When To See A Doctor
You dont always have to see a doctor for the flu.
However, if you have been sick for longer than a week, or are getting worse after 3-4 days of resting at home, you may want to check in with your doctor.
If your symptoms are not going away after a week or home remedies are not helping to make you feel more comfortable, you may have a different infection or a secondary infection.
If you are experiencing difficulty breathing, are confused, feeling like you will faint, or unable to drink enough fluids to stay hydrated, seek emergency medical care right away.
A healthcare provider can run some simple tests to identify if you have the flu or something else and help set a treatment plan so that you feel better.
How Aromatherapy Helps Boost Immunity
In modern times, aromatherapy has gained popularity for its therapeutic, cosmetic, and fragrant uses.2
Aromatherapy is the art and science of using essential oils extracted from plants to enhance well being. As a complementary therapy, aromatherapy is often used in conjunction with other holistic healing modalities to increase immunity, relieve stress and anxiety, improve mood and alertness, and reduce physical symptoms such as eczema-induced itching.3
A cautionary note for those with pets: while aromatherapy is generally considered safe for humans several essential oils have even been approved as food additives, and fall in the GRAS category: generally recognized as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration essential oils can be dangerous for animals.
In the same way that flu shots have been shown to depress the immune system, thus weakening the body’s response to the flu virus, aromatherapy oils, while a boon for people, can be toxic to pets especially cats, whose systems cannot process the constituents of the oils.
Be sure to use aromatherapy away from your pets, and check with your veterinarian before using any tick and flea treatment containing essential oils on your fur friends.4
Synopsis
Aromatherapy, the therapeutic use of plant oils for improving health and aiding relaxation, is natural and non-invasive for humans, but may be dangerous for pets. Use with care if you share your home with animal companions.
Oregano Oil Kills Norovirusbut Not Enough
- By Christopher Intagliata on February 12, 2014
Full Transcript
Internet herb stores claim that swallowing oregano oil can cure your cold or flu. But the devil’s in the details. Oregano oil is an antimicrobial, and can even kill off that tough cruise ship plague, norovirusbut there’s no evidence it can do so inside your body, scientists say. It works to inactivate pathogens before they get inside.Researchers experimented on the mouse form of norovirusgenetically similar to the hard-to-grow human strain. They treated virus colonies with solutions of either four percent oregano oil, or half a percent carvacrolthe active ingredient. Turns out oregano oil cut virus numbers by 10-fold. Carvacrol: 10,000-fold. In comparison, bleach achieves a million-fold reduction. The results appear in the Journal of Applied Microbiology. So, oregano oil’s nowhere near as effective as bleach. But it’s nontoxic, and has no noxious fumes. Unless you hate the smell of oregano. So study author Kelly Bright of the University of Arizona says it could be useful in food-safety settings: You could maybe reduce the amount of bleach you’re using by throwing in some carvacrol or essential oil. Just don’t expect it to cure you, once you’ve got the bug.Christopher Intagliata
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Rosemary Essential Oil Antiviral
The known truth is that Rosemary essential oil can be used instead of moisturizer and deeply hydrates skin. This essential oil can be used to lighten stretch marks and lessen the visibility of imperfections.
Through the use of its antiviral capabilities, it also helps to regulate sebum production. It fights acne thanks to its antiviral, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Above all, using rosemary essential oil boosts your immune system and increases your capacity to fend against harmful pathogens.
Clove Bud Essential Oil
The clove tree is an intensely aromatic, evergreen tree from Indonesia, producing the clove “nails” that are so well-known as a spice. For centuries, dried cloves have been chewed on to release their essential oils which have a strong numbing effect on toothache and gum discomfort and is still used as an antiseptic, pain relieving remedy today. The essential oil from ripe cloves is too strong to use in aromatherapy, but the unripe buds of the flowers produce an oil that is gentler, yet still wonderfully fresh, warming and spicy.
Clove bud essential oil has antimicrobial, antifungal, antiseptic, antiviral and stimulating properties. Clove oil is used for treating a variety of health disorders including toothaches, indigestion, coughs, headache, aching muscles, stress, blood impurities and asthma.
*Clove essential oil can be mildly irritating, so perform a patch test before use and only use a couple of drops in bathwater if you have sensitive skin.
Remedies:Use each blend as a massage oil with added carrier oil or in a diffuser without the carrier oil. Recipes can always be used in a hot bath by reducing the ingredients in half
To Improve Blood Flow and Aching Muscles:
- 2 drops clove bud essential oil
- 2 drops cinnamon leaf essential oil
- 6 drops mandarin essential oil
- 4 tsp carrier oil
To Boost the Immune System:
- 2 drops clove bud essential oil
- 4 drops cardamom essential oil
- 4 drops bergamot essential oil
- 4 tsp carrier oil
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Eugenol Menthol And Carvacrol
Silva and colleagues used molecular docking techniques to screen the anti-SARC-CoV-2 efficacies of eugenol, menthol, and carvacrol, major components of EOs, against various proteins targets of SARC-CoV-2. Docking scores revealed that these compounds have binding affinities towards SARC-CoV-2 spike protein, main protease , RNA dependent RNA polymerase and human ACE-2 proteins, respectively . Another in silico study conducted by Kumar and colleagues evaluated the binding potential of carvacrol against SARC-CoV-2 main protease and showed that it has the potential to inhibit Mpro and thus can halt viral replication .
Plant extracts rich in menthol have been used in traditional medicine in Asia for the treatment of respiratory ailments since centuries. Menthol has been reported to provide symptomatic relief from nasal congestion associated with rhinitis and the sensation of dyspnoea associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by its specific interaction with a cold-menthol-sensitive receptor located on trigeminal nerve endings . Menthol has also been shown to have gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties in rat models. Treatment with menthol was found to significantly reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, i.e. interleukin-1, interleukin-23, and tumour necrosis factor- in the treated rats .
Essential Knowledge About Essential Oils And Covid
If only it were that simple. If all one would have to do to prevent the SARS-CoV-2 virus from infecting the respiratory tract is to inhale some vapour from eucalyptus essential oil, our worries would be over. The eucalyptus oil remedy is being circulated in a post that claims Doctors from the University of Havana Cuba confirmed and demonstrated that the CoronaVirus does not develop in environments where 1,8 Epoxy -p Methane is used, which is the best known anti-virucidal, antiseptic and bactericidal component of eucalyptus. The first clue that the science here is questionable is that 1,8 Epoxy-p-Methane is a nonsensical name, as anyone with any chemical background would recognize. The actual compound in eucalyptus essential oil is 1,8-Epoxy-p-Menthane, also known as 1,8-cineol. That missing n makes a big difference. Methane and menthane are totally different compounds. But that is hardly the point. The much more significant point is that there is absolutely no evidence that doctors at the University of Havana have carried out any investigation of eucalyptus essential oil in connection with COVID-19. Neither is there any evidence that anyone else has carried out a pertinent study. What is known, though, is that companies selling essential oils have promoted their use for coronavirus infections.
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Risks And Warnings Of Using Essential Oils
Potency: Essential oils are extremely potent. Avoid taking essential oils by mouth. You also shouldnt use a concentrated amount. If you dont dilute the oils, they may irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs. You can dilute essential oils with carrier oils such as coconut oil, avocado oil, castor oil, or others. Dilute a few drops of essential oil with an ounce of carrier oil. Depending on the essential oil, the ratio can vary. Do a patch test on the inside of your forearm to check for any skin sensitivities.
Quality: Be sure to buy your essential oils from a reputable source. They should ships your oils in glass bottles. Plastic bottles increase the risk of contamination and decrease the shelf life the oil.
Pregnancy: Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about essential oil use. If youre pregnant or breastfeeding, you may want to avoid using essential oils. Theres not enough research about the safety of essential oils for children or pregnant women. It may be toxic in large doses.
There is limited research on essential oils and the flu, especially in humans. Some studies show that essential oil have properties that can fight viruses, alleviate flu symptoms, and increase comfort during the illness.
A 2010 study looked at a commercial essential oil blend of clove, wild orange, and cinnamon. Its application reduced in vitro viral particles by 90 percent. The oil blend also decreased infection.
Okay Is There Anything Else I Need To Know Before Diving In
Essential oils may interact with prescription medications and supplements, so it is always a good idea to check with your doctor first before using. Dr. Ko says if you plan on applying essential oils directly on your skin, you may also want to talk to a dermatologist. Some essential oils, like bergamot, make the skin more sensitive to light, which could lead to a sunburn, she says. Skin irritation may also occur in people with sensitive skin. Do a patch test on the inside of your forearm to check for any reactions before using. Anyone with severe allergies should be cautious when using essential oils.
If you are pregnant, you may want to steer clear of essential oils. There may be a risk that active ingredients will cross the placenta and affect the fetus, says Dr. Ko, so always consult with your ob-gyn before using.
Now that you know the ins and outs of using essential oils, here are the 16 best oils to relieve cold symptoms, from sore throat, coughs, fevers, and more.
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Essential Oil Diffuser Blends For Cold + Flu Season
·Post may contain affiliate links.
Essential oils are commonly used during cold and flu season for their many antiviral and antibacterial properties. And if you think about it, plants create these compounds for a reasonprotection!
Garden plants , trees , and grasses all produce germ-fighting essential oils. These natural compounds are part of what make up the plants immune system.
Plants create and use them to fend off insects, bacteria, fungi, and other germs . And when we extract the oils, we often use them for the same reasons.
Whats the best way to take advantage of the antimicrobial effects of these oils? Diffusion.
Diffusing oils is the best way to neutralize air-borne illnesses and enhance immunity, says David Crow . Cinnamon, clove, thyme, oregano, and tea tree are some of the strongest germ-fighting essential oils, and combining them with eucalyptus, lavender, and citrus oils can alleviate symptoms and support the immune system.
He also explains in his article that the antimicrobial effects of essential oils are most potent when pathogens are exposed to the vapors of the oils, so it sounds like diffusion is the way to go.
Below, Ive listed eleven immune support diffuser blends. I created these blends so they would be beneficial for purifying the air, fighting congestion, and boosting immunity. Many of the oils you will find in these can be used interchangeably, so feel free to swap out the ingredients for any essential oils that you desire.
Mistake #: Blasting Your Diffuser All Day
The “icon” of essential oil research and safety is Robert Tisserand, who believes it’s possible to overdo it when it comes to essential oil exposure. Rather than leaving a diffuser on for hours at a time, he instructs users to turn the diffuser off after 30 to 60 minutes for at least that long before diffusing again. Zielinski finds that conservative, however. “I’ll tell you we have diffusers running all day long in my home,” he says.
Kenney takes a middle-ground approach, pointing out that diffusers often have different settings that can treat the air slowly or quickly depending on how you use them. “A diffuser can emit different strengths,” she says. “Some people find that the air can become pretty heavily treated in a short time.”
Experiment during an hour or so, then turn it off. “Maybe wait to turn it back on after an hour,” she says. “So much depends on the space, and some oils have different kinds of potency as far as scent.” What you really don’t want is for the scent to become totally overpowering. “Really potent scents can be overwhelming and you need to get out, you can’t breathe anymore,” she says.
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Cajeput Essential Oil Antiviral
The finest cajeput essential oil is excellent for healing burns and wounds because it has anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, this essential oil has antifungal and antibacterial qualities that can be utilized to treat the infection.
Due to its abundant minerals and antiviral qualities, it may also be used for hair or scalp care. Cajeput essential oil is frequently used for cuts, scratches, and minor injuries. In addition, it is used in antiseptic lotions and aids in treating infection.
How Do You Use Essential Oils Exactly
The most common way to use essential oils is by using a diffuser. “By aerosolizing the essential oil into the air, the essential oil can reduce viral counts in the environment as an antiseptic,” Dr. Lin says. “As we inhale the essential oil, we get the benefit, as well, since colds and flu start in the respiratory tract.”
No diffuser? No problem. You can inhale essential oils by sniffing the bottle directly or adding a few drops to a cotton ball, says Dr. Ko. This method helps to clear nasal passages to ease congestion. Certain oils, like lavender, can also help you sleep better and speed the recovery process, she explains. You can also put a few drops in a hot bath for a full-body experience or a large bowl of water to breathe in the steam.
You can also apply essential oil directly on your skin. Before you do that, though, youll want to dilute the essential oil with a few drops of carrier oil, such as avocado oil, coconut oil, or olive oil. Remember, essential oils are very concentrated. For example, it takes about 220 pounds of lavender flowers to make about one pound of essential oil, says Dr. Ko. Essential oils should only be ingested, or taken by mouth, under the supervision of a trained herbalist, says Dr. Lin.
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Can Oregano Essential Oil Protect Against Coronaviruses
As a certified aromatherapist, I could not find any research suggesting oregano essential oil as protection against coronaviruses. In fact, it was debunked back in May 2003 by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration .
In 2002 to 2003, the world was dealing with another outbreak, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome that happens to be a coronavirus as well. In a press release at the time, the FTC and FDA were warning consumers about websites offering SARS prevention kits, which included oregano essential oils.
Based on unverified claims, the websites promised consumers protection from SARS by purchasing personal air purifiers, disinfectant sprays and wipes, respirator masks, latex gloves, dietary supplements like colloidal silver and oregano oil, and SARS prevention kits that package various items together, such as gloves, masks, and wipes.
Websites may be subject to state or federal investigation or prosecution for making deceptive or misleading marketing claims that their products can treat, prevent, or cure SARS, the press release stated.
While the current 2019-nCOV situation is scary, we need to be more discerning of our sources of information. As the FTC pointed out, If a medical breakthrough involving SARS has occurred, would they be hearing about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch?
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Can I Make Effective Covid
Currently, the CDC does NOT recommend using essential oils such as lavender oil or GRAS ingredients such as vinegar in homemade cleaning products to prevent the spread of COVID-19. If you would like to make an effective cleaning solution at home using bleach, you can follow the recipe approved by the CDC.
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Lemongrass Essential Oil Antiviral
Lemongrass essential oil can be used to strengthen hair follicles and cosmetically cure dandruff. Furthermore, it is fully natural and free of pesticides, synthetic colors, artificial scents, and preservatives.
In addition, this essential oil’s antifungal and antiviral effects help halt hair loss. When used in an aromatherapy diffuser, lemongrass essential oil helps clear the virus’s air. You can therefore incorporate it into your usual skincare routine.
Viral Strains And Antiviral Activity
Antiviral activity of AB1 was tested with influenza A H1N1 ATCC VR-R 1520 and oral herpes simplex HSV1 ATCC VR-1383. Tests were performed according to NF EN 14476 . The H1N1 strain was amplified on MDCK cells and HSV1 on VERO cells in EMEM medium . Virus suspension was added to the test compound with interfering substance under clean conditions . This mixture was maintained at 35°C ± 1 for 60 min ± 10. The activity was stopped by the molecular sieving method, using a sieve filter . Neutralization of the product was validated by passing it through Sephadex at a dilution 1/10.
Virus titration on cells in suspension was performed in microplates. A dilution series with a factor of four was prepared in an ice-cold medium for 30 min in glass tubes. The dilution was then transferred into microtiter plates before the cell suspension was added in each well. Viral cytopathic effect was read under an inverted microscope after 4 days of incubation and determined by the SpearmanKärber method according to the following formula:
Negative logarithm of 50% end point = negative logarithm of the highest virus concentration used
Reduction in virus infectivity was calculated from the difference of log virus titers before and after treatment. The product was considered to be virucidal when log reduction was 4.
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