Wellness
The Best Essential Oils for Cold and Flu Season
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The common cold is annoying. It can stop us from living our best lives and leave us feeling depleted, depressed, and laid out for days. If we do come down with the common cold, doctors tell us the best treatment is to rest, hydrate, and let the virus run its course. Here’s how essential oils can help.
What causes the common cold?
The common cold is caused by a virus. Unlike bacterial infections, viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, because they need your cells to ‘host’ them. They penetrate our cells, duplicating more viruses and breaking through barriers. This is something bacteria, fungi, parasites, and almost all other elements cannot do.
Viruses grow and reproduce only after they’ve invaded our living cells. The body’s immune system can fight off some viruses before they cause illness, but others (colds, for example) are typically said to “run their course.”
How do we stop it?
Many of our modern medicines are simply synthetic versions of nature’s oldest medicine - essential oils. With the power of plants in the form of essential oils, we can help strengthen our immune system during a viral attack, and/or shorten the length and severity of the common cold or flu. Every time we place something synthetic or processed into our body, we create more work for our systems. When we take synthetics, our bodies have to do more work, filtering the ingredients through our kidneys and liver to make sure none of them are harmful.
When we are sick, our bodies are spending so much energy fighting those icky viruses; we don’t have any extra energy to expend. Our bodies recognize plant-based treatments like essential oils as natural and don’t need to take extra precautionary action.
Unlike antibiotics and synthetic medicines, essential oils are small enough to pass through our cells’ membranes. This means essential oils are the only defense that can enter the cell to fight off the virus for you. Pretty amazing!
For a stuffy nose...
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil can be an effective remedy in easing congestion, chesty coughs, and thinning mucus. It helps to relieve stuffy noses and may safely fight viruses and respiratory problems such as bronchitis.”
Thyme
Thyme was commonly used by the Egyptians and ancient Greeks to help fight against infectious illnesses. “Thyme oil is thought to have antispasmodic properties and has been shown to be effective at reducing coughs and reducing the duration of respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold.”
Douglas Fir
Respected for its ability to help support the respiratory system, this oil is effective in antibacterial activity against the respiratory tract and was found to demonstrate an antioxidant effect in the body.
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For a stuffy nose...
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus oil can be an effective remedy in easing congestion, chesty coughs, and thinning mucus. It helps to relieve stuffy noses and may safely fight viruses and respiratory problems such as bronchitis.”
Thyme
Thyme was commonly used by the Egyptians and ancient Greeks to help fight against infectious illnesses. “Thyme oil is thought to have antispasmodic properties and has been shown to be effective at reducing coughs and reducing the duration of respiratory tract infections, such as the common cold.”
Douglas Fir
Respected for its ability to help support the respiratory system, this oil is effective in antibacterial activity against the respiratory tract and was found to demonstrate an antioxidant effect in the body.
For a sore throat...
Melaleuca
Melaleuca, also known as Tea Tree oil, has been researched extensively and shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Use this essential oil for coughs, bronchial congestion, and sore throats. Studies show Melaleuca essential oil may inhibit influenza virus entry into the host cell. Tea Tree essential oils can also be used as a natural disinfectant, use it to kill germs on surfaces and in the air.
Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil was found to have analgesic (pain-blocking) and anti-inflammatory activity. As a warming oil, Rosemary is good for relieving aches and pains, a sore throat, and any symptoms due to inflammation.
Lemon
Lemon essential oil is antifungal, antioxidizing, and aids rhinitis. A natural disinfectant, Lemon oil is ideal for fighting viruses as well as reducing the most common cold and flu symptoms. It’s no surprise Lemon has long been considered a cure-all.
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For a sore throat...
Melaleuca
Melaleuca, also known as Tea Tree oil, has been researched extensively and shown to have antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. Use this essential oil for coughs, bronchial congestion, and sore throats. Studies show Melaleuca essential oil may inhibit influenza virus entry into the host cell. Tea Tree essential oils can also be used as a natural disinfectant, use it to kill germs on surfaces and in the air.
Rosemary
Rosemary essential oil was found to have analgesic (pain-blocking) and anti-inflammatory activity. As a warming oil, Rosemary is good for relieving aches and pains, a sore throat, and any symptoms due to inflammation.
Lemon
Lemon essential oil is antifungal, antioxidizing, and aids rhinitis. A natural disinfectant, Lemon oil is ideal for fighting viruses as well as reducing the most common cold and flu symptoms. It’s no surprise Lemon has long been considered a cure-all.
For a cough...
Cardamom
Cardamom essential oil is a powerful antispasmodic, decongestant, and expectorant that helps the respiratory system relieve cough symptoms. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to aid the reduction of muscle aches and pains.
Marjoram
Marjoram comes from the mint botanical family and has been shown to have antifungal properties. It serves as an expectorant; aiding to expel loose mucus from the system. It can also be relaxing and serve as a sedative to the muscles that constrict sometimes contributing headaches.
Basil
Basil essential oil was used anciently for respiratory problems and is shown to have antibacterial properties that strongly inhibit drug-resistant bacteria. Basil oil also has powerful antispasmodic properties helping to reduce cough symptoms.
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For a cough...
Cardamom
Cardamom essential oil is a powerful antispasmodic, decongestant, and expectorant that helps the respiratory system relieve cough symptoms. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to aid the reduction of muscle aches and pains.
Marjoram
Marjoram comes from the mint botanical family and has been shown to have antifungal properties. It serves as an expectorant; aiding to expel loose mucus from the system. It can also be relaxing and serve as a sedative to the muscles that constrict sometimes contributing headaches.
Basil
Basil essential oil was used anciently for respiratory problems and is shown to have antibacterial properties that strongly inhibit drug-resistant bacteria. Basil oil also has powerful antispasmodic properties helping to reduce cough symptoms.
For nausea...
Peppermint
For centuries, peppermint has been used to aid digestive difficulties and freshen breath. Peppermint oil has even been shown to reduce the intensity of nausea to cancer patients during chemotherapy.
Ginger
Ginger, an ancient esteemed spice known for its support of the digestive system, can lower nausea, fever, and decrease vomiting.
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For nausea...
Peppermint
For centuries, peppermint has been used to aid digestive difficulties and freshen breath. Peppermint oil has even been shown to reduce the intensity of nausea to cancer patients during chemotherapy.
Ginger
Ginger, an ancient esteemed spice known for its support of the digestive system, can lower nausea, fever, and decrease vomiting.
For inflammation…
Copaiba
Copaiba is a flowering plant, and Copaiba oil is simply the steam distilled from its resin. Copaiba essential oil has been shown to increase antioxidative properties in the body, reducing inflammation.
Roman Chamomile
Known for its calming and relaxing properties, Roman Chamomile can block the signaling chemical involved in inflammation.
Frankincense
Frankincense has been considered a holy oil in the East for centuries and is studied as an anticancer remedy. Not only can it reduce inflammation caused by cold and flu viruses, but it has shown to produce cellular death in infected human cancer cells.
If you’re a science nerd like me and love to geek out on essential oils, check out my video, The Hype on Essential Oils! Jump to 15:15 to see the breakdown of the cellular membrane and viruses or visit SoulPerspective365 to learn more about essential oils.
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For inflammation…
Copaiba
Copaiba is a flowering plant, and Copaiba oil is simply the steam distilled from its resin. Copaiba essential oil has been shown to increase antioxidative properties in the body, reducing inflammation.
Roman Chamomile
Known for its calming and relaxing properties, Roman Chamomile can block the signaling chemical involved in inflammation.
Frankincense
Frankincense has been considered a holy oil in the East for centuries and is studied as an anticancer remedy. Not only can it reduce inflammation caused by cold and flu viruses, but it has shown to produce cellular death in infected human cancer cells.
If you’re a science nerd like me and love to geek out on essential oils, check out my video, The Hype on Essential Oils! Jump to 15:15 to see the breakdown of the cellular membrane and viruses or visit SoulPerspective365 to learn more about essential oils.
Fitness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month—Here’s How You Can Make a Difference
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Approximately 12,000 women aged 40 or younger are diagnosed with breast cancer every year*. Fortunately, there are preventative steps that we can take to help protect ourselves and each other—one of the best ones being exercise. That’s right. Not only does exercise help us release endorphins, but just 30 minutes of exercise three to four times per week can help decrease a person’s risk of developing breast cancer by 30–50%*.
This is hope in a statistic. Just by adopting a more healthy, active lifestyle, we could prevent the risk of developing breast cancer, while also inspiring others to reduce their risk as well. Keep A Breast Foundation has made doing just this their mission through their annual fundraising campaign, Fit 4 Prevention.
Every October, studios from all over the globe participate by raising money through donation-based workout classes for the Keep A Breast Foundation (KAB). They have created a national movement dedicated to educating others about breast cancer prevention through fitness and wellness—something Mindbody is extremely passionate about. Participating in your favorite activities, all while supporting, preventing, and spreading awareness about breast cancer awareness? Let’s get moving.
Encourage your favorite studio to sign up for the event
If you want to take a donation-based class at your favorite studio, encourage your favorite studios to sign up to bring your community closer together in a meaningful way. Registering is quick and easy. If you think your local studio may be interested in participating, have them check out KAB’s help page—where they can learn how to register for a donation-based class during the month of October. KAB even has a social media kit available to fitness studios to help them promote their donation-based classes.
Other ways to help
Can’t find a local studio to take a donation-based class near you? Don’t worry, you can still give your support by donating directly to KAB’s website. Luckily, any time that you are moving your body and spreading the word—you’re doing your part in spreading awareness on how to help prevent breast cancer. That is beyond amazing.
This October, we hope you’ll join us in our plight to support the KAB Foundation and its mission to help prevent breast cancer through cultivating a healthier, more active lifestyle. Through movement, health, and wellness—we can reach great heights, together.
To learn more about the KAB Foundation and its mission and how you can get involved further, visit their website.
* National Cancer Institute
