Best Essential Oils For Food Poisoning

Food poisoning is usually self-limiting and rarely deadly. In fact, you can treat it at home using self-care measures and conventional treatment. You can also use essential oils to experience relief from its unpleasant symptoms. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about food poisoning and the best essential oils for this condition.

About Food Poisoning: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments

 

Food poisoning is more common than you think. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that there’s 1 in 6 Americans who will suffer from some type of food poisoning each year.

 

Depending on the cause, food poisoning usually results in nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea a few hours or days after you eat or drink something that’s contaminated with certain bacteria, chemicals, parasites, or viruses. Others may have stomach cramps or pain, fever (38℃and above), and feelings of being unwell (tiredness, body aches, and chills). ¹

 

Severe food poisoning may cause the following signs and symptoms:

 

• Dehydration (most common serious complication) – People with weak immune systems or chronic health problems are at higher risk of becoming severely dehydrated, which will require hospitalization.
• Bloody stools or urine
• Persistent diarrhea (3 days or longer)
• Weakness
• Numbness or tingling
• Burning sensation
• Blurred vision

 

Food becomes contaminated with germs because:

 

• It wasn’t cooked or reheated properly.
• The person who handled it is sick or didn’t wash his or her hands
• You left it out for too long (2 hours or longer at room temperature²)
• It wasn’t transported and stored at the right temperature—for instance, the temperature of the freezer where it’s stored isn’t at 0°F or -18°C.³
• It’s past its ‘use by’ date.

 

So, what are exactly these germs that cause food poisoning?

 

• Bacteria

 

Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella are three of the most common causes of bacterial food poisoning. In the United States, severe foodborne illness is mostly due to Salmonella. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that a million cases of food poisoning every year are associated with Salmonella. ⁴

 

People with salmonella infection are normally asymptomatic. Others may experience stomach cramps, diarrhea, and fever within 6 to 72 hours after eating the contaminated food. ⁵

 

• Viruses

 

The norovirus, also called the Norwalk virus, is by far the biggest culprit for viral food poisoning. It’s responsible for more than 19 million cases of food poisoning each year. ⁶ This contagious virus is usually spread from person to person through fecal-oral route.

 

A norovirus infection can be fatal, but that doesn’t happen often. Since there’s no particular treatment for this type of infection, the only thing you can do to prevent this virus from contaminating your food is to cook it thoroughly.

 

People with a suppressed immune system, children, and older people are highly susceptible to the complications of a norovirus infection (dehydration, malnutrition, or even death). In mild cases, a norovirus-related food poisoning could produce the following symptoms:

 

• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea
• Headache
• Low-grade fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting

 

These symptoms typically appear 24 to 48 hours after you catch the virus. The infection typically lasts only within 1 to 3 days.

 

• Parasites

 

Parasites causing food poisoning are uncommon. This type of dangerous food poisoning is usually caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which affects over 60 million Americans. ⁷

 

Normally, if it infects healthy people, it doesn’t make them sick because their immune systems can prevent it from causing illness. However, people with weak immune systems may experience serious health problems.

 

Common sources of the Toxoplasma parasite include ⁸:

 

• Raw, contaminated meat, particularly deer meat, lamb, and pork
• Food that was prepared using cooking utensils that came in contact with undercooked, contaminated meat
• Drinking water contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii
• Unintentionally consuming the parasite through coming in contact with feces from an infected cat
• Receiving blood transfusion or organ(s) from an infected person

 

Majority of the cases of parasite-associated food poisoning don’t produce symptoms. In healthy people, they might experience a headache, swollen lymph nodes (particularly in the head and neck), a fever, a sore throat, muscle aches, and eye infection. ⁹ For people with weak immune systems, they could have blurred vision, mental confusion, a fever, headaches, and seizures. ¹⁰

 

When should you call emergency medical services?

 

Call 911 or your doctor if your symptoms don’t disappear after 3 days or you have ¹¹:

 

• Severe stomach pain
• Bloody stools
• Dehydration (symptoms: dizziness, low urine output or dark yellow urine, fast heart rate or breathing, dry mouth, and extreme tiredness)
• Vomiting that’s persistent or bloody

 

Overall, food poisoning is rarely life threatening. It usually gets better within 3 to 5 days.

 

One of the things you can do if you think you have food poisoning is to stay hydrated. Aside from plain water, you can try natural fruit juices, sports drinks, coconut water, clear soups, and decaffeinated teas. Stay away from dehydrating foods and drinks, such as hot cocoa, sugary drinks, alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, and hard liquor), processed food, and protein-rich food.

 

Taking over-the-counter medications for diarrhea, pain, nausea, and vomiting may also offer relief. However, it’s important to consult your doctor before taking any medications. Your body usually uses diarrhea and vomiting to rid itself of problem-causing toxins or germs.

 

You could also use essential oils in addition to conventional medical treatments. Most of the essential oils in this article treat the common symptoms of food poisoning, such as diarrhea, headache, belly pain, fatigue, fever, nausea, and vomiting. Some essential oils also have activity against common bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses.

 

Best Essential Oils for Food Poisoning

 

A study published in the Romanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology evaluated the antibacterial and antifungal properties of eight essential oils against different strains of bacteria and fungi associated with food poisoning and/or food spoilage. ¹² These essential oils were basil, caraway, coriander, fennel, rosemary, sage, spearmint, and thyme.

 

The result has shown that most of the essential oils they tested were effective. However, basil, coriander, and thyme essential oils have the best antibacterial activity. Meanwhile, spearmint and thyme essential oils stopped the fungal species.

 

• Thyme Essential Oil

 

Thyme essential oil is often used to prevent spoilage and kill foodborne germs that could cause health issues. According to a study published in the Procedia Food Science, the antibacterial activity of thyme and oregano essential oils were effective against these foodborne bacteria ¹³:

 

• Salmonella enteritidis – This is usually found in poultry products, particularly chicken eggs and food products that contain eggs.
• Salmonella thyphimurium – This is the common cause of gastroenteritis (inflammation of the stomach and intestines), which could result in abdominal cramps, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
• Staphylococcus aureus – You can get this bacterium by eating contaminated salty meat products, such as ham, dairy products, cold salads, sandwiches (especially with processed meats), and baked goods.
• Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) – According to recent studies, MRSA bacteria can be transferred from farm animals to farmers and veterinarians, who can then spread the bacteria to other people. ¹⁴
• Escherichia coli – Most strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) are normally harmless, but there are strains that could cause severe food poisoning. You can accidentally swallow this bacterium by eating undercooked meat, particularly ground beef.
• Bacillus cereus (B. cereus) – This type of bacteria can quickly multiply in foods that are left out at room temperature.

 

Thyme essential oil also has other benefits. Since it has anti-spasm properties, it can help relieve belly cramps or pain that’s caused by food poisoning. You can also inhale or diffuse it to relieve fatigue and promote a good night’s sleep.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

• Skin irritations
• Lightheadedness
• Vomiting

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children
• Sensitive skin
• Allergies, especially to plants in the family Lamiaceae, such as basil, lavender, rosemary, and sage
• Sensitive skin
• Medical problems (e.g., abnormally slow heart rate, thyroid diseases, indigestion, stomach ulcers, and gastritis)

 

• Coriander Essential Oil

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) essential oil offers multiple benefits. Because of its antibacterial and antifungal properties, it’s often used as a home remedy for food poisoning and other digestive system-related health problems, such as stomach ache, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting.

 

Are you experiencing abdominal pain due to food poisoning? Coriander essential oil may help because it contains compounds, such as linalool, terpinolene, and terpineol, which reduce pain and ease muscle cramps and spasms. ¹⁵

 

Coriander essential oil has a lemony, spicy, woody, and slightly fruity aroma. Add 2 drops of coriander essential oil and 2 drops of peppermint essential oil in a diffuser to keep you relaxed and in a positive mood while you recover from food poisoning.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

Coriander essential oil is typically non-irritating and nontoxic when you dilute it properly and don’t use it in excessive amounts. Unless your doctor approves it, I don’t recommend taking this by mouth. If you’re going to apply it on your skin, always perform a patch test on an obscure part of your body, like your inner forearm, after diluting it in a mild carrier oil.

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children
• Allergies, especially to aniseed, caraway, dill, fennel, mugwort, and other similar plants
• Sensitive skin
• An abnormally low blood pressure (below 90/60 mmHg)
• An abnormally high or low blood sugar level (Coriander could decrease your blood sugar levels.)

 

• Basil Essential Oil

 

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) essential oil has been proven to be effective against different strains of microbes that cause food spoilage and foodborne illnesses. This is due to its impressive antibacterial and antifungal properties. According to one study that appeared in the journal ScienceAsia, basil essential oil can neutralize foodborne microbes, such as Escherichia coli, just by adding it to the water that’s used for rinsing fresh organic produce. ^16–17

 

Basil essential oil also has a pleasant aroma (depending on its linalool content). When inhaled, it reduces negative emotions and tiredness. According to AromaWeb.com, the best times to use this essential oil is during daytime.

 

Traditionally, it’s known for its ability to treat a variety of digestive system problems, from indigestion to vomiting to stomach cramps. Try mixing a few drops of the essential oil with a mild carrier oil, and then massage a drop or two into your abdominal area (or other painful areas of your body) using small circular motions to ease these symptoms.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

• Convulsion
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Heart palpitation

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children
• Allergies
• Sensitive skin
• Any neurological disorder, including epilepsy

 

• Spearmint Essential Oil

 

If your body doesn’t respond positively to peppermint essential oil, you can use its milder cousin: spearmint essential oil. The essential oil extracted from Mentha spicata (spearmint) has lower menthol content than peppermint essential oil (0.5% vs. 40%, respectively), but it’s still widely used in many cosmetic and medicinal applications. ¹⁸

 

Spearmint essential oil’s major active compounds, beta-myrcene, carvone, limonene, and 1,8-cineole, are responsible for most of its physical and mental health benefits. ¹⁹ This essential oil is often used to treat common respiratory illnesses (common colds and sinusitis), digestive system problems (indigestion and constipation), headache, migraine, psychological stress, and even depression.

 

The menthol that it contains give it its anti-spasm properties. The soothing and cooling effect of this compound helps relieve muscle cramps or pain in different parts of your body, such as your abdominal area. This makes it a good adjuvant treatment for pain associated with diarrhea, which is a common symptom of food poisoning.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

• Skin irritations
• Photosensitivity reactions, such as blisters and burning
• Emotional imbalance
• Lightheadedness
• Headache
• Nausea

 

Although there’s a potential it could irritate your skin, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified it as a “Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS)” for ingestion.

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children (under age 2)
• Allergies
• Sensitive skin
• Health problems that affect the kidneys and liver

 

• Rosemary Essential Oil

 

Rosemary essential oil has been used in a variety of applications for a long time. And for people who get food poisoning, this could offer them much-needed relief.

 

If you’re tired and stressed after a bout of sickness caused by food poisoning, rosemary essential oil can help. Just diffuse rosemary essential oil together with lavender essential oil for 5 minutes to feel much better and avoid the health problems linked to chronic stress. ²⁰

 

Rosemary essential oil is not just an effective antibacterial agent. It can also be used for relieving pain, thanks to its main active compound, camphor. It doesn’t treat the source of pain, but it works by irritating the surface of your skin to divert the attention of your brain from the pain or discomfort. If you have headaches and stomach pain, dilute 3 to 5 drops in a mild carrier oil, such as coconut oil, and massage a few drops into the affected areas.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

• Contact dermatitis (an allergic response caused by direct contact with an irritating substance, which results in a non-contagious, red, itchy rash)
• Seizures
• Kidney damage
• Spasms

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children (under age 10)
• Allergies
• Sensitive skin
• Health problems that affect the kidneys and nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and nerves)

 

• Sage Essential Oil

 

Sage is not just great for adding flavor to your favorite dishes. Its essential oil offers a variety of health benefits, including its ability to fight infections, improve digestion, and reduce inflammation.

 

The essential oil and aqueous extract of sage have an antibacterial effect against selected bacteria that cause food spoilage. Researchers suggest that sage essential oil could be a good option to conventional antibiotics and food preservatives. ²¹ In their study, which was published in the Archives of Biological Science Belgrade, sage exhibited significant antibacterial effect against Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus mycoides, Proteus species, and Enterobacter cloacae. ²²

 

Food poisoning is one of the biggest culprits behind gastroenteritis, which is a condition that involves inflammation of the lining of the stomach and intestines. Since it has anti-inflammatory activity, sage essential oil is traditionally used to cure inflammation in the stomach, intestines, kidneys, skin, liver, and lungs. ²³ But before taking this by mouth, talk to your doctor to avoid complications.

 

Possible Negative Effects

 

Sage essential oil is only dangerous if you use it in large amounts. If you use it moderately, it doesn’t usually pose any health problems. Clary sage essential oil can be a good alternative to sage essential oil if you want to avoid its potential adverse effects.

 

In some people, it could cause these adverse effects:

 

• Skin irritations
• Sleep difficulty and highly realistic dreams (especially after you drink any alcoholic beverage)
• Kidney problems
• Increased heart rate
• Seizure
• Tremors
• Vomiting
• Wheezing (high-pitched whistling sound that’s produced every time you breathe)

 

Special Precautions

 

• Pregnant or breastfeeding women
• Babies and children
• Allergies
• Sensitive skin
• Alcoholics (Using sage essential oil after drinking alcohol could heighten your intoxication.)
• Epilepsy or hysteria

 

Essential Oil Blends to Relieve Food Poisoning Symptoms

 

For Nausea and Vomiting

 

Delivery method: diffusion

 

• 3 drops ginger essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 drop vetiver essential oil

 

Add the essential oils to a diffuser and let it run for 20 to 30 minutes. You can also add a drop or two to a cotton ball or paper towel, and then inhale deeply.

 

For Abdominal Pain or Cramps

 

Delivery method: topical (massage)

 

• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops thyme essential oil
• 3 drops rosemary essential oil
• 6 teaspoons carrier oil (coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, etc.)

 

Add your carrier oil to an amber glass bottle with dropper. Next, add your essential oils one drop at a time. Stir using a glass rod or stainless steel stirrer.

 

For Low Energy and Body Aches

 

Delivery method: diffusion or topical (massage)

 

• 4 drops German chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops lemon essential oil
• 2 drops thyme essential oil
• 4 to 6 teaspoons carrier oil (for topical application)

 

Diffusion: Add the essential oils to a diffuser and let it run for 20 to 30 minutes.

 

Topical: Add your carrier oil to an amber glass bottle with dropper. Next, add your essential oils one drop at a time. Stir using a glass rod or stainless steel stirrer.

 

Warning: Avoid sun exposure 12 to 24 hours after skin application to avoid photosensitivity reactions, such as skin irritation, blisters, and burns.

 

Prevention is the Best Treatment

 

Getting food poisoning is no fun. That’s why the best way to treat it is to prevent it from happening in the first place.

 

Food poisoning prevention tips:

 

• Always clean your worktops before and after you prepare food, especially if you’re handling raw meat, eggs, and vegetables.
• Wash your hands with liquid soap and water (cool, lukewarm, or warm) and dry them thoroughly before and after handling food.
• Use different chopping boards for prepping raw meat, such as fish and pork, vegetables, and other ingredients to prevent cross contamination.
• Eat leftovers within 48 hours.
• Cook all meat, such as fish, chicken, turkey, pork, and burgers, properly to kill bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause food poisoning.
• Place your food (raw or cooked) in food storage containers with lids. When storing in your fridge, place the container with raw meat on the bottom shelf, so it doesn’t touch or drip on other foods. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the ideal refrigerator temperature is below 40°F (4°C), while 0°F (-18°C) is the ideal freezer temperature. ²⁴

 

If you suspect you have this condition, always seek medical attention first, especially if you don’t feel better within 72 hours. Don’t self-medicate!

 

References

 

[1] NHS: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/food-poisoning/

[2] Ohio State University Extension: https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/HYG-5564-11

[3-24] U.S. Food & Drug Administration: https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm093704.htm

[4-5] Foodborne Illness: http://www.foodborneillness.com/salmonella_food_poisoning/

[6] Healthline: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-poisoning#causes

[7-8] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/gen_info/faqs.html

[9-10] Foodsafety.gov: https://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/parasites/toxoplasmosis/index.html

[11] WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/first-aid/food-poisoning-treatment

[12] Lixandru BE, Drăcea NO, Dragomirescu CC, et al. (2010 Oct-Dec). Antimicrobial activity of plant essential oils against bacterial and fungal species involved in food poisoning and/or food decay.  Romanian Archives of Microbiology and Immunology. Vol. 69, Issue 4, Pages 224-30. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21462837

[13] Marija Boskovic, Nemanja Zdravkovic, Jelena Ivanovic, et al. (2015). Antimicrobial Activity of Thyme (Tymus vulgaris) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oils against Some Food-borne Microorganisms. Procedia Food Science. Vol. 5, Pages 18-21. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211601X15000954

[14] Foodborne Illness: http://www.foodborneillness.com/MRSA_food_poisoning/

[15] Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/health-benefits-of-coriander-essential-oil.html

[16] BG Mane, SK Khurana, Shivani Choudhary, and Himani Dhanze2. (2014). Effect of Natural Antimicrobials on Foodborne Pathogens and Shelf Life: A Review. Bioscience, Bioengineering and Biotechnology. Vol. 1, Pages 22-31. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/efda/69560536e092a71879f765fda008cab1cd8d.pdf

[17] Phanida Phanthong, Pattamapan Lomarat, Mullika Chomnawang, and Nuntavan Bunyapraphatsara. (2013 Oct). Antibacterial activity of essential oils and their active components from Thai spices against foodborne pathogens. ScienceAsia. Vol. 39, Issue 5, Pages 472. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273270805_Antibacterial_activity_of_essential_oils_and_their_active_components_from_Thai_spices_against_foodborne_pathogens

[18-19] Aroma Foundry: https://www.aromafoundry.com/blogs/aroma-foundry/spearmint-essential-oil-uses-description-recipes-precautions

• Toshiko Atsumi and Keiichi Tonosaki. (2007 Feb 28). Smelling lavender and rosemary increases free radical scavenging activity and decreases cortisol level in saliva. Psychiatry Research. Vol. 150, Issue 1, Pages 89-96. Retrieved from http://www.psy-journal.com/article/S0165-1781(06)00011-4/fulltext
• Rami K, Li Z. Antimicrobial activity of essential oil of Salvia officinalis L. collected in Syria. Afr J Biotech. 2011;10:8397–402. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003706/

[22] Stanojevic D, Comic L, Stefanovic O, Solujic-Sukdolak S. In vitro synergistic antibacterial activity of Salvia officinalis and some preservatives. Arch Biol Sci Belgrade. 2010;62:175–83. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4003706/

[23] Organic Facts: https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/essential-oils/sage-essential-oil.html