 years with or

without the oils.

4. I would be extremely interested in their ability to determine

whether a mold colony is dead or alive in only a few minutes. The

only way I know of is to see if it grows bigger or if it sporulates. Or

it doesn't. This is too slow a process to determine quickly and

they don't describe their method of determining death in 15

minute increments.

5. The test did not address where the mold was coming from,

where the moisture source was located, or how to stop the

moisture. We are left with the impression that spraying the oils in

the air is all that's needed to solve the problem. Period. End of

story.

6. 210 colonies ( " of various microbes " ) after a full 24 hour

exposure is a very low number. I'm surprised it is that low. It is

extremely low, in fact, even if bacteria were not included. I'm

surprised that many would fit on a plate once they are big enough

to see without a microscope. Especially the bacteria because

they grow more slowly and most would be covered up by the

faster growint mold. But they don't say how long the colonies

grew or how big they were. Or what type of food was in the

plates.

7. I'm even more surprised at only 210 colonies after realizing the

plates were placed only 15 cm above the floor. That is ony six (6)

inches! Merely walking near the plates would disturb the air and

put most of the mold spores and bacteria onto the plate in

minutes. They wouldn't need a whole day.

8. Remember the statement of purpose? It was to " test the ability

of the oils to purify the air... " But the air wasn't re-tested! We have

no idea if there were fewer mold and bacteria in the air after

spraying the oils. All we are told is that after spraying the oils into

the air the microbes on the plates were dead. Which means the

spray also landed on the plates. Which also means they knew

how to determine death immediately. All of which makes no

sense whatsoever.

9. Spraying water in the air would have removed most, if not all,

of the mold from the air. You don't need oils for that.

Okay. So what do we learn from the study that is helpful?

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

I found this regarding this study.

http://www.faqs.org/patents/ app/20090017142

n tests conducted in France by Professor Griffon, Director of the French

Police Toxicology Laboratory, the antiseptic effect of a blend of essential

oils---including pine, thyme, peppermint, lavender, rosemary, cloves and

cinnamon---was studied in order to test the ability of the oils to purify

the air of harmful disease-causing bacteria. First, Professor Griffon set

up a number of Petri dishes approximately 15cm from ground level in an

open room, allowing them to stand for 24 hours, the germs from the air

being collected naturally as they settled into the open Petri dishes. After

24 hours he analyzed the dishes, finding them to contains 210 colonies of

various microbes, including numerous molds and staphylococci. He then

sprayed the mixture of essential oils in the form of an aerosol into the air

in the room. After only 15 minutes, only 14 colonies of microorganisms

out of the original 210 were left alive. After 30 minutes, only FOUR

colonies of the

original 210 were left. Importantly, ALL of the potentially harmful

disease- causing molds and staphylococci had been killed within the first

30 minutes.

http://www.miqel.com/reading_library/archived_stories/ essential-oil-

infection-health.html

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

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[Guest guest]

Thanks Carl,

I find it helpful when sonmeone with more experience in these matters takes them

apart.  The purpose is to find the wholes.  I will keep bringing articles to the

table for open discussion.  It is the only way to learn, listening to others

opinions especially those familiar and with more experience.

 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 7:04:33 PM

Subject: Re: [] Moldicidal properties of seven essential oils

 

Thanks for this study, Mayleen.

This is interesting info and the following is not a criticism of you or

the other researchers of studies on this group. Many of which are

very helpful and often found before the " professionals " become

aware of them. So keep searching and keep posting what you

find!

[Guest guest]

You're welcome, Mayleen. Keep posting the studies. That's one

way for us all to learn more.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

Thanks Carl,

I find it helpful when sonmeone with more experience in these matters

takes them apart. The purpose is to find the wholes. I will keep bringing

articles to the table for open discussion. It is the only way to learn,

listening to others opinions especially those familiar and with more

experience.

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

groups (DOT) com

Sent: Sunday, September 6, 2009 7:04:33 PM

Subject: Re: [] Moldicidal properties of seven essential oils

Thanks for this study, Mayleen.

This is interesting info and the following is not a criticism of you or

the other researchers of studies on this group. Many of which are

very helpful and often found before the " professionals " become

aware of them. So keep searching and keep posting what you

find!

----------

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prepared for transmission using the Internet MIME message format.

If you are using Pegasus Mail, or any other MIME-compliant system,

you should be able to save it or view it from within your mailer.

If you cannot, please ask your system administrator for assistance.

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Date: 16 Jun 2009, 0:10

Size: 358 bytes.

Type: Unknown

[Guest guest]

A little basic layman's science to correct the information about " aromatics " in

a post by someone else.

The essential oil has aromatic properties, which means some molecules become

airborne, or are evaporated into the air. It does not mean the actual oil is

evaporated. The molecules that you smell, the 'aroma', is caused by volatile

organic compounds, or voc's. Their partial pressure allows them to enter the

atmosphere, sometimes quickly sometimes over long period of time.

The portion of the oil that is active toward or against the toxin or microbe is

likely still on the surface, doing it's job, i.e., reacting with cell walls or

toxic molecules.

So yes the oil is potentially effective. And, a warning, the voc's may be a

problem to some, just like the very same volatile molecules are a problem in

perfumes to some people. The very same molecules that are isolated from the

essential oil and used to fragrance many products. However, these same molecules

may also be synthesized in a commercial lab; they are identical, sometimes even

more pure of compounds than what is sold in the essential oil.

For example, the thyme oil used in a mold cleaner has naturally occurring phenol

called thymol. (note: this same cleaner also emits a very strong aroma,

reminiscent of anything cooked with thyme, like spaghetti! And, I do not

recommend this product.) There is also no evidence of quality control, so the

oil is added, but with no control over the amount (concentration) of the phenol

(aka thymol); due to differences in both the plants and the process, the thymol

can likely be added at different concentrations. This has yet to be identified

as an issue with the EPA registration, although other products must specify the

concentration of a specific ingredient, this product only has to specify the

concentration of the essential oil, not the actual active molecule, thymol.

So, if you are going to criticize a product, please know the actual chemistry

behind the entire product, and do not generalize to make it appear the complete

product is a problem.

[Guest guest]

Yes I agree that the VOC's can ba problem for some especially those with MCS. 

Also it depends on the extraction of the oil either by solvent (which should be

avoided) .  There are different methods for extraction.  The herb is also

important all lavenders for instance do not have the same properties.  The

botanical name is important.

 

God Bless !!

dragonflymcs

Mayleen

________________________________

From: " scottarmour@... " <scottarmour@...>

Sent: Monday, September 7, 2009 5:18:16 PM

Subject: [] Re: Moldicidal properties of seven essential oils

 

A little basic layman's science to correct the information about " aromatics " in

a post by someone else.

The essential oil has aromatic properties, which means some molecules become

airborne, or are evaporated into the air. It does not mean the actual oil is

evaporated. The molecules that you smell, the 'aroma', is caused by volatile

organic compounds, or voc's. Their partial pressure allows them to enter the

atmosphere, sometimes quickly sometimes over long period of time.

The portion of the oil that is active toward or against the toxin or microbe is

likely still on the surface, doing it's job, i.e., reacting with cell walls or

toxic molecules.

So yes the oil is potentially effective. And, a warning, the voc's may be a

problem to some, just like the very same volatile molecules are a problem in

perfumes to some people. The very same molecules that are isolated from the

essential oil and used to fragrance many products. However, these same molecules

may also be synthesized in a commercial lab; they are identical, sometimes even

more pure of compounds than what is sold in the essential oil.

For example, the thyme oil used in a mold cleaner has naturally occurring phenol

called thymol. (note: this same cleaner also emits a very strong aroma,

reminiscent of anything cooked with thyme, like spaghetti! And, I do not

recommend this product.) There is also no evidence of quality control, so the

oil is added, but with no control over the amount (concentration) of the phenol

(aka thymol); due to differences in both the plants and the process, the thymol

can likely be added at different concentrations. This has yet to be identified

as an issue with the EPA registration, although other products must specify the

concentration of a specific ingredient, this product only has to specify the

concentration of the essential oil, not the actual active molecule, thymol.

So, if you are going to criticize a product, please know the actual chemistry

behind the entire product, and do not generalize to make it appear the complete

product is a problem.

[Guest guest]

I do try to always provide " good " information, with little typing.

And, likely there will always be exceptions to the rule.

Pointing them out can be a good thing, if the readership

can use the information. Sometimes, the use is not obvious,

but never the less, it's still a good thing.

At 02:18 PM 9/7/2009, scottarmour@... wrote:

>A little basic layman's science to correct the information about

> " aromatics " in a post by someone else.

>The essential oil has aromatic properties, which means some

>molecules become airborne, or are evaporated into the air. It does

>not mean the actual oil is evaporated.

In some cases it does. Try this, leave out a drop of the oil, and in

the morning, it's all gone. No drop.

Not all oils do this. Try Tea Tree Oil (TTO).

>The molecules that you smell, the 'aroma', is caused by volatile

>organic compounds, or voc's. Their partial pressure allows them to

>enter the atmosphere, sometimes quickly sometimes over long period of time.

Hmm, as long as we are " clarifying " , the use of the term " partial

pressure " ... should be vapor pressure.

Partial pressure applies only to gasses, not to liquids.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Partial_pressure#Vapor_pressure

>The portion of the oil that is active toward or against the toxin or

>microbe is likely still on the surface, doing it's job, i.e.,

>reacting with cell walls or toxic molecules.

Hmm, the above may be true for some oils, many oils, but not " all " oils.

Many, most VOCs are quite active. Not all VOCs are disinfectants.

>So yes the oil is potentially effective. And, a warning, the voc's

>may be a problem to some, just like the very same volatile molecules

>are a problem in perfumes to some people. The very same molecules

>that are isolated from the essential oil and used to fragrance many

>products. However, these same molecules may also be synthesized in a

>commercial lab; they are identical, sometimes even more pure of

>compounds than what is sold in the essential oil.

And sometimes they are not identical, but close enough.

And sometimes they are not identical, and the difference can be

toxic, or poisonous.

>For example, the thyme oil used in a mold cleaner has naturally

>occurring phenol called thymol. (note: this same cleaner also emits

>a very strong aroma, reminiscent of anything cooked with thyme, like

>spaghetti! And, I do not recommend this product.) There is also no

>evidence of quality control, so the oil is added, but with no

>control over the amount (concentration) of the phenol (aka thymol);

>due to differences in both the plants and the process, the thymol

>can likely be added at different concentrations. This has yet to be

>identified as an issue with the EPA registration, although other

>products must specify the concentration of a specific ingredient,

>this product only has to specify the concentration of the essential

>oil, not the actual active molecule, thymol.

Standardization is an issue when looking at the " active " ingredient(s).

Standardization is a good thing, but can be over done, as most times

only one ingredient is standardized, and the ratio to other active ingredients

can be key to success. It's rare that standardization is used in cases where

ratios are important, but it happens.

>So, if you are going to criticize a product, please know the actual

>chemistry behind the entire product, and do not generalize to make

>it appear the complete product is a problem.

Yes, I agree. I'm not sure you are replying to my post, or to one of

Carl's, or someone else.

Generalization is a problem, as it makes for a lot of typing time to

fully qualify a posted sentence.

And I've found it a waste of time for most readers, except a few, and

sometimes not even that.