Aromatherapy and the Immune System
Where is the Immune System Located?
The Immune System is located throughout your body, particularly your blood, your lymphatic system, and your colon. In your blood, cells generated by the bone marrow wrap themselves around microbes to kill them, and lymph circulates to kill foreign agents as it goes along. Additionally, your colon contains millions of “good” bacteria that combat other microorganisms that are harmful to your body.Can Stress Impair My Immune System?
Definitely! Whether physical or psychological, stress adversely affects your immune system, making you more susceptible to illness. When you are stressed, your adrenal glands work overtime, which has a detrimental effect on other systems that keep destructive microorganisms at bay.How Do I Strengthen My Immune System?
Strategies that help improve your immune system are effective when they take into account factors such as stress reduction, supporting good intestinal bacteria, and promoting better blood and lymph quality. A particularly effective strategy is the use of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is the use of essential oils through various mediums towards bettering your overall health.“Make your immune cells “sing and dance” every day that God gives you to live.” Dr. Daniel Pénoël
How Does Aromatherapy Work for My Immune System?
Aromatherapy works in four ways:(1) By virtue of their antibacterial and antiviral properties, essential oils can directly attack and destroy harmful microorganisms in your body. [1]
(2) By inhibiting micro-organisms [1]
(3) By preventing the spread of infections [1]
(4) By alleviating stress and controlling the hormones secreted by the adrenal system
Which Essential Oils Help Strengthen My Immune System?
- Tea Tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) [2] , Ravensara (Ravensara aromatica), and Niaouli (Melaleuca viridiflora) oils are antibacterial and fungicidal. At the same time, they stimulate the immune system.
Find these three essential oils carefully combined in our Immune Support Essential Oil Blend, Roll-On and Body Oil - Pine (Pinus silvestris) is regarded as a tonic to the lungs, kidneys and the nervous system
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): Expectorant, helps combat fatigue and nervous exhaustion [3]
- Black Spruce (Picea mariana): Effective for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, colds and flu, coughs and respiratory weakness. Kurt Schnaubelt recommends it for restoring depleted adrenal glands. [4]
Immunostimulants :
There are a wide variety of essential oils that are reputed to strengthen the immune system because of their antifungal, antibacterial, antiseptic, antiviral properties [5]:
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri): uplifting – strengthens the immune system
Bergamot (Citrus bergamia): will recharge the central nervous system with energy, indirectly helping to strengthen the immune system.
Rosemary cineole (Rosemarinus officinalis vt cineole): Has an enhancing effect on gamma- and beta-globulins. They reduce the inflammatory reaction and therefore their effect is said to be immunomodulant.
How Do I Use Essential Oils for Immune Support?
You can use these oils in a variety of ways:
As a massage oil: Immune Support Body Oil: Try this to rebalance your immune system:. Rub an amount between your palms to warm the oil, and spread it over your arms, legs, and abdomen. Best to do it after the shower.
Rub 1 teaspoon of Adrenal Support Body Oil on the middle and lower back. The essential oils in this body oil can help regenerate fatigued adrenal glands. This body oil energizes and motivates; it can be a great tonic for the adrenal glands.
In the bath or shower: You can keep a cloth soaked in with 6 drops of Immune Support Essential Oil under your faucet or showerhead, and breathe in the vapor while you bathe.
If you prefer baths, mix 5 drops of Frankincense and 5 drops of Bergamot with 1 tablespoon of any cold-pressed vegetable oil and add it to the bathwater. Relax, and feel the restoring properties of these essential oils work all over your body.
Using an aromatherapy diffuser: Apart from being good for your immune system, it can lend a lovely fragrance to the entire room. For mood enhancement and upliftment use 15 drops of Citrus Delight. It disinfects the air and can boost immunity through inhalation.
References:
[1] Davis P. Aromatherapy: An A-Z. The C.W. Daniel Company Limited. Great Britain, 1988: Natural Home Health Care Using Essential Oils
[2] Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV (2006) Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 19(1): 50-62 available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16418522
[3] Schnaubelt K. Advanced Aromatherapy. Healing Art Press, Canada, 1995
[4] Mojay G. Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit, Hodder and Stoughton, UK, 1996
[5] Battaglia S. The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy. The International Center of Holistic Aromatherapy, 2003
