Essential Oils for Congestion: Antiseptic and AntiViral Essential Oils for Colds Diffuser Blends
Flu season is upon us and using essential oils for congestion can help to ward off any bacteria or viruses in our environment. This article will share the best antiseptic and antiviral essential oils to use plus diffuser blends specifically for cold and
When most people think of essential oils they think of aromatherapy, but when you think of how many plants there are and what properties they have, it makes a lot of sense that some essential oils do more than just smell good and provide a calming atmosphere.
Some essential oils can also help our bodies to keep away or fight off infections.
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Antiseptic Essential Oils
Antiseptics are agents that kill bacteria. While some bacteria is healthy, other bacteria cause illnesses.
Antibiotics, which are similar but not identical to other forms of antiseptics, have been widely used in recent history to fight off harmful bacteria, but antibiotics can also be harmful to good bacteria, and harmful bacteria has been adapting to survive antibiotic treatments.
According to The Atlantic, most of the serious clinical studies that have been done on essential oils for antiseptic purposes have been searching for potential ingredients in hand sanitizers.
The search is on for ingredients that will be efficient in medical settings where bacteria have become immune to other common lines of defense.
Related: How to Choose Essential Oils for Different Purposes
The article lists a number of plant extracts that research has found promising, including
• thyme
• clove
• lemongrass
• lavender
• basil
• chili peppers
• and cinnamon.
Antimicrobial Essential Oils
Clove, rosemary, chili peppers, and lavender were also listed among essential oils found to have antimicrobial effects in another study published in The Journal of Applied Bioscience, as were essential oils made from
• juniper
• olives
• peppermint
• fennel
• lemon leaves
• and lime leaves.
Scientists aren’t entirely sure yet how or why essential oils can kill bacteria, but some have proposed that chemicals in the essential oils can damage the cell walls of the bacteria.
This would also explain why essential oils included as ingredients in more conventional antiseptics tend to be more efficient than essential oils by themselves.
Related: How to Blend Essential Oils
Anti-Viral Essential Oils
Bacteria and viruses both make you sick, but they aren’t the same; they work in different ways and require different treatments and deterrents.
For example, if the theory that essential oils kill bacteria by damaging their cell walls is correct, essential oils could not fight viruses the same way because viruses do not have cell walls. Fortunately, a number of potentially beneficial anti-viral essential oils have also been identified.
The same 2010 meta-analysis cited
Cinnamon, bergamot, thyme, and eucalyptus were also found to have promising anti-viral properties in both the liquid and the vapor state in a 2014 study.
This study particularly looked at combatting the influenza virus which leads to the common “flu” but which can also turn deadly.
Recent research has also explored essential oils as being beneficial antifungal, and even anticancer agents.
Related: How to Choose The Right Essential Oil Diffuser
Other Ways To Get The Benefits of Essential Oils
Many of these studies included other essential oils that are not widely available commercially, and so they have not been included in this article.
Many of the essential oils discussed in this article, in addition to being readily available commercially, come from edible plants. While essential oils can often not be ingested, eating the plants that they are derived from can provide some significant effect as well.
Essential oils are concentrated and potent substances, so eating the foods that produce them may not have as strong or as immediate an effect as using essential oils. However, eating the foods rather than just the oils involves taking in nutrients that are not always included in essential oils.
For example, many of the essential oils listed above come from plants that also include antioxidants and other important nutrients.
Essential Oils for Respiratory Health
Respiratory health is one of the most overlooked aspects of our health management. Often people overlook their respiratory health until it is too late or there is already a problem with the lungs.
Respiratory health and healing can be assisted with the use of essential oils. There are different therapies that can be used depending on the person and the condition.
Essential Oils that Cleanse the Lungs
Alternative healing promotes inhalations of essential oils two to three times a week to help cleanse the lungs of toxins and excess mucus.
The best essential oils for this purpose are eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary, or thyme essential oils.
Heat water in a large pot and add a few drops of the essential oil of your choice. Then place a towel over your head and the pot, and inhale the fragrance of the steam infused with essential oils.
Not only will the inhalation of essential oil help you cleanse your lungs, but it can also help, in cold and flu season. If severe mucus builds up and in cases of bronchitis, inhaling steamed essential oils can shorten the severity of the illness.
The Science Behind Essential Oils for Congestion
There are some people who still doubt the healing properties of essential oils. Even as these oils become more accepted in the western world, there are those who do not believe that they have curative properties.
Published research highlights several benefits of essential oils for lung health:
• Lavender oil has been shown to suppress allergic airway inflammation and asthma
• Oregano, clove, thyme, rosewood, and cinnamon promote autolysis of streptococcus pneumonia
• Eucalyptus oil has eliminated various strains of pneumonia and influenza that cause bronchitis.
• Black pepper oil can heal colds, sinus issues, asthma
• Thyme oil relaxes the respiratory tract and promotes easy, clear breathing
These essential oil research studies have just begun to breach the surface of the ability of essential oils to help with respiratory issues.
Sore Throats, Colds, and Flu
Many respiratory issues begin as sore throats, colds, or flu, and anti-bacterial essential oils can help.
When inhaled, these essential oils can help fight the bacteria that may lead to greater lung infections.
• Palo Santo
• Lemon
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Tea Tree
• Niaouli
• Ravensara
• Peppermint
Another property that many essential oils have is an antispasmodic property. This can stop the spasm in the bronchi that
Antispasmodic essential oils include:
• Chamomile
• Lemon
• Bergamot
• Sweet Basil
• Palo Santo
• Rosemary
• Clary Sage
Finally, some essential oils are great expectorants. Expectorants help you clear mucus and “lung crud” by making your cough more productive.
If you need a natural essential oil that serves as an expectorant check out these oils.
• Fir, silver
• Lemon
• Frankincense
• Eucalyptus
• Niaouli
• Ravensara
• Pine
As you can see many of these essential oils perform the same function as high-end cough medicines. The beauty of essential oils is that they are all natural and easy to inhale when diffused in water.
In addition to inhalations and vaporizers, you can see the benefits of these essential oils when you bathe with them and when you blend with a carrier oil such as Jojoba or coconut oil to use topically.
You are not limited to one modality for delivery when using essential oils as an aide in your respiratory health.
Should you find that one method of delivery of essential oils irritates your skin, eyes, or even lungs; try one that disperses the essential oil into a wider space.
A diffuser or a warm bath may be enough dilution of the essential oil so that it doesn’t irritate your skin or eyes while it is still delivering the beneficial properties to your lungs.
Remember that essential oils should always be diluted either with water or with a carrier oil. This is especially true when applying directly to the skin.
Ginger Spice Diffuser Blend
Stave off cold and flu germs while chasing the blues away this autumn and winter. Here’s an essential oils blend with incredible positive effects for both your body and mind.
Ginger oil boasts disinfectant, antifungal, anti-inflammatory properties. It soothes the nervous system, clears the lungs, heals the throat and aids in digestion. Enjoy a cup of warm ginger tea with lemon while you diffuse this spicy essential oils blend.
Into your aromatherapy diffuser, add:
- About 6 oz. distilled water
- 4 drops ginger oil
- 3 drops lime oil
- 3 drops vetiver oil
Try this blend during the fall to not only add a warm soothing scent to your home but to receive the healing benefits of ginger and lime essential oils to ward off cold and flu season viruses and bacteria.
