for Immune System Health Use Nature's Medicine Kit for Better Health |
| Essential Oil | Reputed Properties | Notes |
| Tea Tree | A powerful immune stimulant that can help fight all three categories of infectious organisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Used topically, it can help clear wounds, acne, burns, herpes, athlete's foot, cold sores, and even warts. Used in vapor therapy, it can help with colds, sinusitis and viral infections. | A potential skin irritant, so use with caution. |
| Lavender | Strongly anti-inflammatory & antiseptic; immune stimulant; excellent for helping to heal minor burns, insect bites, and other skin ailments and infections--promotes rapid skin healing and helps prevent scarring; helps with colds and bronchitis; aids in healing by reducing stress, calming and relaxing; helps with insomnia | |
| Lemon | Antiseptic, antibacterial, cleansing, tonic; boosts the immune system and helps relieve throat infections, bronchitis, asthma and flu; aids healing by lifting the spirits. | May cause skin irritation in some; also a photosensitizer, so avoid exposure to sunlight if applying to skin. |
| Bergamot | Especially good for skin infections, wounds and sores; helps relieve depression and stress; also aids in general convalescence; aids healing by lifting the spirits | Highly photosensitizing; avoid exposure to sunlight after use on skin. |
| Eucalyptus | Used to fight the effects of colds and flu; cooling and soothing to the respiratory tract; helps relieve coughs and respiratory congestion; helps skin ailments such as burns, blisters, wounds, insect bites, and skin infections | Always use in dilution; avoid during pregnancy; avoid if you have high blood pressure or epilepsy. |
| Grapefruit | Boosts the immune system; cleansing to the body; aids healing by lifting the mood and relieving stress | May cause skin irritation in some; also a photosensitizer and should be avoided prior to exposure to direct sunlight. |
| Peppermint | Used to help relieve symptoms of general respiratory disorders, as well as dry coughs, sinus congestion, and bronchitis; cooling and soothing to the respiratory tract; refreshing | Can cause irritation to the skin and mucus membranes; avoid during pregnancy; do not use on children under seven. |
| Geranium | Immune stimulant; increases white blood cell activity, antiseptic; aids healing by calming the nervous system, lifting the mood, balancing energies, and relaxing | Should not be used during pregnancy. |
If you try only one essential oil for immune system health, make it tea tree. It has a multitude of uses and benefits for healing and immune system health, is affordable, and is readily available at many store.
Essential oils can be used in a number of ways, however you should never ingest them or take them orally. (Except perhaps under the direction of a liscensed professional.)
The safest way to use them is simply to put a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and inhale them, taking care not to hold the tissue or cotton ball to close to your nose, as they can be very strong!
If they are to be used on the skin, you should always dilute them in a carrier oil—a maximum of five drops per ounce of oil. (Essential oils really go a long way!)
Please see the cautions for using essential oils at the end of this page.
Carrier Oils
You can also spend a lot of money on carrier oils, but you can also use any food-grade oil in your cupboard. Just make sure that it hasn’t gone rancid (it will take on a bad smell).
Personally, I like jojoba oil best. Although it’s a little pricey and can usually only be found at health food stores, it’s great for the skin, absorbs quickly, and never goes rancid.
My next favorite carrier oil is grapeseed oil. It’s a light oil that can usually be found at the grocery store. I buy mine at Trader Joe’s where it’s very inexpensive.
An Essential Oil Recipe for Supporting the Immune System
While each of the essential oils above can be used alone, you may find that you enjoy blending them as well. You can experiment to find a blend that works best to support your immune system. Here is one idea.
Immunity Booster
Blend these essential oils in a small glass container, and then use it in one of the ways described below.
* 6 drops lavender oil * 6 drops bergamot oil * 3 drops lemon oil * 3 drops tea tree oil
How to Use the Oils
If you feel a cold or flu coming on, use the oils or blends early and often. As with most things, prevention is the best cure! Here are some classic ways to use essential oils.
For massage, dilute 3-5 drops of the essential oil or blend in an ounce of carrier oil (such as grapeseed or jojoba oil).
For diffusion, use the essential oil blend (undiluted) in an electric nebulizer; for passive diffusion, place a few drops on a tissue or cotton ball and sniff. This is always a safe way to use essential oils, and is especially useful for times when others around you are coughing and sneezing into your common air space.
For the bath, use 1-4 drops of the essential oil blend mixed with 1/4-1/2 cup bath salts, or with 2 ounces of milk (not non-fat milk). A word of caution: especially without the milk, the essential oils can sit on top of the water rather than mixing in, allowing them to make undiluted contact with your skin. Do a “patch test” before using them in the bath, to make sure that the oils don’t irritate your skin. (And believe me, they can!) You can also use the blends in a foot bath.
How Aromatherapy (Essential Oils) Benefit Your Subtle Energies
I believe that, like homeopathy, aromatherapy/essential oils work primarily on an energetic level—especially when they are used as a scent only, rather than applied directly to the skin.
Essential oils can help our subtle energies shift more easily to a state of healthy balance and flow. They also connect us to earth energy (because they come from plants) and help to balance our overactive mental bodies. And, because the beautiful scents bring us joy, they lift and brighten our energies.
Cautions in Using Aromatherapy for Immune System Health
In using aromatherapy for immune system health (or for any purpose), please use common sense about when to treat yourself and when to call your doctor! Essential oils, and this article about them, are not meant to replace the advice and care of your regular medical provider.
Always keep all essential oils out of the reach of children. If you are pregnant or nursing a baby, have heart disease, epilepsy, high blood pressure or diabetes, seek the advice of a health professional before using any essential oils.
Skin test all products before using. Apply a small amount to the skin on your inner arm. Do not use if redness or irritation occurs.
Keep all essential oils away from eyes and mucous membranes. If redness, burning, itching or irritation occur, stop using product immediately and consult your medical provider if self treatment is not effective. If irritation does occur then apply vegetable oil, not water, to the effected area and dry.
Storing Essential Oils
Essential oils are volatile and will not last forever. They should be stored in a cool, dry place away from light. You should cover them tightly after use.
Enjoy using aromatherapy for immune system health! Remember always to see your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.
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