Popular Essential Oils for Flu and Cold That Act Fast

Essential oils are used widely for colds and flu. It is not at all fun to be down with a cold or flu, especially the kids. It was a friend of mine who first introduced me to “Immunity” (from Rocky Mountain Oils) and I have never regretted that instant decision to try it. Since then I use it on my kids (apply on the feet) before sending them off to school or every night during the cold and flu season. So, what are the properties of essential oils that will help relieve or prevent a flu?

Essential Oil Properties for Flu

Essential oils are very useful in the prevention of flu and cold – a highly contagious disease that attacks your nose, lungs, and throat (1). It can be your first line of defense when you start getting those first warning signs or simply as a means of precaution.

Luckily, these oils are great to use to provide you soothing and comforting relief and bring your spirits back up. Most essential oils help alleviate the symptoms of the common cold such as phlegm, headaches and blocked nasal passage. Here is a list of best Essential Oils that can relieve the symptoms of common cold and flu. Most of them can be used on children.

Can Essential Oils Prevent a Flu

The flu and cold are conditions due to viral infections that affect the nose, throat or lungs. Although essential oils or herbs have been used for centuries, there isn’t much research to support their effectiveness against the flu or common cold. A study in 2010 by Janmejai, Eswar et al (9) showed that chamomile oil helped relieve symptoms of the cold, and a separate study in 2010 by Carson, Hammer et al (10) found tea tree oil has anti-viral properties. Due to the anti-viral properties, many essential oils are used to prevent the spread of the cold or flu. If taken at the right time and in the right quantities many of the oils listed in this article have shown great results.

Essential Oil Blends for Colds

The following are some of the best essential oil blends for the flu and cold.

Immune Strength

Immune Strength is a blend of different essential oils such as Oregano, Lemon, Cinnamon Bark, and many others preferred oils. Immune Strength is great for diffusing around your home in order to keep it free from cold and flu germs. It can also be used together with cleaning products to disinfect surfaces. Another favourite of ours for diffusing around the home during the flu season

Immunity

Immunity is a popular blend from the kids line collection, it has a fresh sweet scent. The rollerball comes pre-diluted at a 2% dilution which is safe to apply topically on children that are 2 years or older. I typically apply this on the back of the neck, chest or bottom of the feet. This blend is known to promote a healthy immune system and works wonders for colds and flu. I use it regularly on my kids when I see any warning signs of a cold or flu and has worked wonders! This is by far my favourite essential oil for flu.

Frankincense

Frankincense (which comes from the French term “franc encens”) is one of the oldest essential oils and it contains antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and even anti-neurotic and anxiolytic properties and is considered a traditional medicine in the East (3). As a result, it is a great natural aid for lungs and it can help shorten flu or cold. In order to alleviate the flu symptoms, put a drop of frankincense into honey and add into a mixture of hot water or tea.

Flu Time

Flu Time is another essential oil blend that incorporates Frankincense, Lavender, and Peppermint. This blend relieves early signs of the common cold or the flu and purifies the air from harmful germs. If you are feeling tired because of the cold, this blend can increase your energy.

Best Essential Oils for the Flu and Cold

The following are some of the best essential oils that are recommended for the flu and cold.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil

Eucalyptus oil is an amazing remedy for congestion and stubborn coughs. It has a fresh and uplifting scent that works to open up your nasal passage and mind. Eucalyptus contains a lot of cleansing and purifying properties that help kill the viruses that cause the flu and fight inflammation in the lungs because of its main component, 1,8-cineole, which has antimicrobial effects on a lot of types of bacteria (2). Additionally, if you feel overheated, eucalyptus can be applied topically to produce a cooling effect. You can also use eucalyptus oil to create your own steam inhalation remedy at home. This is one of my favourites for cold and cough for the adults in the family.

At the earliest signs of a sore throat, this is one of my go-to home remedies. In addition to preventing the flu it also works wonders for a sore throat and coughs.

There are a few types of Frankincense and they all share similar properties. However, there are some differences that make each type unique. Frankincense serrata has a balsamic, rich, spicy and woody aroma. It is the oldest documented type of Frankincense.

Eucalyptus is also one of the best smelling essentials oils out there along with others such as Peppermint, Teat Tree and Lemongrass

Peppermint

Peppermint oil helps with the respiratory and digestive systems. This uplifting essential oil is great for reducing sinusitis, coughs, and sore throat. It is one of the reasons why Peppermint is used as an ingredient in home based cough remedies. With the strong presence of menthol, it can be used to stimulate the blood flow and reduce inflammation.  Also, peppermint has a natural cleansing property that effectively clears airways and congestions. Because of its gentle warming effect, it is ideal for reducing headaches and body aches caused by the flu and can even help improve exercise performance according to a recent study done (4).

Lemon

Lemon is an important oil used in ancient Ayurvedic medicine to cure a wide range of disease (5). One of the benefits of lemon is to clear the nasal passage so as to ensure steady breathing. Along with alleviating the symptoms of cold and cough, this oil can help the user maintain a healthy respiratory system due to its antibacterial and antiviral properties. Furthermore, lemon supports the lymphatic system which enables the body to remove toxins. Lemon is widely used in many home-based remedies for cough, colds, and infections. Click here to read benefits of lemon essential oil.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a spicy-sweet essential oil that has soothing properties that help alleviate the symptoms of a dry and constant cough and is even used to control and prevent a lot of infections (6). One of its therapeutic benefits is to support a healthy immune system in order to eliminate germs and flu virus. To clear up congestion, just steam yourself in hot water containing a few drops of cardamon and breathe in the healing vapors for about 5-10 minutes.

Oregano

Oregano is another popular essential oil remedy for cold and flu prevention because of the potent presence of carvacrol. Studies have shown that carvacrol makes oregano essential oil very effective in fighting against viral infections. It is popular for its antibiotic properties which can fight harmful pathogens and its antiviral properties that fight against the common cold and flu. It even has antidiabetic and cancer suppressing agents (7). You can choose to inhale the oil through steam inhalation, diffuse it through a room, or apply it on the neck or chest after diluting it. If you prefer internal use, make sure that the oil is 100% therapeutic grade.

Lemongrass

Are you suffering from fever and body aches? The lemongrass essential oil has a refreshing, citrusy scent that is excellent for lifting fatigue and eases body aches and headaches due to cold and flu. This herb is especially popular in tropical lands like Southeast Asia (8). People love this oil because it fights the symptoms of the common cold in numerous ways. It is a natural analgesic that alleviates muscle pains, giving relief to your entire body. Additionally, this oil promotes sweating that enables the body to release toxins and lower fever.

You can check out this excellent article to find out more about the essential oils recommended for colds and flu from Rocky Mountain Oils.

If flu or cold is what’s getting you down, the above Essential oils will help you get back on your feet as soon as possible.

Using Essential Oils for Flu and Body Aches

There are many methods of application of essential oils for flu and cold prevention – ranging from diffusing, spraying, inhalation and massaging. Check my notes under each product the best options available for application.

Using Essential Oils on Children

Essential oils are great but you need to exercise caution when using it on infants and children. Please check out my article here on how to use essential oils safely on children. You can also check out here how to use a diffuser and the benefits of diffusing.

Click to Buy 100% Pure and Natural Oils from Rocky Mountain Oils

Have you checked out some of my recent articles related to children?

Here are some excellent growth mindset quotes for kids

Excellent tips for raising grateful kids

7 Tips for raising strong and resilient kids

References:

1. Danielle Dresden, What Essential Oils are Good for the Flu?, 2018 April. Link here
2. Sadlon AE, Lamson DW, Immune-Modifying and Antimicrobial Effects of Eucalyptus Oil and Simple Inhalation Devices, 2010 Apr, PMID: 20359267
3. Al-Yasiry AR, Kiczorowska B, Frankincense – Therapeutic Properties, 2016 Jan. PMID: 27117114
4. Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, I.R. Iran, Instant Effects of Peppermint Essential Oil on the Physiological Parameters and Exercise Performance, 2014 Fed. PMID: 25050303
5. Top 10 Lemon Essential Oil Uses and Benefits, Dr. Axe. Link here
6. Abdullah, Ali Asghar, Masood Sadiq Butt, Muhammad Shahid, Qingrong Huang, Evaluating the Antimicrobial Potential of Green Cardamon Essential Oil Focusing on Quorum Sensing Inhibition of Chromobacterium Violaceum, 2017 Jul. PMID: 28740287
7. Nayely Leyva-López, Erick P. Gutiérrez-Grijalva, Gabriela Vazquez-Olivo, and J. Basilio Heredia, Essential Oils of Oregano: Biological Activity Beyond Their Antimicrobial Properties, 2017 Jun. PMID: 28613267
8. Gagan Shah, Richa Shri, Vivek Panchal, Narender Sharma, Bharpur Singh, A. S. Mann, Scientific Basis for the Therapeutic Use of Cymbopogon Citratus, Stapf (Lemon Grass), 2011 Mar. PMID: 22171285
9. Janmejai Srivastava, Eswar Shankar and Sanjay Gupta, Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future. PMID 21132119
10. C. F. Carson, K. A. Hammer and T. V. Riley, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Oil: a Review of Antimicrobial and Other Medicinal Properties. PMID 16418522