With the change of seasons and our constant exposure to disease-causing viruses at home or work, flu is one of the most common health conditions that affect people all around the world. While we use popular over-the-counter drugs such as paracetamol and aspirin, essential oils have been found to be extremely beneficial in treating and preventing flu. Read on to find out which are the essential oils helpful and how they can be used to treat flu.
1. Frankincense Oil
With remarkable healing and rejuvenating properties, frankincense oil is a natural cold-fighting antiseptic, astringent, and anti-inflammatory oil. This oil can also be also used to reduce anxiety symptoms when you start worrying about work or important events in your life.1
Hot Bath Remedy
1. Take 2 drops of frankincense essential oil.
2. Add 2 drops of orange essential oil to it.
3. Add 1 drop of eucalyptus oil.
4. Mix all the oils in warm water for a healing bath.
Steam Inhalation Remedy
1. Add 5-8 drops of frankincense essential oil to hot, steaming water in a bowl.
2. Cover your head with a towel, lean over the bowl, and inhale the steam until the vapor makes you feel better.
3. You can also use all the oils in the bath remedy mentioned above.
Hot Compress Remedy
1. Take a dampened washcloth and microwave it. Add 5-6 drops of frankincense essential oil to it.
2. To make it a decongestant, add a drop of eucalyptus oil to it as well.
3. You can also add a couple of drops of lavender oil to it to relieve yourself from a headache.
4. Place the washcloth on the forehead and on the chest for fast relief.
2. Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano essential oil is antiviral and antimicrobial in nature. It dramatically reduces the symptoms of upper respiratory ailments including cough problems and sore throats. Oregano essential oil has antiviral properties that help protect against nonenveloped murine norovirus (MNV) that promotes inflammation in the body. MNV also causes vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, and sometimes, loss of taste as well.2
Sublingual Administration Remedy
Take a few drops of oregano oil and place them under your tongue. Let the oil get absorbed for at least 30 seconds before you swallow it to get relieved from cold and cough symptoms.
Massage Or Diffuser Blend Remedy
1. Take 2 drops of oregano essential oil.
2. Add 2 drops of rosemary essential oil.
3. Add 2 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
4. Add 2 drops of peppermint essential oil.
5. Add 4 tsp. of a carrier oil for a massage blend.
Use all the essential oils in a diffuser, and if you use them for a massage, use a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil with the essential oils.
3. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus essential oil comprises about 72 percent of eucalyptol, a compound that eases breathing issues and works to provide relief from flu and cough in the chest.3 It is toxic in nature, so taking eucalyptus oil orally can harm you.
For A Stuffy Nose
Take 5-8 drops of eucalyptus essential oil in a diffuser or use it for steam inhalation, a vaporizer, or a hot bath. You can also mix 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil with 2 drops each of lavender essential oil and peppermint essential oil and use it in to inhale steam, as a diffuser, as a vaporizer, or in a hot bath.4
For Prevention Of Airborne Infection
Diffuse or vaporize 3 drops of eucalyptus oil with 3 drops of tea tree essential oil.
To Ease Chesty Coughs
1. Take 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
2. Add 4 drops of cedarwood essential oil.
3. Add 2 drops of myrrh essential oil.
3. Add 4 tsp. of a carrier oil such as coconut oil or olive oil.
Blend all the oils together and massage the chest using them in the morning and/or in the evening.
To Ease Body Ache
1. Take 4 drops of eucalyptus essential oil.
2. Add 4 drops of rosemary essential oil.
3. Add 2 drops of ginger essential oil.
4. Add 4 tsp. of a carrier oil for a massage blend.
You can use this combination of oils in a hot bath or use it with a hot compress or cold compress. If you use the blend for a massage, use any carrier oil such as olive oil or coconut oil.
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