Can Essential Oils Boost Your Immune System?
Essential oils have been somewhat controversial in recent years. While some people swear by them, others have denounced them as being scams. The reason why some people don’t understand the power of essential oils is because they don’t have the right information.
Essential oils are highly concentrated compounds. Some plants have amazing natural therapeutic qualities that have anit-inflammatory, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial properties.
Many people wonder whether or not these oils can help boost your immune system. The answer is that it depends on the oil and it depends on the quality and purity of the oil.
Quality Matters
You’ve heard the popular saying, “Quality over quantity.” Well, this holds true when it comes from essential oils. Many people think that when they buy oils labeled “100% Pure,” they are getting good oils. This is often far from true.
To be truly therapeutic, an essential oil must be free of chemicals and slowly and carefully extracted through methods that keep the original compounds in their natural state. The oils also need to be bottled in dark glass containers to protect them from oxidation and sunlight.
When purchasing essential oils, you should always buy those produced for organic ingredients whenever possible and they should be third party tested to meet standards of quality and potency.
Frankincense
Often called the “king of oils,” frankincense is powerful, effective and incredibly therapeutic. Frankincense has extraordinary health benefits. It has been used to help relieve chronic stress and anxiety, reduce discomfort and support a healthy response to inflammation, boost immunity and more. The terpenes in frankincense enable tit to cross the blood-brain barrier. It also helps the body fight unwanted microbial invaders.
Frankincense is known to have blood-thinning effects, so people with problems relate to blood clotting should not use this oil before consulting with their health care provider.
Eucalyptus
One essential oil that research has found to be beneficial is eucalyptus oil. Tests showed that it helped reduce swelling and helped kill off bacteria, assisting in the fight against infections.
They found that it helped significantly in the respiratory system, which means that it could be used to help fend off strep and possibly keep pneumonia away. It’s most recommended to take it via inhalation, using a diffuser to get it circulating in the air.
People with sensitive skin should dilute eucalyptus oil before topical use. Also, dilute it before using with children. Do not apply near the face of young children.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon bark oil is highly concentrated with antioxidants, which make it effective as a digestive aid, blood sugar balancer, and circulation booster. It’s also a well-known immune booster. It’s commonly used to aid in supporting a healthy microbial environment.
People with sensitive skin may experience skin irritation when using cinnamon oil topically. Cinnamon essential oils is a hot oils and should not be taken internally. Stick with ground cinnamon for oral consumption.
Ginger
In a similar sense to regular ginger, ginger oil was also found to be helpful when it comes to sickness. Much like eucalyptus oil, it showed that it could effectively reduce swelling and help kill bacteria, though its area of effect was centered more on gut health than respiratory health.
This means that it can be helpful in calming an upset stomach among other things, and it didn’t seem to upset any of the naturally occurring healthy gut bacteria that you want to have.
Many people seem to misunderstand the point of essential oils. You have to use them properly, by diluting them the right amount and by taking them the right way. Consuming too high of a concentration can be dangerous, but as long as you follow the instructions you’ll be just fine.
Essential oils do that same thing for your immune system that eating certain fruits and vegetables does: they boost your immune system. This does not mean that they’re a guaranteed solution for an existing illness, but they can just help prevent it from occurring in the first place. If you do get sick, you should still seek medical attention if it’s serious.
- Balances Hormones
- Lessening anxious feelings
- Soothing Muscles and Joints
- Building a stronger immune system
- Improving Sleep
- Aids in Digestion
- Improving Skin Issues
