Beating Flu Season with Essential Oils

Now that it is nearly winter, we should all be thinking about flu season. The flu last year was particularly nasty, with a hospitalization rate of 107 per every 100,000 people, a record breaker. We do not know what this year will bring, but it never hurts to be prepared. Even if you get the flu shot, there is no guarantee that the particular strain in it will be the same one that’s going around the office. Luckily, essential oils can help.

There is some debate about whether it is the smell of the essential oils alone or some combination of the aroma and absorption through the skin that creates the effect. Some even say that it is each person’s expectation that causes the effect. Either way, people have been using essential oils for centuries to prevent sickness, reduce its severity and ease symptoms.

There are multiple ways you can use essential oils during flu season. If you are a business owner and want to keep employees healthy, you can use them in your Air Esscentials scent system. For smaller spaces, you can use a smaller, desktop diffuser like the Aroma Sol. You can even put some on a tissue and inhale or apply them topically. If you decide to use essential oils topically, use care; many are too strong to be used directly on skin without a carrier oil such as almond or jojoba oil.

The best essential oils for flu season

Peppermint – This uplifting essential oil smells like candy canes and has a variety of benefits. It is said to be antibacterial, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. Peppermint stimulates circulation, which can not only make you feel warmer but also boost the activity of your germ-busting white blood cells. Bonus – when using peppermint in the workplace, it will give your business a wintery feel and keep employees and customers alert.

Rosemary – Rosemary essential oil is also antimicrobial and antibacterial, but it also has a reputation as a remedy for body aches, which often accompany the respiratory symptoms of the flu. It’s woodsy aroma reminds you of an invigorating walk through a forest, and it has traditionally been associated with memory. Bonus – if you use this in your place of business, your workers may become better at their jobs. Scientific studies have shown that rosemary improves cognition and increases alertness.

Eucalyptus – Eucalyptus is a spicy and stimulating fragrance (think Vick’s VapoRub) that has been used for generations to relieve respiratory congestion and cough. It will help you breathe easier by fighting inflammation in the lungs. Try adding a few drops to a bowl of hot water and inhaling the steam or diffusing it.

Thieves Oil – This blend of clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, lemon and rosemary is a powerhouse when fighting the flu. It combines some of the most powerful essential oils for traditional healing and also smells warm and cozy. How it got its name is an interesting story. In the Middle Ages, thieves used this oil blend to protect themselves from sickness when they looted the houses of those who had died from the plague.

Ask your Air Esscentials rep about how you can order essential oils this flu season, and protect yourself, your employees and your customers from the flu.