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Top 5 Essential Oils for Boosting Immunity
Hey Everyone, My name is Melissa. I’m a mama to 5 wonderful kiddos, one of which was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and has been one of the catalysts that started my journey to helping others with their health and wellness using essential oils. I was so excited when Kylene asked me to share a bit about essential oils and immunity. Through becoming a Crohn’s advocate and health coach, I love to use what I’ve learned on my health journey to help others. With that being said, let’s get to the good stuff!
When it comes to boosting our body’s immunity, there are many things that can be done. Obviously, focusing on eating healthier, getting adequate sleep and decreasing stress are great places to start. However, what I have found over the years is that sometimes our bodies need extra help.
Essential oils are a great tool to add to our daily routine to provide that extra help to support and boost our immune systems. Below are my top 5 essential oils for immune support. Some of you who are familiar with essential oil may be surprised to see that Thieves did not make the list. It is, by far, one of my favorite oils for this topic, however it is such a powerhouse oil that it deserves it’s own post!!
Top 5 Essential Oils for Boosting Immunity
First of all, what are essential oils? They are the lifeblood of a plant which is extracted from the flower, stem, leave, bark, or fruit. The oils provide nutrients to the plant as well protection from disease. Those same qualities of the plant can be used by our bodies to help increase our overall health. All essential oils have antimicrobial properties, however each differ in which properties they contain. When several are blended together and applied to the body or diffused, they provide a powerful compound which is especially useful for targeting a broad range of viruses and bacteria in the body or in the air.
Tea Tree
Tea Tree oil comes from the leaves of the melaleuca tree (or tea tree) and has been used for centuries by the aborigines to heal cuts, wounds, and skin infections. Not only is this powerful oil an immune stimulant, it also has twelve times the antiseptic power of phenol, as well as antiviral and antibacterial properties making it one of the most powerful immune-building essential oils.
Incorporate Tea Tree into your daily routine for immune support by adding a drop or two to the bottoms of your feet each morning. Because our feet contain the largest pores on our skin, applying oils there allows the benefits of the oil to be released into the body and absorbed more efficiently. Add 5 drops to a diffuser to purify the air.
2. Oregano
Like Tea Tree, Oregano comes from the leaves of the plant. Because of its antiviral and antiseptic properties, Oregano is profoundly beneficial for killing germs. It too is an incredible immune stimulant and is known for its ability to fight infection and inflammation. This oil is considered a “hot” oil, meaning when applied to the skin it can cause a warming or hot sensation. It is best to dilute this oil by applying with a carrier oil like fractionated coconut oil.
Combine Oregano with Tea Tree and coconut oil to the bottoms of your feet to fight viruses and help boost immunity. Add a few drops of Oregano to a diffuser along with a few drops of the next oil, Lemon, and enjoy a spicy and uplifting scent that purifies the air.
3. Lemon
All citrus oils are incredibly energizing and beneficial to those dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression. When diffused, Lemon oil has amazing properties that not only uplift your mood and ease anxiety, which contributes to our overall immune system health, but it also contains powerful antioxidants that boost the immune system by fighting off free radicals.
When ingested, Lemon oil helps remove toxins from the body and increase immunity. Try adding a drop of Lemon oil to your glass of water each day to stay healthy or help fight a cold. Sore throat? Add a drop of lemon to a spoonful of raw honey 3x a day. Diffuse 5 drops of Lemon throughout the day to purify the air and make you feel refreshed and energized. Please note that Lemon oil contains Limonene which can break down plastic. When adding it to drinking water use a glass jar and metal straw. Lemon oil is also phototoxic, so it should not be used on the skin before significant sun exposure.
4. Lavender & Frankincense
Both of these are “must have” essential oils for the home. Both are beneficial for almost any situation.
Lavender
This oil is incredibly versatile. In fact, it is known as the swiss army knife of oils for its countless uses. Unlike the other oils mentioned above that are immune stimulants, lavender helps the immune system by offering calming and soothing properties that can help reduce stress and ensure your body gets the restorative sleep it needs. Both stress and lack of sleep contribute to a lowered immune system.
Rub Lavender on bottoms of feet or Diffuse 8-10 drops of Lavender at night for restful sleep. To decrease stress and/or anxiety, add a drop of Lavender to each palm and rub together. Then cup your hands over your mouth and nose and breathe deeply several times. This can be done throughout the day or whenever stress or anxiety are elevated.
Frankincense
Like Lavender, Frankincense has numerous uses. Because of its grounding and antidepressant properties, it too works wonders in the lives of those dealing with stress and anxiety. When diffused or directly inhaled, this amazing oil balances emotions and has the ability to decrease elevated heart rates and high blood pressure, both contributors to stress, anxiety, and a weakened immune system. Where Frankincense differs from its friend Lavender, is its ability to fight against infection because of its anti-infectious, antiseptic, and immune-stimulant properties. Because of this, Frankincense acts as a shield, preventing the spread and development of germs in the body. Combining it in your household cleaner makes it a vital weapon against cold and flu as well!
For daily emotional and immune support, add a drop or two to the bottoms of your feet. Inhale directly from the bottle to uplift the mind and spirit or combine with other immune supporting oils mentioned above for an immune supporting powerhouse blend.
Immune Supporting Roller Blend:
Add 10 drops Frankincense, 10 drops Lemon, 10 drops Tea Tree, 5 drops Oregano, and 5 drops lavender to a 10ml glass roller bottle and top with fractionated coconut oil. Roll along the spine and bottoms of feet daily to boost the immune system. When the immune system is compromised or you are fighting a virus or cold, apply the oils more often throughout the day. Also, like any natural supplement or homeopathic, to see the effects you want, essential oils must be used frequently and consistently. They are tools to use daily to support overall health.
I encourage you to add essential oils into your daily routine! The above oils are great ones to start with. Essential oils are amazing tools to have in your tool kit to help support your emotions, sleep, and especially your immune system! Our family has been using them for years and we are the healthiest we have ever been! It’s important to note that not all essential oils are created equal. I only recommend pure therapeutic grade essential oils that you know have been grown, harvested, and distilled with the highest of standards.
If you are ready to incorporate oils into your life, I would love to help you or answer any questions you may have. You can find me over on instagram @well.made.essentials
I'm getting sick - now what?!
When anyone in my house gets sick, I JUMP into action!!! I would rather throw 10 things at it and be proactive immediately than get behind the curve and have a house full of sick people. Here are a few things we do when we are feeling under the weather.
This Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
1) Increase immune supporting vitamins
I take vitamins and supplement DAILY. It’s quite a handful every morning, plus some support throughout the day. I you’re trying to be healthy in 2020 you should probably be taking some basics - see why HERE. But on top of that, when someone in my house gets sick, I may add a few or increase the dose on some that are more supportive to the immune system.
We take liposomal vitamin C - 2 squirts under the tongue for 30 seconds 2x a day. This may increase to 3-4 times a day when sick. I will also be getting vitamin IV’s before I travel that include B vitamins, magnesium and Vitamin C.
I add in elderberry syrup. A spoonful 3-4x a day.
Biocidin is an anti-viral, antimicrobial supplement I use with my gut protocols, but if we aren’t currently taking it and someone gets sick - we bring it back in. It’s a concentrated dose of herbs and essential oils known to support the immune system, kill pathogenic gut bugs and leave the good ones we need! (It’s INCREDIBLY effective).
Stay on or increase probiotics and/or add sauerkraut or yogurt (dairy free) too. This is especially important if you are fighting a tummy bug.
Depending on what’s going on sometimes we add things like Umcka cold and flu as well.
I often forget about this, but recently remembered to use my Ultimate Aloe ( that’s the brand) aloe juice. It’s antiviral and with this brand you can drink several glasses a day safely.
Recently I’ve also been eating 2-4 Brazil nuts/day. They are a major source of selenium and selenium deficiency has been connected to viral infections so - boosting selenium can be considered anti-viral. Eat your Brazil nuts! But 2-4 is all you need.
2) Bone broth
Bone broth supports your immune system by dosing you with lots of good minerals. In addition, it’s warm, soothing, and gut healing to boot. Homemade is always best, but other brands like Kettle & Fire or Epic might be more convenient.
3) Essential oils
I like to diffuse essential oils anyway, but if we get sick, I use thieves essential oils like it’s my job. A blend of clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus and rosemary, it’s a potent immune support and germ killer. You can roll it onto your wrists or the bottom of your feet, or diffuse it in your home. I like to use a roller on my wrists and diffuse it while I sleep.
If feeling nauseous, you can diffuse peppermint oil or add a drop of peppermint to your daily smoothie or protein shake.
4) Rest
I know it’s not always possible, but when it is, it’s smart to take the day off work, go to bed early, and relax as much as you can as soon as you feel like you are getting sick. Sleep is when your body recovers and if you are getting sick your body usually signals strongly that you need to get more rest. Id you respect that instead of pushing through, increase nutrition, and listen to your body, you can often nip it in the bud or dramatically cut back the symptoms or duration!!
I hope these basic tips have helped! Stay healthy my friends!
Resources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4288282/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0161475499700059
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02338/full
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5552930/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6612361/
Experimenting with Essential Oils
Well butter my biscuit and call me a goose - if essential oils are not #alltherage right now! I'll admit...I was slow to hop on the increasingly popular bandwagon. Being in the health and wellness field however I am always looking for natural, drugless ways to boost my immune system, take care of my body and generally stay healthy. Plus I'm connected to SO many friends that sell essential oils and I kept hearing very positive things about them.
As a Christian, I also believe that God has provided everything we need and so much can be found in nature - food, medicine, supplements, etc....so the concept wasn't really that shocking to me but....do they work? I was a slow convert. I went to a class and found it fascinating, so tried an oil blend for my husband to help with his pain when his back was hurting so much. We thought it might have helped but his pain was so severe and we didn't have any definitive evidence yet....
Then I found some cleaner lotions that said they have essential oils in them and thought I would try those- not really sure they did anything either except smell delicious. And then somehow one day I decided to order Young Living Thieves. If you live anywhere except under a rock I'm sure by now you have at least heard that name.
As the story goes, a few men were thieves in the time of the black plague and because they carried around these spices, Cloves, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus and Rosemary the legend states that they did not die from the black plague because of how powerful those spices/oils were. ( don't quote me on the spice details).
Fast forward to the 21st century and here I am at the end of 2016 with a super sick kiddo who seemingly cannot get well! I am telling you - diffusing Thieves kept me from getting sick for the past 3 months!!! Not only has keegan gotten sick, tons of people around me have gotten sick but I diffuse thieves in my room every night and so far so good (knock on wood!). Now I try to put it on Keegan's feet when he starts getting the sniffles and I want to get another diffuser for him as well so he can regularly diffuse it in his room - he's the one exposed to all those germs at school after all!
Also on a side note, I add 1 drop of peppermint (Doterra brand right now) to my Shakeology and it's like a million times better than peppermint extract - let me TELL YOU! #thinmintcookie
I just made some DIY recipes and will keep you posted on how they turn out, why I made them, and if I like them :)
Stay tuned friends!
p.s. what are your favorite uses for EO? do you have any DIY blends you love? Share below!
p.p.s. I do not sell EO but if you are interested in trying some for yourself I can direct you to several awesome women who do! :)
