Essential oils act as powerful home remedies for fighting the flu. With their anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties, these and various other oils help fight infection and strengthen your body's immune and respiratory systems. Treat your flu systems by using these oils in any of the following internal or external manners.
Topical Application of Oils
Prior to using essential oils, make sure you do not have a medical condition that usage may negatively affect. Essential oils also should not replace a doctor's visit; use the oils to complement your physician's recommended treatment.
If you have no issues, dilute oils like niaouli, ravensara, spike lavender or thieves in a carrier oil such as vegetable oil. Place four drops of the oil on the bottoms of both feet (on the reflex areas or vita-flex points), and massage in.
Rub the oil onto your back (bacteria and viruses often reside on the spine), shoulders, knees and stomach; it's fine to use more than one oil type in the same spot. If necessary, use a warm compress or cold pack in conjunction with the oil.
Adding essential oils to a warm bath may help treat your flu. Put 10 drops of tea tree and/or eucalyptus into a warm or mildly hot bath, soak, and breathe in the vapors. After getting out of the tub and drying off, wrap yourself in towels and rest on your bed for 30 minutes, or until your body cools down.
If you have a cough or congested lungs, take 1 ounce of fractionized coconut oil (which you may mildly heat) and add 10 drops of eucalyptus, ravensara and/or spike lavender. Rub the mix onto your chest and back.
Oral Ingestion of Oils
Prior to orally ingesting essential oils, make sure the oil (in liquid or capsule form) is safe to ingest; avoid toxic oils that are not meant for ingestion. If you have an ingestion-safe oil, dilute it with a vegetable oil or blue agave and add a drop of the diluted oil to your drink or food. Because of oils' potency, a few drops in a four- to eight-hour period should be sufficient.
You also can drop the oil into honey and mix it with water for tea. Add five drops of diluted tea tree or blue chamomile to a tablespoon of honey. Add a teaspoon of this mixture to a cup of hot tea, hot water or hot lemon water. Consume three cups of this tea daily.
If you suffer a sore throat, place one drop of diluted tea tree and/or blue chamomile onto the back of your throat and swallow. Do this hourly for 24 hours until your throat feels better. If your throat does not improve, contact your doctor.
Some other effective essential oils to treat your flu include copaiba, cypress, ginger, mountain savory, oregano, peppermint, rosalina and thyme.
Inhalation of Oils
When inhaling an essential oil for the first time, hold the bottle by your waist and move the bottle in a circular motion; this lets the oil's molecules travel up to your nose and enter your bloodstream through your lungs.
Upon getting familiar with the oil, put a couple of drops into your left hand's palm and rub clockwise with your right hand's palm. Put both hands over your nose and mouth and inhale. For a less direct inhalation method, put a towel over your head, place a few of drops of the oil in hot water and inhale the steam; or, put a couple drops of oil on certain areas of your body and breathe in the aroma.
If you want a fine mist of oils suspended in the air for hours, use a cold-air diffuser; for an even lengthier diffusion process, use an ultrasonic diffuser, which mixes the oil with water in a larger well. You also can use a portable diffuser, for the times you travel.
Tags: essential oils, your body, your throat, blue chamomile, couple drops, diluted tree