Using Essential Oils for Cold & Flu Season
Got stuffy nose, congestion, head or chest cold? At the first sign of a cold or scratchy throat try using these essential oil blends by Young Living® - Thieves, Purification, RC, ImnuPower or the single oils of Eucalyptus, Lemon, Tea Tree (Meleaucea) or Peppermint.

Suggested Ways to Treat Colds & Flu :

Steam Bowl - To clear sinuses, put 2-3 drops of R.C., Thieves, Peppermint or oil of your choice in a bowl of steaming (not boiling!) hot water, put a towel over your head and inhale deeply.

Inhale directly from the bottle - or add a few drops to a tissue. You can inhale this many times a day, no drugs, and no side effects. You can also use in a diffuser in your home or office.

Diffuse - Thieves, Lemon. Purification Blend or Eucalyptus is the sickroom. Smells wonderful, kills germs and helps relieve congestion of colds and flu, bronchitis, etc... Diffusing Purification oil helps clean the air and neutralize odors. See more about diffusers here.

Disinfectant Spray - Add 30 - 40 drops of an essential oil or oil blend (Eucalyptus, Thieves, Tea Tree or Lemon) to a small spray bottle and add a few drops of natural soap and pure, filtered water to fill about 1/2 full. Shake before using and spray to sanitize hands, bathrooms and other surfaces. Do not spray directly on wood.

Honey with Herbal or Green Tea – Drink green or herbal tea with certain essential oils. Mix one drop of eucalyptus, peppermint or Thieves essential oil blend with a teaspoon or more of honey and add to your tea.

Sore Throat - You can use Thieves in your mouth or in honey. Use with care -- it is powerful and great for for sore throat. Try a very small bit on a toothpick to see if you can tolerate it - it tastes very cinnamon-y, clove-y. (Caution - Be sure you are using Therapeutic Essential oils as others CANNOT be taken internally - check the label. Do not ingest tea tree or camphor oils. Do not ingest any essential oils while pregnant or nursing).

Wash Hands Often - one of the best ways of prevention for yourself and family is frequent handwashing. You can use a natural liquid soap (NOT anti-bacterial) and add 20-30 drops of one of these essential oil per bottle -- use essential oils like eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon, Thieves Blend or any of the others listed here. Be aware that antibacterial soaps from the grocery or drug store are designed for bacteria and are NOT effective again the cold & flu viruses.

Tea Tree Oil - Melaleuca Alternifolia -is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal and helps prevent inflammation. This is a strong, powerful essential oil so use with care and keep away from children. Do not use undiluted on the skin as it may cause burning and irritation. NEVER take internally. Do not use while pregnant.

Cautions - Avoid eye contact and always use with caution. Don’t handle your contact lenses even after touching essential oils, even the bottle. Test a small amount to be sure it is not irritating to the skin. Essential Oils don’t easily wash off with water so if you get any on your hands or skin, use several drops of any kind of oil (cooking, olive, etc… ) to dilute it before you wash off. Be aware that some oils may cause the skin to become photosensitive for several hours after use, so don’t use on areas of the skin that will be exposed to sunlight or tanning beds.