..As we get into the middle of November, the weather is getting colder. All of the winter bugs are rearing their ugly heads. Colds and flu are going around the doors. As a result of this, you or someone in your family will inevitably end up with the sniffles.

Essential Oils are great for helping you to manage your symptoms. They help make the road to recovery easier for yourself and your loved ones.

My Go-To Essential Oils for Colds and Flu

• Cajeput – Cajeput essential oil has antibacterial and antifungal properties. It is great for clearing respiratory congestion and managing pain.
• Eucalyptus Globulus – Analgesic, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Anti-viral, Decongestant. Eucalyptus Globulus is traditionally used for respiratory conditions and muscular aches and pains.
• Eucalyptus Smithii – Analgesic, Anti-fungal, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-microbial, Anti-viral, Decongestant. Eucalyptus Smithii is traditionally used for treating respiratory conditions and symptoms associated with the common cold.
• Eucalyptus Citriodora – Anti-microbial, Anti-viral, Decongestant. Eucalyptus Citriodora is relaxing for the body systems and is great for calming the nervous system and respiratory systems. Eucalyptus Citriodora is great at calming coughs.
• Eucalyptus Staigeriana – Anti-infectious, Immuno-stimulant, antiseptic, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, anti-viral, calming. Eucalyptus Staigeriana is calming to the muscular system, calming to the nervous system, lowers blood pressure and helps with stress reduction.
• Ravansara – Anti-septic, Anti-viral, Inflammatory, Decongestant. Ravansara is used for treating symptoms associated with coughs, colds, and influenza. Ravansara is great for clearing the mind and detoxifying.
• Balsam Copaiba – Powerful anti-inflammatory and Anti-bacterial and anti-microbial properties. Balsam Copaiba is known to help calm a restless mind and encourage a deeper sense of tranquillity.

Which ones are the strongest?

Eucalyptus oils are the strongest of the oils in the list above. However, as a qualified essential oils prescriber and clinical aromatherapist, my favourite oils are Ravansara and Cajeput. They’re from the same family as the Eucalyptus variants.

You may already have heard of eucalyptus trees as this is the staple food for koalas. They can digest the leaves. However if we were to try and eat a leaf, firstly it would not taste that nice (yes, the smell is wonderful). But secondly, the oils are toxic to humans if it’s ingested.  The Eucalyptus family are native to Australia. There is an area in New South Wales (West of Sydney) that is called the Blue Mountains. This is due to the vast number of eucalyptus trees, and they give off a blue haze when viewed from a distance.

How do I use Essential Oils for Colds and Flu?

There are several different ways to use essential oils in your home. Here are some suggestions on how to use the oils safely:

Using an inhaler stick

You can make an essential oil blend and can carry it around with will you and use it when you feel the need. Just need to waft it under your nose and take some deep breaths in and out.

On a tissue

Place one to maximum 2 drops of your chosen oil onto a tissue. This is great for during the night, leave the tissue on your bedside table. Make sure it’s close enough for you to inhale the aroma but not that close that it overpowers you. Just make sure you don’t put the tissue directly onto the furniture as the oils could stain.

Steam inhalation

For this method you’ll need a bowl of steaming hot water (be careful not to burn yourself with the water). You’ll also need a towel to place over your head and bowl and finally your chosen essential oil. You only need one to a maximum of two drops for this. Or you might feel that as well as clearing the nasal passages you also cleanse the brain as well.

Once you have placed the essential oils into the hot steaming water lean your head above the bowl. Don’t get too close or you might burn yourself on the water. Cover your head with the towel to trap the steam and take some deep breaths in and out. Usually, stay in this position for about 5 minutes or less if you find the essential oils too strong. You can go back and repeat this several times until you feel relief in the respiratory system.

Chest rub

Make up a blend of essential oils mixed in either a carrier oil or a white lotion and you can rub this onto your chest and inhale the aroma.

Essential Oils – Safety First!

As with using any essential oils in your home if you have pets, just remember that their sense of smell is between 1,000 – 10,000 more intense than that of a human and they can be toxic for animals. For this reason, when using any essential oils with pets, you must always have an escape route for the pets if the aroma is intense for them. This could be having a window open in the room where the oils are being used or having the door to the room open so they can leave the room.

Always remember with essential oils less is more as you can always add to the blend whereas you can’t remove them.

If you are wanting to learn more about essential oils, their uses, blending techniques and safe uses for essential oils, then why not enrol in the next Level One Essential Oil Fully Accredited Course?