Fight the Flu with Essential Oils

It's official, the flu is going around and we are especially prone to catching a bug after spending time with so many of our friends and family over the holidays. Here are some essential oils that will help you feel better:

Eucalyptus loosens mucus and helps heals the throat, nasal passages and bronchial tubes. It acts as a great decongestant with germicidal and anti-bacterial properties. Many people associate the scent of this oil with Vicks VapoRub. Try adding 4 drops of Eucalyptus to a carrier oil such as olive oil and use as a chest rub. Keep in mind, this essential oil is too strong for children under six years of age.

Lavender is not just a lovely scent, it stimulates the immune system and relaxes and soothes aches and chills. Lavender is a wonderful calming agent, particularly when blended with chamomile.

Tea Tree acts as an antiseptic and fungicide and also boosts the immune system. It works great when inhaled.

Rosemary is invigorating and aids as a pick-me-up oil when the flu has got you down.

Ten drops of any of these essential oils can be added to your bath water or to a bowl of hot water as a vaporizer. If you are sensitive to essential oils, make sure to use sparingly. Get well soon!

Pet Potions

Aromatherapy massage for the dog? Yes, it's true. Our furry friends can benefit from the healing properties of essential oils, but take note that you must be even more cautious when using pure essential oils on pets. First of all, animals will lick off whatever you put on them wherever they can reach. Secondly, animal skin absorbs oil at a different rate than our skin.

According to The Essential Oils Book by Colleen K. Dodt, you can use essential oils to confront everything from flea control to depression. Lavender, tea tree, chamomile, bergamot, cedarwood, juniper, rosemary, sandalwood, geranium, patchouli, sweet orange, and eucalyptus are among the most successful oils. Colleen really stresses the point to avoid using pennyroyal essential oil on your pet, even though it is a popular flea repellant. It is just too concentrated in pure essential oil form.

I really like her idea of making an herbal bug-repellant pillow for your pet's bed. She suggests adding equal amounts of lavender flowers, cedarwood chips and pennyroyal herb (not oil!) to the stuffing of a pillow. You can also substitute pure essential oils for the dried herbs, but only use 5 drops total per pillow. Another trick is adding oils in a small amount to your pet's bathwater. Colleen recommends using 8 drops of essential oil total (such as eucalyptus, lavender, juniper, cedarwood, peppermint or tea tree) to two gallons of water.

Things to avoid when working with essential oils and your pets:

1. No pennyroyal oil
2. Avoid using citrus oils. They are too irritating.
3. No pure essential oils with young puppies or kittens.
4. Always consult with a qualified veterinarian before attempting to treat your pet's potentially serious condition on your own.