Essential Oils & Immunity Part 2
Summary
Part 2 of my immunity series where I discuss what I use for oils, some of my favorite recipes, a few supplements, and cbd.
https://anchor.fm/axiomwellness/episodes/Essential-Oils–Immunity-Part-2-es1a63
Transcription
Before we start here is your reminder to grab a notebook. Again here’s my disclaimer that I am not a doctor, pharmacist, nor am I giving medical advice. I am not an expert. This podcast was created for informational purposes only and is not to be perceived as professional advice in regards to health or any other field. In other words, these are my opinions and strategies I have used to encourage my own wellness over the years.I urge you not to disregard medical advice and health professionals. There is no shame to seek help when you need it. I am a certified aromatherapist, but ultimately what I am telling you is how I hit my own personal health in a variety of ways to keep me above the wellness line! Please please please check with your medical professional or pharmacist before starting anything new!!
We covered the how and why’s but not really the what. Today I am going to share some of my favorite immune system support oils and recipes I like. My most used blend is lemon, clove, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary. I use equal proportions of each one. So, if it’s not in a roller ball already I would use one drop of each with a small amount of carrier oil to apply down my throat and chest. Or I would add one to two drops each in my diffuser.
A word of caution just because something is natural does not mean it can’t side effects, interact with your medication or produce hives. Generally speaking, issues are rare when used properly, but not unheard of. I urge you not to blindly use what someone else told you without doing some research, because improperly using oils can have real consequences. As an example cinnamon bark or Clove may not be something you want to use if you have high blood pressure or blood clotting issues, and according to some resources both could interfere with how your medications metabolise.
Eucalyptus or Rosemary aren’t ones I would choose to use if I had epilepsy or with small children under 6. Peppermint, eucalyptus and rosemary have certain chemotypes that contain high amounts of menthol or 1,8-cineole which can cause slowed respiration in some children. Robert Tisserand says that his guidelines are super-safe, if anything a little over-cautious. He says, peppermint should be avoided for children under age 3, but can be diffused or applied topically at up to 0.5% in kids ages 3-6. Eucalyptus can be diffused or can be applied topically at up to 0.5% for children under 3, and can be diffused, or can be applied topically at up to 1% for kids ages 3-6 years.
Those are not the only essential oils to use with caution if you have a medical condition. Of course you can do a quick google search, but as you know anyone can say what they want on the internet. I have a few trusted sources such as Robert Tisserand who has copious books on this subject a lot which is online too. Scott A Johnston has a decent section of possible interactions and cautions in his book Surviving When Modern Medicine Fails. Just remember the recipes may be a little heavy handed due to the nature of the books genre. If you want a good base knowledge I’d suggest French Aromatherapy by Jen O’Sullivan. If you are looking for a recipe book and ways to use oils look at The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood. I also like Gary Young’s book Essential oils Integrative Medical Guide for an indepth look at chemistry, safety, how oils actually work, the how and why of both extraction,and clean products are necessary, recipes, history of oils, and interesting facts about oils and uses. If you want a more science based learning experience check out Advanced Aromatherapy by Kurt Schnaubelt, Phd. You can get reliable info from others online like Dr. Axe, Dr Eric Zielinski, Dr. Mariza Snyder, Alan Higley, and Dr. Mercola, but understand they each have a different system of belief and may have some contradictory info on the methodology of use, but they all give wonderful info on the benefits of oils. You can also check out NAHA.org which has some great info on safety, sustainability, and research.
Ok let’s jump into oils that support the body!! This list is not all inclusive; it’s just the ones that initially came to mind as oils that can support your immune system.
Citrus Oils like Lemon, Orange, Lime, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Tangerine, Jade Lemon
Trees, Barks, Resins like Frankincense, Myrrh, Myrtle, Pine, Copaiba, Cedarwood, Tea Tree, Cypress, Sandalwood, Juniper, Eucalyptus Radiata, Globulus or Blue,
Flowers and other plants like Lavender, Lemon Myrtle, Rose, Manuka, Melissa, Citronella, or Xiang Mao (shung mow)
Spices like Mountain Savory, Oregano, Rosemary, Peppermint, Thyme, Basil, Cassia, Ecuadorian Oregano, Marjoram, Cardamom, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Black Pepper, Sage, Ginger, or Coriander.
Tea tree, Oregano, Frankincense, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Cinnamon Bark, Clove, Marjoram, and Myrrh are all very potent immunity boosters for a variety of different things. But remember you really want to change up what you use so you can hit your cells from all sides. Some oils are better to use if you are clearing viral, bacterial or fungus, while others are good for inflammation. Knowing what oil is best used for can help you to have better results, alongside conventional medicine. Please check with your doctor or with a pharmacist as they are trained to know interactions.
I love when a recipe can be used for two things!! I created a blend a few years ago called Moving Forward with Ease. This blend supports your immune system while it will also help you to feel safe, grounded, connected, motivated, and uplifted.
Drip 8 drops of Frankincense, 5 drops of Bergamot, 2 drops of Cinnamon Bark into a 5 ml roller or dropper bottle, and fill the remainder of the bottle with your favorite carrier oil. Apply to the spine, wrist, or inner elbow.
The diffuser can be a great tool to help the entire family, especially when using double whammy recipes! Here are a few of my fall and winter favorites.
Sweater Weather is a fun one with 3 drops of eucalyptus, 2 drops juniper and 1 drop sage.
Scented Pine Cones is 2 drops each cedarwood, orange, and clove.
Pumpkin Pie 5 drops cinnamon, 1 drop each clove and nutmeg
Ice Queen 3 drops northern lights black spruce, 2 drops each wintergreen and bergamot, and 1 drop peppermint
Spellbound 2 drops each of eucalyptus, spearmint, clove and basil.
Premade roller ball recipes are another helpful tip. Make a 5 ml blend ahead of time so it’s ready when you feel under the weather. Be sure to label it and add a date so you know what it is and how old it is. Franks A lot is another in my rotation which is 6 drops of frankincense, 3 drops each of lemon, lavender, and tea tree, in a 5 ml roller with the remaining filled with carrier oil. I also like Scott A Johnson’s Kid Immunity Booster recipe, which is 4 drops tea tree and 2 drops each of thyme, lemon and lavender and the remainder filled with carrier oils. He says to apply this to the spine and bottom of the feet 3-5 times a day for 1-3 days.
I think often that herbs get overlooked as most of us only think about them as something to cook with. Marjoram I think is a surprising oil in a lot of ways! It is very supportive and strengthens the nervous system which in turn positively impacts the cardiovascular system. Marjoram helps calm and relax muscles, which makes it great for post workouts, abdominal, and menstrual discomfort, headaches, anti-inflammatory, boosting immunity, respiratory and gallbladder support, balances hormones for women of all ages, supports normal blood pressure, stress, and is calming. It supports the digestive system with gi issues like constipation, stimulates peristaltic movement, and relieves gas. Surprisingly it also helps support sleep, and occasional nervous tension. I recommend going easy with this oil, don’t use it daily, but use it in rotation with your other oils. Cautions with this oil for those who have bleeding disorders (might slow bleeding), diabetes (might affect blood sugar), with seizures or might slow heart rate. You may be allergic to marjoram if you are allergic to basil, hyssop, lavender, mint, oregano, or sage.
Speaking of Oregano, it’s a powerhouse that is loaded with free-radical-crushing antioxidants. Oregano is known to be second to none for its immune-boosting benefits! It also can ward off bugs, soothes bug bites, lip sores, rashes dandruff, aids with gut health, colds, sore throat, ease discomfort of joints, muscles, and cramps.
CAUTION: Oregano oil is also NOT advisable for infants and children. Pregnant or nursing women are also discouraged from using oregano oil both topically and orally. This is a hot oil that will make your skin feel a burning sensation if not properly diluted.
Thyme is an oil that may not immediately come to mind when thinking of essential oils let alone in conjunction with immunity. Often overlooked, but it certainly doesn’t lack in power! High in antioxidants, purifying, supports the immune, respiratory, digestive, nervous, and cardiovascular systems. It also helps with fatigue and exhaustion especially after being run down, it brings hormones back into balance, helps with tired, overworked, twingy muscles and joints, but most surprisingly it’s great for skin health.
Cypress has both physical and emotional benefits. Cypress supports many body systems such as: the immune system, cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and circulatory. It soothes muscles that are tired, restless, pulls, inflammation, and cramps. Cypress supports tired achy joints too, stimulates circulation and boosts immunity. It discourages fluid retention, detoxifies, is a diuretic, increases sweat and perspiration, supports skin healing and tightening, supports a normal liver, normal cholesterol levels, and lung health. The emotional benefits include: grounding and stabilizing, calms occasional anxious moments, creates a sense of security, eases the feelings of loss, calms, soothes anger, and helps life just flow better!
Bergamot supports the body in a variety of ways such as immunity, boosting confidence, moods, energy, creativity, it’s very uplifting. It is also good at dispelling negativity and irritability, creating balance, restful sleep, lowers cholesterol, reduces inflammation, lowers pain levels, and cleanses the skin. Oh, and it smells amazing!!
I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention CBD and gut health. If we are going to talk about immunity then we need to talk about how 70% of your immune system lives in your gut and 80% of plasma cells reside in your gut? So, if you are not paying attention to what you are eating, drinking and taking for supplements the gut bacteria may be out of whack. The gut-brain connection is a real thing, and we need to focus on our gut bacteria in order to fully boost our immune system.
Pre and Probiotics are where it’s at to keep you in tip top shape. Whether you use supplements or eat foods like sauerkraut, kombucha and kimchi, taking care of your gut is a necessity! Probiotics are made up of good bacteria that helps keep your body healthy and working well. Prebiotics are high in special types of fiber that support digestive health.
Kidsccents Mighty Pro is a synergistic blend of prebiotics and probiotics in a supplement specially formulated for children that comes in a powder, but adults seem to like to use it as well. What’s great about it is that not only does it taste good, it has over 8 billion active, live cultures to support digestive and immune health.
Ion Biome is a mineral supplement that goes beyond the scope of probiotics to support your microbiome, gut strength, mental clarity, and immune function. I use it here in my home because it’s virtually tasteless for kids and adults!! We have seen huge changes in my son’s attitude and behavior.
You also may want to look into CBD for digestive health. Our endocannabinoid system helps to regulate several systems including the immune and digestive systems. The endocannabinoid system also acts in response to illness. Some scientists believe the overall function of the endocannabinoid system is to regulate homeostasis. Homeostasis means to bring the body into balance.
Holistic Mystic D 