I think most of us agree that prevention is very important to our body staying healthy, and it is also much easier to achieve than the actual treatment.
Immunity our body´s complex capacity to protect itself from bacteria, viruses, fungi and other microorganisms that can enter our system and trigger damage and disease.
Unfortunately, the immune system can become weaker due to many factors and is a field of constant attack depending on the conditions we live in and many factors including hygiene, air quality, sleep, and even psychological status.
Surely, poor Immunity can lead to various health issues, but there are many natural ways to boost the immune system, and one of them is by using essential oils for immunity.
How Can Essential Oils Boost Immunity?
Essential oils have properties that make them suitable for killing bacteria, fungi and viruses floating in the air or lurking anywhere from your kitchen counter top to your fridge handle, sink or toilet seat.
Some support the lymph system, easing the removal of waste materials due to the flu or a cold and leading to better performance of your body cells.
By cleaning and purifying the air from environmental allergens thus minimizing allergic reactions, your immune system does not have to react to as much.
They may help relieve the pain caused by a bee sting or inflamed rashes caused by poison ivy contact.
Their calming and relaxing properties which helps your body deal with stress linked inflammation and a weak immune system caused by these factors. The sedative properties of some essential oils, as for example lavender oil, can help you sleep better, a benefit which is particularly useful when your body is fighting the flu or other infections.
Best Essential Oils For Immunity
1. Tea Tree Essential Oil (Maleleuca alternifolia)
With its ability to fight and kill bacteria, it is one of the best essential oils to combat and prevent the common cold, coughs, congestion and other respiratory infections.
Due to its expectorant and decongestant properties, it can be used to thin and loosen mucus in the airways, leading to breaking up congestion and helping you breathe easier.
As an anti-inflammatory, it can help topically heal or relieve symptoms of skin conditions triggered by inflammation and poor immunity such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis.
2. Eucalyptus Essential Oil (Eucalyptus globulus)
Eucalyptus essential oil is widely used to fight bacterial and viral infections. It is also considered to be one of the best essential oils for a variety of respiratory diseases including sinusitis, bronchitis, the flu, and a common cold.
Its benefits for respiratory problems lie in its ability to boost respiratory circulation, breaking up congestion and providing antioxidant protection, which helps boost the immune system. As an expectorant, it also helps relieve coughs.
Eucalyptus oil contains citronellal and eucalyptol, two components that have immune-regulatory, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial function, features that may promote your immunity’s resistance to infections and even help with seasonal allergies.
3. Lemon Essential Oil (Citrus limonum)
Two major components, b-pinene and limonene, contributes to lemon essential oil being a great anti-microbial and anti-viral agent that can be used to get rid of harmful pathogens such as bacteria and fungi.
As a lymph tonic, it can help rinse away cellular waste that gathers to your body during the flu or a cold and reduces lymph node swelling. By stimulating lymphatic drainage and reducing fluids accumulation, cough symptoms can also be reduced.
It is widely used as a natural remedy to help with skin conditions linked to inflammation or skin viral infections such as warts and cold sores.
4. Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswelia carterii)
As an expectorant, frankinsense opens the airways and provides you with a natural way to breathe easier when your respiratory system is congested.
In addition, it has a very calming effect. When stress prevents you from falling asleep, this oil can act as a natural stress relief and help you sleep, a very important factor for a strong immune system.
As an anti-microbial agent, it can also help your skin deal with bacteria or even blemishes which your skin may be more vulnerable to if your immunity is weak.
5. Oregano Essential Oil (Origanum vulgare)
Often described as the natural alternative to antibiotics due to its many proven health benefits, oregano essential oil is also a great solution to boosting immunity.
Its two key components, thymol, and carvacrol are proven to have strong antimicrobial, antiviral and anti-fungal qualities, which makes this oil an excellent natural solution to preventing and treating various infections.
Its antioxidant properties further boosts immunity, making oregano one of the top choices in this category.
6. Cinnamon Essential Oil (Cinnamomum verum)
Cinnamon essential oil is known to have anti-microbial properties, which can help fight infections such as a sore throat.
Its high content in antioxidants can reduce inflammation and therefore boost immunity while its anti-inflammatory benefits can help people suffering from acne or dermatitis.
Cinnamon oil is excellent for depression. Inhaling it can stop you from having those sugar cravings which can make your body more vulnerable to inflammation and therefore weaken your immune system.
7. Clove Bud Essential Oil (Syzygium aromanticum)
Due to its chemical compound eugenol, clove bud essential oil is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a great solution to reduce inflammation and therefore boost your immunity.
As a strong antioxidant, it can protect the body against bad bacteria, viruses and candida infections while as an expectorant, it can be used to help relieve respiratory issues such as sinusitis, coughs, and bronchitis.
With its antiviral and antibacterial properties, it can fight those pathogens that cause the common cold or the flu as well as pulmonary infections. It can even be used to stop specific bacteria from causing acne on the skin.
8. Helichrysum Essential Oil (Helichrysum angustifolium)
Traditionally, the flowers and leaves of this great medicinal plant have been used for a number of health issues including colds, cough, allergies, wound healing, skin inflammation, infections, and candida.
Due to its antimicrobial, antiviral and antifungal properties, it can increase immunity and therefore make you less vulnerable to various diseases.
9. Thyme Essential Oil (Thymus vulgaris)
As a pulmonary disinfectant, thyme essential oil has been used to treat respiratory problems and infections in the bronchi, lungs, pharynx, and larynx. Its use also includes asthma relief.
It can promote circulation which in turn helps reduce inflammation and promote quicker healing. Better circulation also means improved skin health and stronger immunity overall.
Thyme oil is also well known for its anti-fatigue and anti-depressant qualities that can boost your immune system and help you recover faster.
Its ability to boost energy can be very useful when suffering from viral infections such as the flu or a common cold.
10. Holy Basil Essential Oil (Ocimum tenuiflorum)
Holy Basil essential oil is great at boosting the immune system in various ways. Its strong anti-microbial and anti-viral properties make it an effective natural solution against bacteria, viruses and even molds and yeasts.
Its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits help the body fight inflammation, improve immunity and heal faster, which is a feature that is also very useful for skin-inflammatory conditions or skin irritations.
As a natural analgesic, it can help with sinus headaches and other forms of pain while its sedative and anti-depressant characteristics help the body deal with stressful life conditions and therefore make it stronger against disease.
11. Rosemary Essential Oil (Rosmarinus officinalis)
The expectorant and antiseptic qualities of Rosemary oil supports the relief from symptoms of respiratory issues such as those linked to sinus infections, rhinitis, bronchitis, and even common cold.
Due to its anti-microbial and antiseptic properties, it is also used to help skin conditions that are caused by bacteria accumulation on the skin such as acne and even oily skin.
As a natural anti-microbial agent, it can also help reduce inflammation while due to its ability to improve circulation, it can accelerate the body’s healing power.
Essential Oil Recipes For Immunity
The following blends will boost your immunity. While these are for immunity purposes, they may relieve symptoms when you get sick, or even aid prevention of illness.
Use a personal inhaler or a small glass bottle to inhale the following 3 blends, or follow the steam inhalation method when you really need relief.
Essential Oil Blend for Congestion Relief
- 6 drops Eucalyptus
- 2 drops Thyme
- 2 drops Frankincense
Cough Relief Blend
- 4 drops Tea Tree
- 3 drops Lemon
- 3 drops Helichrysum
Decongestant Blend
- 2 drops of Eucalyptus
- 1 drop of Tea Tree
Air Cleansing Mist Spray
These natural sprays can fight viruses and bacteria in the air while also helping you breathe easier and making the air you breathe more healthy and revitalizing to your senses. You can use this mist at home or even at work.
- 2 ounces of pure / distilled water.
- 5 drops eucalyptus
- 5 drops lemon
- 5 drops clove Bud
- 5 drops helichrysum
Swirl the essential oils in a spray bottle and add the water. Shake well before use and spray at a safe distance away from your eyes.
Household Cleaner
As an alternative to those chemical-laden household cleaners, you can use this natural household cleanser to disinfect various surfaces in your house.
- Two cups of distilled water
- 5 drops tea tree
- 5 drops lemon
- 5 drops thyme
Add all the ingredients in a spray bottle made of glass and you have an all-natural anti-microbial cleanser for your house that smells refreshing and has energizing as well as immunity support properties.
To Summarize
Essential oils boost immunity indirectly as follows:
- Essential oils have antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-viral properties that kill bacteria, viruses, fungi and other pathogens that threaten your health.
- They relieve various symptoms of respiratory infections including a cough, congestion, sore throat and runny nose.
- Their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties promote quicker healing. These properties are also very important when topically treating inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and acne.
- Some essential oils promote lymph drainage which accelerates the removal of cellular waste from the body.
- There are oils that have stress relief benefits, anti-depressant properties and they can even promote sleep. These all help to reduce inflammation in the body and make your immunity stronger. Some oils can also energize you and reduce your fatigue, a feature that is very useful when dealing with a cold.
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