I rarely get sick. And on the rare occasion that I have a headache or a cold, I generally leave it up to my body to take care of itself. But, this past week I became pretty ill: fever, chills, cough, very weak, tired, and faint. And, since my son-in-law had recently been diagnosed with bronchitis, I think it is fairly safe to say I had the same thing. Since bronchitis is often a viral infection, I did not want to go to the doctor and get a prescription for antibiotics, which are not for viruses.
For a few days I left it up to my body and got some extra sleep. But, yesterday I was feeling worse than ever, so I got out my essential oils. I created a blend of eucalyptus, rosemary, & niaouli oils in a base of kukui nut oil. (The base doesn't really matter too much. I had this around and it is fairly light and easily absorbed, without a heavy scent.) I rubbed this over my chest and back (as much as I could) and inhaled the refreshing, cool scent from my hands. I could immediately feel the warm sensation, and I felt refreshed and uplifted.
The oils that I chose for this blend were good for a number of reasons.
Eucalyptus we all associate with colds, flus, & sore muscles because of its decongestant, antibiotic, and analgesic properties. It is great when massaged onto the skin as well as when inhaled. It helps to open sinuses.
Rosemary is perfect oil to use for respiratory issues. Rosemary was one of the earliest plants to be used medicinally. It was .used for fumigation and to protect against the plague. It has a number of beneficial characteristics, including: antiseptic, analgesic, and antimicrobial.
Niaouli is a lesser known essential oil, but it is a relative of the highly popular tea-tree oil. I prefer the smell. It is similar to eucalyptus. This is another oil that is often used for respiratory ailments. According to the Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Salvatore Battaglia, "numerous pharmaceuticals containing niaouli were made up to the 1980s, such as syrup for respiratory tract infections..." Niaouli is a decongestant, analgesic, and bacteride.
I applied the blend three times yesterday and again this morning after showering. I feel so much better already. I have been also been drinking ginger tea, hot water with lemon and honey, and I might just have a hot toddy this evening.
This blend of essential oils is also great to use in a nebulizer or diffuser or an inhaler.
I also made sure to spray my Cleansing Air Freshener around the house so others will be less likely to get sick. It is made with a blend of essential oils that are well-researched and have been shown to be antibacterial and antiviral. Wish I had used it last week!
Be well!
(And remember, I am not suggesting anyone forgo the care of a healthcare provider. Always consult your doctor when ill. blah blah)
