Aromatherapy for The Winter

As the cold and Flu season approaches once more, I would like to take an overview at one of the most common seasonal complaint, the flu, how aromatherapy and essential oils can help to shorten its course, strengthen our defense mechanisms and lower the risk of spreading it to the rest of the household.

A good blend that has been proven to stop the spread of airborne viruses such as those causing colds and flu is the following:

• Ravensar Ravensara aromatica 5 drops
• Eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata 3 drops
• Tea Tree Melaleuca alternifolia 3 drops
• Roman chamomile Anthemis nobile 4 drops
• True Lavender Lavandula angustifolia 6 drops.

Place 4 drops of the above blend in your diffuser and diffuse in those rooms where the bedroom and common areas.

A researchers comment was that in laboratory conditions he saw that it "stopped the virus in mid-air," thus avoiding its spread. FLU

Flu is caused by the "influenza virus" causes respiratory illnesses.

The virus changes each year - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.

Major changes or type changes, produce world-wide epidemics known by the term of pandemics.

The Flu is spread through respiratory secretions by coughing and sneezing.

The viruses contaminate our environment. The incubation period of influenza is very short (from 1 to 4 days). Main symptoms:

The main symptoms of Flu are:

• Fever over 102° for 3-5 days. Generally fever is higher in the afternoons and evenings, with some decrease in the mornings. Fever typically runs higher in children and can be over 104°.
• Cough starts as dry and hacking cough and progresses by the 3rd day to wet with thick mucous and can worsen for the next 4-7 days and lasts over 2 weeks.
• Headaches and muscle aches and pains for the first few days.
• Fatigue is common and severe, lasting from 1 to 3 weeks.
• Sore Throat is most common in older children and adults.
• Sinus and Nasal Congestion for 1-2 weeks.

Aromatherapy treatment Plan:

Aromatherapy is of great benefit for the treatment of Flu, both in the early stages and once it is established.

Right at the onset of symptoms, when you feel that you may have caught the virus, before retiring for the night, rub on the soles of your feet 3 drops of an undiluted blend of: equal parts of the following essential oils tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia, eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata, green myrtle Myrtus communis and thyme linalol Thymus vulgaris linalol. Repeat this application the following morning and the following night. (This treatment should only be carried out only 3 times)

If you only realize that you have t flu once the full symptoms have presented themselves you should treat the condition according to the symptomology of each client, as the severity will vary from person to person depending on their previous state of health and their immune responses.

The main symptoms of flu may be successfully treated with aromatherapy in the following ways:

Dry cough: Prepare a blend with essential oils of: true lavender Lavandula angustifolia, sandalwood Santalum album, tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia or frankincense Boswelia carterii in sweet almond oil, 12 drops in 20 ml (3%), and apply 4 ml of this blend on the upper chest and sides of the neck. Repeat every 4 hours.

Set up inhalations with 2 drops of Frankincense Boswelia carterii and 2 drops of Ravensar Ravensara aromatica in a bowl of steaming water, cover your clients head with a towel and as them to inhale and exhale through the mouth, until the water is no longer steaming. (About 4 minutes) Repeat 4 times a day.

Cough with Clear mucous: Prepare a blend with essential oils of Eucalyptus Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata, lavender spike Lavandula latifolia, thyme CT linalol Thymus vulgaris linaloliferum , or niaouli Melaleuca quinquinervia viridiflora. In sweet almond oil, 12 drops in 20 ml (3%), and apply 4 ml of this blend on the upper chest and sides of the neck. Repeat every 4 hours.

Set up inhalations with 2 drops of Eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata and 2 drops of Ravensar Ravensara aromatica in a bowl of steaming water, cover your clients head with a towel and as them to inhale and exhale through the mouth, until the water is no longer steaming. (About 4 minutes) Repeat 4 times a day.

Cough with yellow and green sputum and secondary bacterial infection: there is an increase in the production of mucus by the repertory lining mucous, which gets invaded by the cold or flu virus, leading to the inflammation along with subsequent bacterial infection.

The essential oils of choice will reduce the discharge of mucus. Prepare a blend with essential oils of eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata, manuka Leptospermum scoparium, green myrtle Myrtus communis and tea tree Melaleuca alternifolia in sweet almond oil, 12 drops in 20 ml (3%), and apply 4 ml of this blend on the upper chest and sides of the neck. Repeat every 4 hours.

Set up inhalations with 2 drops of Eucalyptus Eucalyptus radiata and 2 drops of Ravensar Ravensara aromatica and 2 drops of roman chamomile Anthemis nobilis in a bowl of steaming water, cover your clients head with a towel and as them to inhale and exhale through the mouth, until the water is no longer steaming. (About 4 minutes) Repeat 4 times a day.

The above formulations will help with the whole process by enhancing the effectiveness of the immune system and thus dealing with the fever and muscle aches and pains. Headaches also disappear as the fever subsides.

In conclusion with Essential oils and aromatherapy we have very powerful tools which will help us and our clients to have a healthy winter season.

The common cold is caused by a more benign virus, and shares in varying degrees the same symptoms described for the flu.

The aromatherapy treatment plan is similar, choosing the oils and method of treatment which apply to the individual needs.

Vivian Nadya Lunny qualified as an MD in 1973, later she followed specialization studies in Cardiology and Pathology in Bolivia, Argentina and the UK. She then obtained Certification Diplomas in Holistic and Scientific Aromatherapy Color Therapy, Psychotronics and Reiki II. She was awarded a Doctorate in Alternative Medicine in 1991. Currently she is the CEO of Real Essences of Life Inc.

A respected well known international pioneer in the fields of Aromatherapy and Holistic Medicine, Clinical Practitioner, Author and Educator.

By Vivian Lunny