Garlic Oil Can Kill Bacteria That Cause Lyme Disease, Says New Study
Garlic oil not only killed the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, but also prevented their regrowth for weeks.
A new study reveals that garlic oil has the power to kill bacteria that cases the tick-borne Lyme disease. The study was conducted by John Hopkins University’s Bloomberg School of Public Health and its findings were published in the journal Antibiotics. The researchers claimed that oils that were derived from garlic helped in killing the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. Out of a list of 35 essential oils, which included garlic, thyme, cinnamon, cumin and others, 10 of the oils exhibited powerful antibacterial activity against Borrelia burgdorferi. Turmeric Health Benefits: Fighting Cancer, Preventing Diabetes and Other Reasons Why You Should Have This Curcumin-Rich Spice.
Out of all the oils that were tested, the most effective ones were derived from garlic bulbs, allspice berries, myrrh trees and may chang fruit. The research found out that the oils managed to wipe out the Lyme bacteria within seven days. Not only that. The bacteria didn’t grow back in the three weeks after that.
What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is caused by ticks. The bacteria Borrelia burdgdorferi is transmitted through the bite of infected, backlegged ticks. According to the Centers for Diseases Prevention and Control, the typical symptoms of Lyme disease include fever, headache, fatigue, skin rash, etc.
If left untreated, the infection can spread to the heart, the joints and the nervous system. Typically, the disease is treated with a few weeks of antibiotics. Amazing Health Benefits of Ginger You Didn't Know About.
Oral antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime axetil are given to patients. But patients who have exhibited a certain neurological or cardiac forms of the illness may need intravenous treatment with antibiotics.
But with the new findings, scientists are hopeful of exploring natural oils as a possible treatment option for Lyme disease.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 05, 2018 06:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).