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Inside: Essential oils recipes for immunity support include a range of oils to combat the common illnesses we get as well as boosting the body
Essential oils have been around for many centuries and over that time, people have started to notice that certain ones help with certain problems. You notice that while a particular scent might smell lovely, you also notice that your cough isn’t as bad as before. Or you tap a little onto your skin and your partner doesn’t complain about you snoring as much!
Essential oils are at their most powerful when they are blended together. This brings in the benefits from each oil and combines them for a bigger punch. In this case, we are looking at the best essential oils recipes for immunity support – to help your body fight back against those nasty bugs, viruses and bacteria that are always assaulting it.
Table of Contents
Basics of using essential oils
If you want to start using essential oils to boost your immune system, then it helps to get to know a few basics of using the oils. The first thing to know is that the essential oils won’t stop you from getting sick but can help you either get sick less or for a shorter time. So while they can help, they aren’t a miracle cure for illnesses (well, at least not yet!)
Not all essential oils are suitable for everyone. For example, some might not be ideal for kids or for pregnant ladies, even the elderly. Always check this before using anything. If you are using oils or a diffuser, make sure the area is ventilated so the scent doesn’t build up too much.
If you apply it to your skin, test a small area first as it can be surprising what we can be allergic to without realising it. Most essential oils aren’t designed to be eaten or added to food unless they specify that you can. And never use oils in place of medication or if a doctor tells you not to use them. They are there to help, not replace.
21 essential oils for immunity support
To start creating your blends, you first need to get to know some of the oils and why they might be perfect in the best essential oils recipes for immunity support. Let’s start with these 23 famous faces.
Bergamot
Bergamot is commonly used in perfumes and aftershaves, but its oil is an expectorant – in other words, it helps you cough well and gets rid of all that nastiness on your chest. It is also a mood booster, helping with depression and stress.
Cinnamon bark
Cinnamon is used in lots of different ways and the bark of the plant is made into essential oils. It is good for keeping germs away and helping with allergies. You can also add it to a spray bottle to spritz things around the home all on its own.
Clove
Clove is an antioxidant and that means there are lots of uses for it. It is also anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-bacterial – so it fights off nearly anything! It also has some painkilling properties, so it can help with a sore throat by adding some of the dried spice in a little water to gargle with. You can also use the oil if it is suitable for consumption.
Eucalyptus
One of my favourites, eucalyptus is the stuff that is in most throat sweets and things like Vicks that you add to your chest to help your breath. That’s because it is an expectorant (good coughing) and decongestant.
Frankincense
One of the famous Christmas oils, Frankincense is known for its immune-boosting powers and also to help sharpen clarity and focus. It can also ease anxiety.
Geranium
This popular flower is known to ease bloating, boost circulation, and can help with white blood cell activity. It is also a mood booster, great to help get rid of those winter blues.
Ginger
Ginger can help with pain relief and nausea but also has anti-bacterial properties. It warms you up so this helps to sweat out bugs and toxins as well.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is full of vitamin C and this means the oil is a cleanser and detoxifying agent. It is also a mood booster which can help you cope with being unwell.
Helichrysum
Also known as immortelle, this oil helps to fight sinus infections, ease the symptoms of bronchitis and relieve congestion.
Hyssop
Hyssop has a huge list of reasons to use – antiseptic, diuretic, helps to ease bloating, relax muscles, and also to promote good digestion. It eases coughs and can also reduce fever associated with colds and flu.
Lavender
Lavender is often known for its stress relief, but it also helps the immune system because it is antiseptic and anti-inflammatory. Plus it helps you sleep which is great for coping with a bug.
Lemon
Lemon is a detoxifying agent (citric acid is in it) and that’s why it is used in natural cleaners. It also boosts the immune system, helps with coughs and chest conditions, and eases sore throats or throat infections. It is another that boosts white blood cell production.
Myrrh
Another Christmas and winter essential oil, this one is anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory as well as beating off fungi and parasites. In fact, some research is going into its use to protect the liver from damage. But Myrrh is also great in an immunity support blend.
Oregano
Oregano is an antibiotic because it has two elements called thymol and carvacrol that help to kill off bacteria. Oregano oil is often added to coconut oil and then rubbed onto the feet (add some fluffy socks afterward) to help combat bacteria and boost the immune system.
Peppermint
Peppermint is known to help with a range of bowel problems such as indigestion and the essential oil is known for helping with sickness, soothe migraines, ease headaches, and is also great for dry coughs. Pop it in your diffuser if you have asthma, sinus congestion, or bronchitis.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a well-known herb and its essential oil can help many symptoms of a cough and cold symptoms as well as bronchitis and sinusitis.
Sandalwood
Sandalwood boosts white blood cell activity and helps the immune system work better. It is a general boost to the body and also helps to reduce bad cholesterol in the system.
Scots Pine
Scots Pine is a popular ingredient in cleaning products and that’s because it is anti-viral, anti-microbial, and a decongestant.
Tea tree
Tea tree is very versatile and can fight infections as well as colds and flu, even sinusitis. It helps with acne and even battles mosquitoes. It is also known to trigger white blood cell production.
Thyme
Thyme is another common herb and has strong anti-bacterial properties. It can help the battle against chest infections and also heals wounds.
Vetiver
Vetiver is a natural sedative but also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps the body heal as well.
How to put the oils to use
There are lots of ways to use oils to get their different benefits as they are, even before you start to look at blends.
- Gargling – you can mix some oils with water and gargle with them or use them as a mouthwash. This helps with cold sores and mouth wounds. Check the oil is suitable for this use
- Diffuser – adding oils to a diffuser is my favourite way to use them, we have one in the living room and another in my office (which is part of the kitchen). You can add a few drops of one oil or a few different ones and the device will do the rest
- Inhaling – you can add two or three drops to a basin of hot water and sit over it with a towel over your head. Breathe in through your nose and mouth
- Add to the bath – you can add a few drops to your bath water but make a little test first to be certain you don’t get a reaction
Essential oils recipes for immunity support
Perhaps the best way to boost your immune system is to mix together a number of oils in a blend to get maximum benefits. Here are a few recipes to help you get started:
- Common cold blend – 6 drops rosemary, 4 drops helichrysum
- Purifying room spray – 4 ounces water, 10 drops of cinnamon, eucalyptus, rosemary, lemon
- Immune diffuser – equal parts lemon, peppermint, and lavender with water, or for a winter version use rosemary, eucalyptus, lemon, and a double dose of peppermint or equal parts wild orange, rosemary, cinnamon bark, eucalyptus, and clove
- Stress blend – equal parts bergamot and frankincense
- Sleep blend – equal parts vetiver, chamomile, lavender
- Respiratory blend – 10 drops balsam, 5 drops sweet orange, 30 drops Ravensara for a diffuser or add it with jojoba oil to use as a rub on the skin
- Cold and flu preventative blend – 8 drops Norway pine, 5 drops sandalwood and 5 drop honey myrtle
- Cold and flu diffuser – 5 drops cypress, lavender and juniper berry
- Support bottle blend – 10 drops rosewood, 5 drops of sandalwood and two drops Ravensara and lavender. Mix in a bath, lotion, diffuser or even a soap
Use a natural approach
Whether you have a cold, feel under the weather or simply want to boost your immune system, these essential oils allow for a natural approach. You can boost your immune system, combat specific illnesses and generally improve your wellbeing, all with a few drops of great smelling oils.
What’s your favourite essential oil to help deal with a cold, cough or flu? Pop it in the comments below!
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