How are you feeling right now? 
 
Given the current environment, I wanted to share with you my top 10 oils for keeping your immune system strong, to protect both you and your family. 

The majority of these oils have either anti-bacterial, anti-viral, antioxidant, mucolytic (reduce mucous), decongestant, anti-inflammatory, or immuno-stimulating properties. As well as a few possessing anxiolytic properties too (to calm that stress!). Some of these you’ll no doubt already have as part of your initial Home Essentials Kit, while others may be new. 

They’re all favourites of mine though, so I hope you’ll adopt some of these new practices into your life over the coming weeks. 

1. On Guard 

This is actually a blend of oils – Wild Orange, Clove, Cinnamon, Rosemary, and Eucalyptus (a variant that can be taken internally). These herbs are known to stimulate the immune system, and kill airborne pathogens. On Guard is also an incredible anti-bacterial cleaner, to make sure both your surfaces and hands are kept clean. Here’s how I use it: 

• Throat Spray – 1 drop On Guard + 1 drop Oregano + 200mL – spray at the back of the throat when you feel a tickle coming on. 
• Immunity Roller – 16 drops On Guard + 4 drops Oregano + fractionated coconut oil in a 10mL roller – roll on lymph nodes behind ears, on the back of your neck, and soles of feet 2x/daily. 
• Diffuser – 10 drops On Guard, or 8 On Guard + 2 Oregano – diffuse during the day, or overnight on the longest setting on your diffuser (so you’re absorbing the constituents into your blood stream while you sleep). 

If you’re a member of our oils community, you can find lots more ideas on our private Facebook page here. For example, making your own hand wash, hand sanitiser, and home cleaning spray. If you’re not yet a member, click here to find out how you can join. 

2. Frankincense 

Boswellia Frereana in latin, Frank is an incredible immune-stimulant, anti-inflammatory, and also anti-depressant. Three things you’re probably in need of right now! Here’s how I use it: 

• Stress + Immune Roller – 20 drops in a 10mL roller, apply to the back of neck, spine, wrists, neck – anywhere where the blood vessels are close to the skin. 

• Stress Diffusion – 10 drops total of Frankincense and Lavender are great for stress, or add OnGuard as well to boost the immune-protective properties. As you can see, you can layer many of these oils in a roller or diffuser to amplify the immune-protective benefits. 

3. Lemon 

Citrus limon is an anti-bacterial, antioxidant, and mucolytic (reduces mucous). As a result, it can be used both as a protective (in your rollers or diffuser blends above), or as a treatment for congestion and mucous. I’d also add it to your home cleaner and hand sanitising spray. Oh, plus it tastes yum (so get it in these fellas): 

• Lemon Coconut Bliss Balls 
• Lemon Apricot Fudge Slice 
• Lemon Cashew Aioli (vid below)

4. Oregano 

When you get a virus, this is the one you want to be pulling out full force. Origanum vulgare is highly anti-viral, as well as anti-bacterial and immune-stimulating. I combine it with the above oils (especially On Guard), as well as via these additional methods: 

• Immune Bomb – 1 drop each of any of these (Oregano, On Guard, Lemon, Frank, Turmeric, Ginger, Thyme, Rosemary, Clove, Black or Pink Pepper) + 2 tsps brown rice syrup (or ethical manuka honey) + warm water. It’s spicy! But will kill a cold in its tracks. If you don’t have all the oils, you can use the fresh herbs/roots also (grate them finely, or crush in a mortar pestle to release the therapeutic constituents). 
• Oregano Roller – 20D Oregano + fractionated coconut oil in a 10mL roller – roll on soles of feet before bed at night (socks on over top). You can use this on the kids too, but be sure only to apply to the feet, useless, and make sure socks go on afterward so they can’t rub their feet then touch their face. 
• Italian – any time I’m making an Italian-leaning recipe (Lentil Bolognese, pasta, pizza), I’ll take the opportunity to add a drop of oregano oil at the end (1 drop only for a 4 person serve). I also have a bespoke bottle of olive oil I’ve made up with a few drops of oregano in it, to drizzle over roast veggies after cooking. Heating oils destroy some of their therapeutics, so add at the end. 

5. Tea Tree 

Similar to the plants above, tea tree, or Melaleuca alternifolia is also an anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and decongestant. As a result, you can use it as follows: 
 

• Decongestion Diffusion – 10 drops total peppermint, tea tree, lemon, or Easy Air – diffuse before bed and overnight. 

These five oils combine brilliantly as a combined anti-bacterial and anti-viral blend – in your topical roller, and diffuser. You can remember them with the acronym FLOOT- Frankincense, Lemon, On Guard, Oregano, and Tea Tree. 

6. Easy Air 

Easy Air, or Breathe as it’s called in the US, is a blend of herbs commonly used for the respiratory system. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lemon, Cardamom, Laurel Leaf, Ravintsara, and Ravensara. For colds and flus/viruses, a common symptom is chest congestion, coughing, and constricted breathing. In particular, it’s known that Covid-19 leaves a mucous deposit on the insides of the respiratory tract. This blend is therefore critical to help keep your airways open, and enable breathing. Here’s how I use it: 

• Diffuser – 10 drops Easy Air (or combo it with On Guard if you like) – overnight on the longest setting (the intermittent 5 minutes on 5 minutes off is ideal). 
• Breathing Roller – 20 drops Easy Air + fractionated coconut oil in a 10 mL roller – apply to the chest and upper back before bed, and first thing in the morning (after a hot shower to help eliminate mucous and congestion also). 
• Shower Inhalation – 1-2 drops in the corner of the shower – then have a hot shower. This is incredible for opening the airways, ideal in the morning when you’ve been lying on your back and they can be more compromised.  

7. Copaiba 

Copaiba officinalis is a relatively new discovery in the herbal medicine world, but shows similar properties to medicinal cannabis or CBD oil (cannabidiol). As well as being an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial, it has also been shown to support immuno-compromised individuals. You can either apply it topically in a roller or body oil, put it in your diffuser, or take a drop in the roof of the mouth daily for immune support. It also has anxiolytic properties, and I’ve had success with clients using this to support anxiety, depression, and sleep issues. 

8. Thyme 

Thymus vulgaris has been used for centuries to ease respiratory congestion, reduce mucous, and as an anti-viral. Properties wise, it has a very similar chemical constituent profile to Oregano, so it can be a good substitute. The aroma is slightly less pungent than Oregano, so I like adding it to the diffuser as an alternative, and also it’s a must-have in my flu bomb drink. You can also use fresh thyme if you have it, just crush it a little first to release the oils (and you’ll need to use a lot more). Skip dried thyme – most of the oils have been lost. 

Watch the vid below for my Thyme and Mushroom Gravy – just what you and I need to complete the classic Sunday roast (my plant-based Tempeh and Walnut Roast, Of course)

9. Rosemary 

A cousin of Thyme and Oregano, with very similar properties. Again, I prefer the smell of Rosemary to Oregano (but hey – when you need it, don’t hold back). Rosmarinus officinalis is anti-catarrhal, which means it stops coughs. Add it to your topical decongestant roller and apply to the chest and upper back, or in the diffuser alongside Easy Air, Tea Tree, Lemon, or Peppermint. 

10. Turmeric  

Pretty much the love child of the natural medicine world in 2019. Curcuma longa contains turmerones and curcuminoids, which are highly anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-viral,  and decongesting (as well as anxiolytic). Are you seeing a pattern here? These are all the actions we want when we’re protecting the immune (and nervous) system! I like to take this one internally mainly (in my Flu bomb up top, or in a ready-made capsule), but you can also add it to your topical decongestant blend. 

There are other oils also which are beneficial for immunity, Melissa/Lemon Balm, Pink Pepper, Black Pepper, and Yarrow are some others I like to use. But if you don’t have all these oils right now, don’t worry, just start with what you have. You can always add the others as you go on, and gain more confidence in using them. 

Need more support? If you’re not already a member of my natural health and oils community, you can find out more about how to join us here.  

Any questions, let me know in the comments below! Or send me an email to buffy@begoodorganics.com. 

PS – If you like this post, share it on Facebook, and tell me what oils you’re using to feel less stressed and build your immunity on Instagram– any of the above oils helping you? (tag me @begoodorganics and #begoodorganics if you do), or share it with your family and friends. If you’re not already subscribed to my recipe, nutrition or oils emails be sure to do that here, and don’t miss my new recipes video by signing up to our YouTube channel here. If you’re interested in one-on-one health advice, I see a small number of clients for Naturopathic and Nutrition consultations each week, either in person or via online video conferencing – you can find more information about those here. And if you’d like to meet me in person, come to one of my Natural Health and Essential Oil workshops here (or watch my online workshop here).