Immune Boosting Essential Oils
I love the smell of pure essential oils and I admit I was first drawn to them for their aromatic qualities. That said, the real reason I began to invest in them was when I heard how many people were successfully using essential oils as a way of getting and staying healthy. To hear people profess that their kids have never had to take an antibiotic - kids that are in daycare and/or school and regularly exposed to infection - really intrigued me and I wanted to be able to do the same for my own family.
How Do They Work?
The science behind essential oils is quite complex, but there is a lot of good information out there written by reputable sources that can help you understand just how they work within the body. The basics are this: because essential oils are physiologically active and due to their chemical composition they are able to enter into cells in our bodies and assist them in cell repair, thus aiding the body to function at its most optimal state. The human body is designed to prevent infection and disease already and the use of essential oils can support it to do what it does best without the use of prescription drugs.
How Do You Use Them?
Essential Oils can be used aromatically, topically and internally. For this blog post I am suggesting that you use them topically by creating your own blend and applying to the bottoms of your feet each night. For safety I suggest diluting the oils in a 10 ml bottle of fractionated coconut oil. This will help protect against any skin sensitivity and coconut oil is the best to use to prevent staining of your bed sheets and/or clothing. I would suggest using 10-15 drops of each oil in a 10 ml roller bottle and fill the rest with the coconut oil.
Best Oils for Immunity
Not all essential oils aid in boosting immunity so it is important to know specifically how the different oils work within the body. I have compiled a list of some common oils to help you as you begin to delve into using them to maintain a healthy immune system.
doTERRA OnGuard®
OnGuard® is a proprietary blend created by doTERRA specifically to aid the body in this way. This blend contains clove bud which is known to be one of the best oils to combat contagions and is also antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal. I use the Touch roller bottle on the bottom of my feet and hands when I feel something coming on. I also take the soft gels when I know I will be going somewhere that I can be exposed to stuff (like a hospital, school, etc.)
Lemon Grass
The antimicrobial properties of lemon grass inhibit the growth of bacteria both internally and externally. As an added benefit it can be used as a fever reducer. It is also antiseptic, antiviral and astringent.
Oregano
This essential oil is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral so it is an excellent oil to add to an immunity blend. Oregano is also antioxidant, helping the body protect against free radicals and also aiding the body in repairing damage done by them. (Warning! Oregano is a hot oil and should be diluted when applied to the skin)
Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca)
This essential oil is one of the few antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and antimicrobial oils you can apply directly to your skin without first diluting it with a carrier oil. It is also antioxidant and speeds up the healing of wounds. It is also beneficial in treating skin conditions including athletes foot. To use to boost your immunity apply to bottoms of the feet or diffuse.
Frankincense
Is there anything that Frankincense doesn't help with? If you have to choose one oil to use this is the most versatile and incredibly beneficial oil. As a matter of fact Frankincense is so beneficial it is considered a tonic. Why? It aids every system in the body and helps dying cells replace with new ones. Check out this pin with 20 different ways to use Frankincense!
These oils are just a starting point for you to begin using your own blends to aid in preventing illness. As you learn more about the beneficial properties of other oils you may want to also add them to your nighttime blend. I use oils to promote sleep and relaxation in my personal blend in addition to the immunity boosting oils.
This is my own personal immunity blend. I will use this on my feet at night for about 5 nights in a row out of a month to keep my body strong at fighting off environmental threats.
If you would like more information on how to create your own blend of oils feel free to reach out to me, I'm happy to help! If you want to purchase any of the oils listed here head over to my SHOP page where you can purchase at a wholesale discount!