Shield yourself and family from colds

One of the easiest, most effective and natural ways to boost your immune system and shield yourself from illness is to use essential oils.

by Dana Regev — 

A  lowered immune system sets the stage for sickness. Factor in changing weather, traveling and exposure to sickness and it can become a losing battle. One of the easiest, most effective and natural ways to boost your immune system and shield yourself from illness is to use essential oils, which also can be used when you are already under the weather.

The idea of essential oils is to use them frequently. The good news is that they are easy to use and cost-effective — a little goes a long way.

Here are a few of the many ways to use essential oils:

• Baths — Drop a small amount of the oils into 1/2 cup of natural sea salt or Epsom salt, mix, then add to your bath water.
• Applied to skin — Mix your oils in a carrier oil such as jojoba, almond or even olive oil. Apply 1 to 2 drops (or dab your pinky finger) to your lymph nodes.
• Diffuser — At home, drop oils into a diffuser to cleanse the air. This will protect you and your family from airborne illnesses.

Note: If you are allergic to the food or plant that produces the oil, do not use that oil. Many oils share benefits, so speak with an aromatherapist or go online to find a suitable alternative. Otherwise, get creative by mixing and mingling.

Essential oil recipes to prevent or recover from cold or flu symptoms

Cold/flu remedy

• 3 drops eucalyptus
• 3 drops tea tree
• 2 drops rosemary
• 2 drops lemon
• 2 drops lavender

Fever remedy

• 3 drops peppermint
• 3 drops eucalyptus
• 2 drops tea tree
• 2 drops Roman chamomile
• 2 drops lavender

Cough/chest cold remedy

• 3 drops eucalyptus
• 3 drops tea tree
• 3 drops thyme
• 2 drops rosemary
• 2 drops lemon

Stomach flu/nausea

• 3 drops ginger
• 3 drops peppermint
• 2 drops fennel
• 2 drops lavender
• 2 drops Roman chamomile

Dana Regev is a master massage therapist, a certified infant/child massage instructor and founder of Peaceful Hands®. www.peacefulhands.net, [email protected] or 602-751-2960.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 30, Number 1, Feb/Mar 2011.