Having a member of your family catch a cold is bad enough, but the possibility of its spreading is even worse. While it’s important to mind proper forms of immune-enhancing nutrition like vitamin D3, the stresses of cold weather, lack of sunshine, and more commonplace germ exposure make it important to do what you can to protect the other members of your family from coming down with a cold, too. One of the most effective ways to do this is to kill the bacterial and viral pathogens that fill the household air and anything the unfortunate person with the cold touches with “dirty” (i.e. coughed or sneezed on) hands. To do this, get an aromatherapy diffuser or the like and fill it with one or a combination of the following essential oils. Any scent is actually tiny particles of whatever it is the scent emanates from, and essential oils are potent enough to make a noticeable difference in killing airborne pathogens to keep the rest of your family protected.
1. Peppermint Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, and decongestant properties.
2. Tea Tree Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
3. Thyme Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and antimicrobial properties.
4. Eucalyptus Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
5. Oregano Oil: Strong antibacterial and antiviral properties. May be too strong for some for aromatherapy use.
6. Orange Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties.
7. Lemongrass: Antibacterial and antifungal properties.
8. Clove Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-parasite properties.
9. Ravensara Oil (not Ravintsara Oil): Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
10. Cinnamon Oil: Antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties.
Not every oil works as well as any other. Some oils are more effective against certain bacterial strains than others and vice-versa, and so you might find it best to combine a few or several of these together into pathogen-fighting aromatherapy formula to keep handy whenever a loved one comes down with a cold.
Sources:
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/47/5/565.full
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/47/5/565.full
http://gentleworld.org/3-essential-oils-for-your-herbal-medicine-cabinet/
http://www.natural-aromatherapy-benefits.com/antiviralessentialoils.html
http://www.anandaapothecary.com/articles/antiviral-essential-oils.html
