Staying Healthy With Pure Essential Oils. The winter months in the northern hemisphere has a beautiful white snow-filled landscape. With the cool weather comes an increase in common illnesses such as coughs, colds, flus and other respiratory problems. You know the feeling when the symptoms of a cold or flu come up on you.
Perhaps it’s a little tickle in the throat, or maybe a slight headache or just feeling a bit under the weather. Then it often turns to sneezing attacks (which spreads the germs to others!!) followed by the more familiar signs of runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, cough, fever, aches and pains, feeling irritable, tired and out of sorts.
So, how do we “catch” a cold and why doesn’t everyone get it? Why do some people always seem healthy and others are ill many times in the year?
Our body has a wonderful system of checks and balances and a healthy immune response depends on many factors including stress levels, dietary factors such as excess sugar, junk foods or alcohol consumption, occupational factors, frequent air travel and state of mind to name a few.
IMMUNITY ESSENTIALS
Modern medicine has a philosophy of using powerful drugs to “kill” the invading germs. Whilst this approach is very useful for life threatening or acute situations, these drugs can affect our healthy cells or have negative side affects that may cause other healthy problems.
The overuse of antibiotics can also affect our intrinsic natural healing ability and decrease our body’s immune response. They also lead to resistant microbes that require even stronger drug treatments with increased side affects.
Aromatherapy utilities the power of pure essentials oils and provides a diverse and effective natural treatment to bring relief for many common symptoms of the respiratory system.
Extensive scientific research including clinical trials has confirmed the effectiveness of powerful ‘broad spectrum’ essentials oils including Oregano, Thyme, Cinnamon, Clove and Savory. Others oils which have been found to be effective for immunity include Eucalyptus, Lavender, Lemon, Myrtle, Orange, Pine, Niaouli, Ravensara and Tea Tree to name a few.
So, back to those first few initial symptoms that we experience at the onset of a cold or flu. The most important thing to remember in self healing is to start using essential oils immediately when you feel the slightest symptom.
Aromatherapy strengthens our immunity by working with it and early intervention is most helpful. Rest is vital, as sleep encourages our immune system to do its job. How often have you said to yourself that you are too busy to be sick?
By continuing to work, coughing and sneezing away, you spread microbes to your colleagues and prolong your illness. You may also experience secondary bacterial infections and need to resort to antibiotics. When you take care of yourself by listening to your body getting plenty of rest, using natural remedies and supporting your immune system, you will feel the difference.
Other tips:
- Encourage office management to diffuse essential oils in the work environment or do it yourself to keep the air around you as healthy as possible.
- Keep your oils handy in the office, at home and when travelling. It has been shown that frequent air travel lowers our immunity resulting in higher incidents of colds and flus. Take your immune boosters with you when you travel and use them often. Have an immune stimulating shower daily while away!
Some Pure Essential Oils that are useful to enhance immunity.
CINNAMON BARK
Found throughout Asia, the best cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka and Madagascar. It has a long history of use by most ancient cultures including the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. It is also used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine.
CHARACTERISTICS: Steam distilled; the bark produces a sweet; rich spicy scent.
PROPERTIES: Antiseptic, antiputrefactive, antiparasidic, insecticide, stimulant, tonic.
USES:
- For general debility, weakness and general unwell feeling
- For aches caused by fever or chill
- As an antiseptic for contagious diseases, it’s been said to kill typhoid bacillus at a dose of 1 part in 300
- Effective against a wide range of microbes
- For diarrhoea, dysentery, colitis and urinary tract infections
- For breathing difficulties, colds and flu
CAUTIONS: May cause skin irritation.
Eucalyptus
There are over 700 different species of Eucalyptus, which originates from Australia and is now available from china.
Eucalyptus is best used for respiratory conditions that are based within the chest, such as bronchitis, catarrh and coughs, and for inflamed conditions such as arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sprains, neuralgia and sciatica. It can also be beneficial for headaches, cold and fever.
CHARACTERISTICS: Steam distilled from the leaves producing a light yellow oil with a fresh, camphorous odour, and sweet woody notes.
PROPERTIES: Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory. Antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, decongestant, expectorant, febrifuge.
USES:
- Valuable for treating respiratory system acting as a decongestant and antiseptic
- Loosening phlegm, opens aiways for easier breathing. (Use for bronchial cough, coughs, colds, flu, catarrh, allergies, hayfever, sinusitis as an inhalation, oil burner or bath. Massage oil blend used on chest, throat and back.)
- For wounds, ulcers, acne as a compress or bath
- For muscular aches, pains, rheumatism, arthritis, sprains as a compress, bath or diluted for a massage
CAUTIONS:
- Poisonous if swallowed. Seek medical treatment immediately – do not induce vomiting.
- Do not give to babies under 6 months.
Lemon
The citrus fresh smell of lemon with its crisp and clean aroma is a very useful and affordable oil for everyday use. Lemon has powerful antibacterial and antimicrobial properties to disinfect and cleanse and can stimulate the body’s immune system.
CHARACTERISTICS: Cold pressed from the rind of the fruit; it is a pale yellow to greenish yellow with a very light, fresh, citrus odour.
PROPERTIES: Anti-infectious, antiseptic, antiviral, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, diuretic, febrifuge, decongestant, hypotensive, rubefacient, venous tonic, tonic.
USES:
- The anti-bactericidal properties stimulate white blood cell production. Use for colds, flu, fever, sore throat, tonsillitis, bronchitis, influenza, pneumonia, asthma.
- Has strong anti-infectious and antiviral activity.
- Improves digestive function and conteracts acidity, liver cleanser.
- For arthritis, rheumatism, gout, aches and pains
- For concentration, mental fatigue and decision making.
CAUTIONS:
- Lemon oil is photosensitising. It should not be applied to exposed skin prior to going out in the sun. Allow at least four hours after application before exposing skin to sunlight.
- May cause skin irritation or sensitisation.
Tea Tree
The Australian Aborigines have long known the therapeutic properties of tea tree. The herb, tea, and extract were used to treat many afflictions. It is a small ahrub, with needle thin leaves and the essential oil is obtained from trees grown in Northern New South Wles and Queensland.
CHARACTERISTICS: Steam distilled from the leaves and twigs produces a colourless to pale yellow coloured liquid with a powerful, fresh, warm, spicy-earthy odour.
PROPERTIES: Antimicrobial, antiseptic, bactericidal, cicatrisant, expectorant, fungicidal, insecticidal.
USES:
- Wide range of applications against infectious organisms such as bacteria, fungi and virus.
- For bronchitis, catarrh, coughs, asthma, mucous congestion, allergies, hayfever, colds, flu as an inhalation, bath or compress.
- Excellent first-aid remedy for cuts, scratches and wounds.
- For itching and inflammation, insect bites, abscesses, wounds, oily skin, warts, fungal infections, cuts, ulcers, tinea, cold sores as a bath, compress or diluted for massage.
- Combine with lavender for pimples and acne; onto face and wipe off.
- For control drandruff add afew drops to shampoo.
CAUTIONS: Possible sensitisation in some individuals.
Thyme
Native to the Mediterranean region and Spain there are many species of thyme. It has a very long history of use for medicinal purposes. It has been extensively studied to demonstrate its bactericidal properties as early as 1887 and is one of the essential oils of choice for bronchial disorders.
CHARACTERISTICS: Steam distilled from the flowering tops thyme oil has a strong herbal fragrance.
PROPERTIES: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, bactericidal, cicatrisant, expectorant, insecticide, parasiticide, tonic, vermifuge, stimulant.
USES:
- Wide range of applications against infectious organisms.
- For coughs including whooping cough, bronchitis, sinusitis, mucous congestion, head colds, tonsillitis, sore throat, asthma, boils, sores, skin antiseptic, intestinal infections and parasites.
- For physical & mental fatiguw, anxiety, revives low spirits.
CAUTIONS: Can irritate mucous membranes. Use in moderation and low dilutions.
