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Essential Oils for Cold Care and a Strong Immune S |
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Essential Oils for Cold Care and a Strong Immune S |
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Getting sick is just no fun, but with our fast-paced lifestyles, sometimes it's difficult to keep our stress levels low and our immune system strong. Enter Aromatherapy - Essential oils so commonly used as natural perfumes and mood-lifters can have a have a powerfully-supportive effect on the immune system. In fact, the medical aromatherapy literature makes the point that the most promising use of essential oils in terms of natural health care is in cases of infectious illness. Not only will they help combat illness once it sets in, but therapeutic grade oils can also fortify the immune system to make you more resistant to illness in the first place. For the uninitiated, essential oils are the volatile aromatic compounds distilled from plants. They are the chemicals that give plants their smell; the luscious aroma of a rose or the sharp scent of peppermint. Plants use these chemicals for, among other things, defense from invaders such as bacteria, fungus and viruses. Each plant's oils have a unique makeup as a result of the plant's own physiology, natural environment, and its potential microbial invaders. Because of their chemical structure, essential oils are easily absorbed into the human body, passing through cell membranes, then further on into the bloodstream due to their 'lipophillic' nature (a structure in alignment with the lipid components of our cell walls). Essential oils can protect us from microbes in many different ways, from keeping the space around us naturally microbe-free, to readying our immune system for defense, to actually destroying the microbes once they've entered our bodies. For starters, lets look at keeping the air and our environment pure and healthy. A cold-air nebulizing diffuser works best for this, as it creates a fine mist of essential oils which disperse throughout your living or work space. Diffusing essential oils into your environment provides three primary benefits: First, the oils are directly eliminating microbes in the air, thus reducing the concentration of live pathogens you may be inhaling or touching at any time and reducing the load on your immune system. Second, most essential oils, and particularly the strong anti-microbial ones, have an uplifting effect on the psyche and a sharpening effect on the mind. Your space will smell nicer, and generally will be more pleasant to be in. This can be very pronounced in certain workspaces where the air can be heavy. Lastly, in many cases, essential oils will actually fortify your own immune system to prevent you from catching an illness in the first place - some studies have shown mammalian cells having increased resistance to microbial invaders after exposure to essential oils. Many single oils can be used for this - Eucalyptus Radiata or Eucalyptus Globulus are excellent all-around choices, as is Ravensara, and the oil of Rosemary of the Cineol chemotype. A popular oil blend can be made using 3 parts clove bud oil, 5 parts lemon oil, 1 and a half parts Eucalyptus Radiata, 1 and a half parts Rosemary Cineol and 2 parts Cinnamon Bark oil. Diffuse these oils to your heart's content - it's a wonderful combination! Next, it's important to fortify your own immune system. Medical aromatherapists don't claim essential oils as wonder drugs in this regard - it is important to keep yourself healthy for your immune system to work effectively. Many natural medicine physicians believe it important to keep your own internal 'friendly bacteria' in balance for best protection. This can be done by eating a 'clean' diet with an abundance of natural and organic foods, and consuming intestinal bacterial support in capsule form (available at almost all health food stores). On the aromatherapy front, the essential oil of Niaouli has been considered by some to be the single most powerful supporter of the human immune system. Niaouli essential oil is distilled from the leaves of the Niaouli tree, native to Madagascar, but now being cultivated in Spain for aromatherapy use. According to Dr. Kurt Schnaubelt, one of America's leading medical aromatherapists, "Niaouli oil is as complex in its composition as it is in it's uses...One of the fastest-acting and most effective applications of Niaouli is to apply anywhere between 5 and 20 drops to the whole body during the morning shower. This procedure will become entirely holistic if a loofah glove is used and the oil is worked into the skin along the energy meridians. This application...is especially recommended in the flu season, as it stimulates the defense mechanisms of the body." Niaouli would also be appropriate for diffuser use similar to the Eucalyptus varieties. While prevention is the best medicine, some relief can be had if you've already contracted a cold or flu. At the very first signs, application of ten to twenty drops to the skin of both Eucalyptus Radiata and Laurel to the skin after shower. Eucalyptus can be applied to the chest and back; Laurel can be applied directly to the lymph nodes of the neck. Orally ingesting one drop of Bay Laurel once or twice a day at the first sign of sore throat is also indicated (be sure of the quality of your essential oil source!); this may have a dramatic effect reducing further symptoms. Green Myrtle, with it's medicinal actions but sweeter aroma, can be used in cases of bronchial infection where Eucalyptus may be found to strong. Ravensara used in the same manner is called for in cases of colds and flu - it can be a stronger antiviral than the above mentioned oils, and has a pleasing aroma. If the skin is sensitive to these oils, they can be diluted down to 5% in a carrier oil, or inhaled directly from a nebulizer. As with all aromatherapy use, listen to what your body is telling you. If an oil seems offensive, don't use it! This is your natural indicator that you may be sensitive to the oil, or it's simply not the right one for your condition. And of course, consult a health professional if your symptoms continue to worsen. To create a natural wellness medicine chest for cold and flu care, keep Eucalyptus Radiata (Narrow Leaf) or Globulus (Blue Gum), Green Myrtle, Ravensara Aromatica, Rosemary Verbenone and Thyme essential oils on hand. The Eucalyptus, Myrtle and Ravensara will support bronchial conditions through topical application or inhalation; inhalation of Rosemary and/or Thyme can be of help with head colds and sinus infections - they can be inhaled directly from a diffuser. Other methods of use can be appropriate if directed by a health professional. These are all very powerful oils and should be used with respect; if you do so, they will certainly be welcome additions to your wellness program. When selecting natural medicines within your own self-treatment program, do as much research and gather as much professional advice as possible to precisely apply these botanicals. A 'shotgun' approach will not likely have as dramatic an effect, and can be dangerous with improper use of certain varieties of essential oils. There are several books available for the aromatherapy practitioner with protocols translated from the European aromatherapy literature, and the number of naturopathic doctors with such knowledge is growing. With the right knowledge, using therapeutic grade essential oils to support your immune system and overall health can be very rewarding, and even fun! More information on using pure therapeutic grade aromatherapy essential oils is available online at The Ananda Apothecary. Article Source: MyArticlePub.com |
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