

The Best Essential Oils for Cold and Flu Season
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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.