Winter Immunity with Aromatherapy
By: Johnetta Miner | Posted: 30th December 2005
That time of the year is here again. Winter!
Some people love winter and others may hate it, and what comes with it. Winter is viewed as cold, cold, cold weather with snow, ice and cold winds. Along with the cold weather there are more viruses, coughs, common colds, runny noses and the flu. Usually, antibiotics have been the treatment of choice in many cases.
Antibiotics have been prescribed routinely by physicians for respiratory infections of varying degrees of severity, the common cold, sore throats, chronic ear infections in children, various viral infections, acne, urinary tract infections (UTIs) etc. A tremendously effective treatment for the prevention of UTIs is the lowly cranberry. Studies have shown that cranberries help block the adhesion of Escherichia coli (E. coli) to the uro-epithelium thereby lessening the need for prolonged antibiotic use or eliminating their use altogether. With the over use and misuse of antibiotics the United States populace has built up a resistance to the majority of the antibiotics that are marketed today. The research and development, obtaining approval for use by the public and production of antibiotics is time consuming and costly to pharmaceutical firms. I've seen nothing in my professional literature that indicates the pharmaceutical firms are researching and developing a new line of antibiotics for next year. What is effective today may not be effective against that microorganism next week because the strain has become resistant to that particular medication. Fortunately, there are aromatic treatments to use for prevention and to boost the immune systems.
If someone with a cold or the flu sneezes, why is it that some of us 'catch' it and others do not? Some people will say "I have a cold or the flu every January". It seems they are waiting to 'catch' it every winter. Most likely, their immune systems are low. A low immune system, coupled with lack of sleep and poor nutrition, the 'bug' is going to 'catch' them. Also, it is difficult to handle stress with a weakened immune system. Dis-stress alone will weaken the immune system. Many of the New Yorkers, who walked everyday, during the transit strike, will end their trekking days at the conclusion of the strike with a cold. They will say their cold symptoms are a result of the cold weather. If so, thousands would have a cold. I say, those who do not have cold symptoms made appropriate lifestyle choices. Everyone has a choice to make wellness a primary choice of life.
Aromatherapy has been used for centuries as a healing art and to reduce the severity and duration of a cold or the flu. My selection of essential oils is dependent on whether there is an infection, there are large amounts of loose mucus or if the mucus is thick. The essential oils I've used for loose mucus include cajeput, eucalyptus radiata, myrtle, lemon and spike lavender. Thick mucus requires an essential oil that has expectorant properties such as aniseed, fennel, hyssop var. decumbens, rosemary and peppermint. Consideration is also given to emotional factors that may also be a part of the condition.
Cajeput, eucalyptus, lavender, lemon, rosemary and tea tree are some of the essential oils that support the immune system and inhibit the growth of micro-organisms such as E.coli and viruses. Black pepper has also been used to support and strengthen the immune system. To help prevent an infection from spreading to the sinuses, essential oils are best used at the onset of a common cold. In all instances, therapeutic quality, 100% essential oils are utilized.
Essential oils applied locally, as during a massage, are also inhaled. Therefore, there is a physiological response in addition to an olfactory response. Although aromatherapy is easily applied it's advisable to consult your aromatherapy practitioner for treatments. Prevention is the key in an antibiotic resistant environment. Aromatherapy, the choice to incorporate into a natural lifestyle to help boost the immune system. Live an aromatic lifestyle.
This article is free for republishing
Printed From: http://www.articlealley.com/article_21367_28.html
Back to the original article
Tags: runny noses, common colds, sore throats, poor nutrition, immune systems, lack of sleep, low immune system, microorganism, urinary tract infections, cold weather, cold winds, snow ice