Touted by the beauty industry as skin care and spa treatments, few people realize that essential oils can provide effective symptom relief in the case of colds and flu. Not only that, though, essential oils may also provide immune-enhancing properties against the viruses that bring on those nasty symptoms.
Essential oils are the concentrated oil extracts of plants, making them highly potent natural medicines. Research has been ongoing into the many therapeutic benefits of essential oils, including their potential as immune system supporters in the fight against infections. Essential oils with the most potential against cold and flu viruses in recent research include
- geranium (Pelargonium graveolens)
- lemon balm (Melissa officinalis )
- tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
- thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
- cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
- oregano (Origanum vulgare)
- mandarin (Citrus reshni)
Essential oils can be diffused into the air using aromatherapy diffusers that are available at most health food stores. They can also be made into topical remedies to help treat the symptoms linked to colds and flu while also supporting immunity against these viruses.
Essential remedy recipes
Knowing the best antiviral essential oils is great, but how can you use them for symptom relief? Try out these essential recipes the next time you become the unwitting host to a cold or flu virus.
Note: Be sure to conduct a 72-hour skin patch test to determine possible sensitivities or allergies before using the oils.
Honey-Thyme Cough Alleviator
Combine two of the best natural cough medicines and you get this sure-fire cough reliever. While unpasteurized honey is soothing to the throat in its own right, choose manuka honey to further increase the antiviral effects of this remedy. Be sure the thyme essential oil you select is suitable for internal use, as not all oils are suitable for this purpose.
1/3 cup unpasteurized honey or manuka honey (see tip)
6 drops thyme essential oil
In small bowl, stir honey and thyme essential oil until well combined. Store in small jar. Use 1/2 to 1 tsp, as needed, to soothe a sore throat or ease a cough.
TIP
Research published in the journal Archives of Medical Research found that manuka honey has superior inhibitory effects against the flu.
Peppermint Headache Relief Rollerball
If you have a pressure headache that is often associated with the flu, you’ll want to have this remedy on hand.
10 mL glass rollerball bottle (see tip)
1/2 tsp + 10 drops peppermint essential oil
1 1/2 tsp fractionated coconut oil or apricot kernel oil
Remove lid and rollerball from the glass bottle. Add essential oils. Top up with coconut or apricot kernel oil. Replace rollerball top and lid and gently roll between your hands to combine ingredients.
For headache relief, use as needed over temples, forehead, and back of the neck where the skull and neck meet. Avoid use near the eyes.
TIP
Glass rollerballs are available in most natural health stores.
Tummy Tamer Rollerball
Viruses can make everything feel “off,” including digestion. If you’re experiencing nausea, stomach aches, indigestion, or other gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, you’ll want to keep this remedy handy.
10 mL glass rollerball bottle
15 drops ginger essential oil
10 drops peppermint essential oil
10 drops fennel or anise essential oil
1 1/2 tsp fractionated coconut oil or apricot kernel oil
Remove lid and rollerball from the glass bottle. Add essential oils. Top up with coconut or apricot kernel oil. Replace rollerball top and lid and gently roll between your hands to combine ingredients.
For abdominal relief, roll over the abdominal area, as needed, up to a few times daily.
Eucalyptus and Tea Tree Chest Rub
Most of us are familiar with the vaporizing scent of eucalyptus. Many of our parents rubbed it on our chests when we had a head cold or flu. Here’s a natural option free of the petrochemicals typically found in these types of ointments. It helps clear the sinuses and open the airways.
Makes approximately 2/3 cup (160 mL).
2 Tbsp grated beeswax (using cheese grater or potato peeler)
1/2 cup fractionated coconut oil or extra-virgin olive oil
50 drops eucalyptus essential oil
25 drops tea tree essential oil
1 – 5 oz ointment jar or tin
In small pot, over low heat, heat beeswax and fractionated coconut or olive oil, stirring gently but constantly, until beeswax is melted. Immediately remove from stove and add eucalyptus and tea tree essential oils; stir until combined. Immediately pour mixture into clean glass jar or tin, leaving it undisturbed and uncovered until completely cooled. Cover and label.
The ointment lasts about one year. Rub on your chest as needed.
Potential immune support benefits of essential oils
Using essential oils on a regular basis—through inhalation on a cloth, diffusing in the air, or diluting and applying to your skin—may not just help relieve symptoms after you get a cold or flu. Doing so may also prevent you from getting sick in the first place.
In vitro research published in the journal Molecules concluded that tea tree essential oil was able to prevent influenza virus from entering host cells, meaning that tea tree oil may help to prevent you from getting sick.
Cold or flu? How to tell.
| Cold | Flu |
| · comes on slowly | · comes on abruptly |
| · rarely involves fever or headaches | · usually involves fevers and headaches |
| · causes only slight aches | · usually causes aches |
| · uncommonly causes chills | · commonly causes chills |
| · commonly causes sneezing, stuffy nose, and sore throat | · usually involves fatigue |
