Cold Season Defense with Essential Oils

 

My Essential Oil Diffuser that’s going right now.

My “Aromatherapy for Pregnancy” class was great fun the other evening. The people who came were really knowledgeable and excited about about essential oils. A couple of them shared about how amazing essential oils have been in helping their families stay healthy; avoiding colds, flu and stomach bugs.  I want to kick-up my use of oils this cold season to avoid illness in my family and thought you might want to do the same.

Having oils diffusing into our living, sleeping and working spaces kills germs in the air and allows us to inhale the mist with the essential oils so we get the benefits of their germ fighting and their immune boosting properties.

Here is a link to a previous post on diffusers. Now might be the time to try one out!

I’ve mentioned the story of Thieves oil in a previous newsletters. (It’s the blend of oils that was said to be revealed by medieval thieves who used the combination of plants to boost their immunity and fight germs. They were said to put the herbs in a mask so they wouldn’t get the bubonic plague when they stole from their dead plague victims! The story goes – once caught, their sentence was lessened because they gave the formula and explained how they had survived.)

Thieves oil is purported to be made up of different plants depending on who you buy it from but these are commonly mentioned:

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum verum) is anti-infectious, anti-bacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral and antifungal.

Lemon Oil (citrus limon) is anti-bacterial.

Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus and other varieties as well) is anti-infectious, antibacterial, antiviral, and great expectorant.
Clove (Syzgium aromaticum) is antimicrobial and antiseptic.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is antiseptic and antimicrobial.Some brands sell these oils in combination for outrageous prices and make specific claims but you can buy them at the sources below for far less and make up your own combinations.

The oils are strong so use just a tiny bit in the beginning and just diffuse for a little while as you get used to them. (I find the Cinnamon and Clove oils above to be so strong they can be overwhelming, so I switch them out for some other oils that I suggest below that are powerful germ fighters but a bit more gentle for my nose.)

Lavender  (lavandula angustifolia and latifolia)is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.(I always use this in shower and face steams if I am congested. Love it!)
Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flixuosus) is antifungal and antibacterial.
Pine is antibiotic and antiseptic and helps with congestion.
Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternafolia, ericfolia or quinquenervia) is anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antiviral, and antifungal.

Cypress Cupressus sempervirens) is antiseptic, helps with congestion and is very calming.

Orange (Citrus sinensis) is uplifting and antibacterial.

People who have success keeping their families healthy seem to do alot of diffusing. You can also drip a few oils in a washcloth that you put on the floor of your shower or mix some up in a spray that you can take with you! (Take 2 ounces of spring water in a glass opaque spray bottle and add three to four drop of four different essential oils listed above. Then shake and spray wherever you go!)

Or get in touch with me and I’ll put some Germ Fighting spray with Rosemary, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Oil on hold for you. I’m making up a batch next week!

You can also massage some diluted essential oils into your skin, First, dilute the oil in any carrier oil, like olive oil, almond oil or you can use coconut oil which is solid at room temperature and has more a feel of Vicks Vapo Rub (which has eucalyptus as an ingredient).  To a palm-full of oil add one drop of several different essential oils and then rub your hands together and give a good whiff! Then rub it into chest, shoulders, back or wherever.(I do this first-thing if I feel tired or run down and it helps me relax and get the oils in my bloodstream and nose!)

Here’s a video on giving yourself a quick massage:

People also swear by rubbing the diluted essential oils on their feet and then putting on some thick socks. The massage stimulates the reflexology points in the feet and the socks let you go about your business and let the oil absorb.

(There is also a great deal of talk online about using these strong oils without dilution on the skin (Ouch!) and/or using them internally – which are both things I would not recommend!)

So, if you want to avoid some colds this season get your self some oils and use them in a diffuser and or in massage.

My “Tools for Stress Relief ” class is October 20th. It is a great hands-on class to learn about EFT?Tapping and smell some delicious oils. You even take home a spray or roll-on. All just for $10.  See below for more info.

xoxo
Katherine

Below are the sources I use for essential oils. (As I’ve written before; the world of multi-level marketing makes buying essential oils very confusing and expensive. These are some great small companies that sell beautiful oils at good prices.)

Appalachian Valley Natural Products

http://www.av-at.com/

Nature’s Gift

http://www.naturesgift.com/

Elizabeth Van Buren