In last week’s blog, we reviewed the tremendous power of our nutrition in propelling us through the cold and flu season unscathed; where getting immune-boosting nutrients like vitamin C, B6 and zinc in foods including produce, nuts and seeds, legumes and fermented foods can keep up going strong and untouched by germs and viruses. Today, we’re exploring similar potentiality in essential oils to ward off illness and be healthy.
**Disclaimer: We at Nutrition Connection believe in the power of healthy diet and natural remedies including essential oils for boosting immunity and maintaining wellness. We do NOT believe that essential oils are a suitable replacement for vaccines. Please vaccinate your children to prevent the spread and reintroduction of disease.**
Essential oils embody the regenerating, protective and immune-strengthening properties of plants.
Science has shown that essential oils destroy a plethora of harmful bacteria and viruses while simultaneously providing immune system support. From the beginning of time, oils extracted from aromatic plants have been recognized as one of the most effective medicines known to mankind. Hippocrates used aromatic essences to fumigate the city of Athens to fight off the plague epidemic. He also suggested that a key to good health is found in taking a daily aromatic bath and receiving a daily scented massage.
The benefits of essential oils are due to their immense chemical constituents that can be transferred to us in several ways. Essential oils can be consumed in beverages and added to foods (internal use), applied to the skin (topical use), or diffused into the air (aromatic use). These three routes of administration not only allow us to receive the therapeutic effects of the oil, but to enjoy them with our senses as well. So many of them impart awesome flavors and the aromas, well they can truly be transforming.
As I write this blog, I am using a variety of essential oils. I am diffusing a blend of geranium, peppermint and lemon for focus and energy (it also has immune protecting benefits), I have doTERRA’s Metabolic Blend in my water, which tastes great but also calms the stomach and lifts mood, and I’ve applied a custom blend including lemongrass, peppermint and frankincense to soothe a small, chronic muscle tear that has flared in my back and shoulder area. I routinely take advantage of the various applications for essential oils, whether consuming internally, applying topically, or diffusing into the air for versatility, convenience, and efficacy.
Specific oils for immunoprotection.
Incorporating essential oils into your health routine will facilitate another avenue to stay healthy, and feel young and vibrant. You’ll find they’re amazingly simple to use but also vastly beneficial. Each oil has a multitude of purposes, which allows you to start anywhere you like and go from there. I often choose the oils I’m going to diffuse by their aroma first, and then check their therapeutic uses to ensure I’ll get the desired outcome.
When you use oils for immunity, you can do the same thing: some days, you might find a blend of cinnamon, Frankincense and geranium more appealing than Protective Blend, so do what pleases you and you won’t go wrong. Here’s a list of some of the key oils for immunity and how you can use them. Some of the oils are heat-promoting, termed “hot.” If you find your skin feels sensitive using them full-strength, dilute the oil with doTERRA fractionated coconut oil or your favorite unscented lotion.
Protective Blend. Massage onto throat, including over the tonsil area, abdomen and bottoms of the feet. Dilute and massage under the arms to stimulate the lymphatic system and over your chest bone to stimulate the thymus gland, part of the immune system. Inhale the oils from your hands after massaging. Add a few drops to diffuser or jewelry designed for essential oils and wear.
Oregano. This is a hot oil, so dilute 1 drop with 3 drops carrier oil or lotion and apply to same immune areas as above, or make an immunity tea and flavor with honey and milk. Add a drop of lemon if desired for flavor and immune boosting.
Bonus note: multiple studies have shown oregano to kill MRSA, a harmful bacteria resistant to antibiotics.
Melaleuca (Tea Tree). Put 1-2 drops in a veggie capsule and take throughout the season to support your healthy immune system function. Add a drop or two to your dish water to cleanse and disinfect kitchen counters and cutting boards.
Rosemary. Add 1-2 drops to salad dressings and marinades, diffuse a few drops with any of the other oils listed for a wonderfully fragrant, cleansing addition to your office or home.
Clove. Another hot oil, diffuse 1:1 and apply to pulse points (ladies, where we apply perfume), or put a drop on your finger and gently apply to the back of the throat for sore throat prevention.
Frankincense. One of the most diverse of essential oils, apply a few drops to your chest and massage in when going into situations where you’ll be in crowds.
Cinnamon. Testing has yet to find a virus, bacteria, or fungus that can survive in the presence of cinnamon, so add the essential oil to foods including oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, coffee and tea. Get a car diffuser and run it through the season.
Lemon. Ah, lemon, just the thought takes me to a happy place. What a wonderfully diverse oil: it promotes leukocyte formation, is a fever reducer, germicide, helps eradicate throat infections, and disinfects the air. Make lemon essential oil a staple in your daily water and tea intake, and add to a glass spray bottle with distilled water for a room spray that will not only lift your mood but clear the room of germs and bacteria.
Have fun and enjoy adding oils to your health regime. Shop for doTERRA oils here. Now another disclaimer. This is not a sponsored post or an ad, and all opinions are our own. We receive a small commission from purchases made through our affiliate link.
Karen Fisher, MS, RD, LDN, CDE is a dietitian in Reno, Nevada, happily promoting the benefits of healthy foods at her nutrition consulting firm, Nutrition Connection. Find her website atwww.NutritionConnectionNV.com
To find a nutrition expert in your area, go to the academy website – Find an Expert https://www.eatright.org/find-an-expert
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