10 BEST Essential Oils to Relieve Conditions of Common Cold and Flu
Enjoy this article about the best essential oils to use to feel better and help get rid of common cold and flu symptoms so you can feel better in the process. There is strong evidence essential oils may also help prevent you from getting sick, speed recovery, and stay well. Find out how to use essential oils to fight cold and flu.
I wrote recently about natural remedies and herbal remedies you should either have ready to go or at least have the ingredients for this Fall. This is because cold and flu season is upon us! I’ve already run across those who are too sick to leave home, and I just know the “yuck” is going to start flowing through populated areas soon.
What about essential oils? I always laugh at this saying of the MLM distributors, “There’s an oil for that.”
Well, often (but not always, obviously) there is.
Colds and flus are no exception. There are several great essential oils that are good to use during times of cold and flu that may shorten the duration of illness and have actions on the body that can help you feel better as your body’s immune system fights off the bug.
Personally, I like to combine my herbal practice with the use of essential oils. They work synergistically together to make a wonderful health team! Take a look at my free email course on herbal foundations to see how I use both together. As both a practicing herbalist and certified professional aromatherapist, I love both herbs and oils for wellness.
Many people new to natural health seem to be more comfortable using essential oils than herbs as they have become more and more mainstream in recent years. This article is going to concentrate on the best essential oils to use for helping with the common cold.
With the rampant overuse of antibiotics, cold and flu bacteria have become resistant to pharmaceutical antibiotics and even OTC drugs to one extent or another.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), some bacteria are able to defeat the antibiotics used to kill them due to their overuse. Source The research also states that this is one of the biggest dangers to the public’s health, which is not surprising.
Essential oils and plant medicines are the best ways to go for results in keeping the flu bug away and getting it gone sooner. Not to mention, dealing with the ugly and unpleasant symptoms can be dealt with easily, inexpensively, and effectively with old fashioned home remedies, in my own experience.
Here are my favorite essential oils to have ready to go for cold and flu season right now!
You have some wonderful plant allies to help you out if you get sick, especially if you take a look at the articles in the links above for natural home remedies you can easily make, too.
FTC Disclosure: There are affiliate links scattered throughout this article. If you click through and make any kind of purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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What is a Bad Cold? The Science…
A cold is caused by one of over 200 identified viruses, the most common being strains of the rhinovirus. Since there are so many viruses that cause a cold, there is no way anyone could have built up the antibodies needed to fight them all off.
Since colds are caused by viruses, this means that antibiotic your doctor may hand you may be more for your mental benefit than being effective against getting rid of the cold.
Most colds just have to run their course. They can take (normally) anywhere from a week to 10 days to progress to recovery, although you can speed recovery naturally if you know what to do.
According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) most adults will get two to three colds a year, while children may get up to 12 per year! This statistic was shocking to me, I’ll be honest. Before I started using herbs and essential oils, I definitely fell into that range.
But since I began using herbs and essential oils many years ago? Well, I can actually count the number of colds I’ve had on one hand. Pretty amazing.
Symptoms of a Bad Cold
Symptoms of a cold are slightly different than those of a flu. Bad colds generally result in:
congestion (Find out how to make the BEST natural decongestant)
stuffy or runny nose (Find out how to get rid of a stuffy or runny nose)
aches and pains, especially in the bones (a sign that your immune system is working)
sore throat (Click here for my throat soothing tea)
dry throat
mild headache
fever
blocked up, congested nose
And once in awhile, with very, very bad colds, people may experience chills, fever, and weakness.
Colds CAN lead to other complications if they are not handled properly or for people who are high risk, such as children or infants, the elderly, and the immune-compromised. Some of these complications include strep throat, trigger an asthma attack, sinusitis, bronchitis, and/or ear infection.
Fall and winter are the most common seasons for bad colds, but you can get a cold any time of the year. It’s best to just prevent a cold by following good hygiene habits, reducing stress, staying away from people who are ill, and getting enough rest.
BEST Essential Oils to Have Ready to Fight a Bad Cold and Help With Unpleasant Symptoms
Well, DARN it all! You got a cold? I’ve sure been there.
Well, here are some essential oils you can keep on hand to help fight that cold right off. These are the same ones I keep in my own home!
Here is a rundown of the most powerfully effective essential oils for dealing with colds:
1) Eucalyptus essential oil:
Eucalyptus comes from a tall evergreen tree, often known as a “gum” tree. The chemicals that make eucalyptus so effective are Eucalyptol and alpha-terpineol. Eucalyptus is a cooling and soothing essential oil that helps with relaxation.
It’s wonderful vapor helps clear difficult breathing and nasal airways, helping you feel better more quickly.
Eucalyptus is a wonderful cleaning essential oil, too, and will kill a certain number of pathogens. I like to use it in cleaning sprays.
One quick way to use eucalyptus is to drop a few drops just outside the water flow of your shower. The steam will carry it up and help clear you relax and breathe easier.
NOTE: Eucalyptus should not be used near the faces of children under 10 years. Diffusion for short periods is fine.
2) Tea Tree essential oil:
I love Tea Tree essential oil, although that was not always the case. It has very potent antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic and anti-fungal properties. It helps with congestion when applied to the chest area in a carrier oil. Dilute 10 drops in a 10 mL roller bottle. If you have a cough, it may help soothe it.
Tea tree essential oil is probably the best germ-fighting essential oil in this list! Use it for cleaning to help keep the bugs gone.
Be sure to use proper dilution for children and special populations. You can find out more in my Ultimate Essential Oil Reference Guide.
3) Peppermint essential oil:
Peppermint essential oil is a gentle yet powerful ally in helping with winter time ailments like the cold and flu. It contains a great amount of menthol, which opens airways and helps breathing.
It’s also useful for soothing headache and helping with digestive issues. When used in combination with eucalyptus, you’ll have a wonderful natural way to soothe congestion. You can find out more about Peppermint essential oil here.
Peppermint is wonderful for helping with sinus headaches. It’s also cooling to the body.
NOTE: Peppermint is another essential oil that best diffused and not used near the faces of children under age 10 due to the menthol content. Find out more about using peppermint safely for special populations and animals in my Ultimate Essential Oil Reference Guide!
Peppermint contains menthol, which helps clear up congestion. It’s also cooling and soothing.
Want to learn how to use herbs safely and effectively? Take the FREE 5-Day Herbal Foundations email course and start making home remedies today!
4) Rosemary essential oil:
I just love Rosemary essential oil! It’s a fabulous essential oil for stimulating the immune system, as well as its antimicrobial capabilities. When combined with essential oils that help breathing and congestion, it enhances the actions of the other essential oils because of its high camphor content.
Rosemary essential oil also helps with lymph flow. This helps get the bugs out of your system faster!
One other excellent way rosemary helps with cold and flu is if you have brain fog or any kind of difficulty with focus. It’s excellent as a supporting stimulant for brain health.
NOTE: Rosemary should be used with caution if you have high blood pressure as it affects a small number of people. There are no actual studies at this time that state this. Speak to your doctor first.
You can find out a lot more about rosemary essential oil here.
5) Lavender essential oil:
Lavender essential oil is calming and soothing. When you have a cold, your body is stressed. Trying to breathe through a stuffed up nose is just no fun. When you add a few drops of lavender essential oil to your remedy choices, you’re giving your body a chance to be calmed and soothed.
Lavender has a compound called linalool in high amounts. This compound is what helps calm a tense body and a anxious mind. By helping your body calm down, you are giving it a better chance to rest—-and that helps you get better faster.
Rosemary and Lavender are both excellent plant allies to help you fight cold and flu symptoms.
6) Ginger essential oil:
Ginger essential oil is warming and stimulating and is soothing for inflammation. It’s been proven to kill strains of the rhinovirus, so if you have a bad cold coming on….get your ginger out to diffuse.
Since it is a warming essential oil, you would not want to use it if you are trying to calm down. But rubbing some diluted ginger essential oil (5-10 drops in a 10 mL roller bottle) on your throat may just help may it feel better fast!
7) Sage essential oil:
Sage is a crazy germ fighting power house! Along with its anti-microbial properties, sage is an expectorant that helps dry and tone inflammation with wet mucous. It’s great for soothing coughs. Diffuse a few drops in the air to help give your house a clean feeling.
Rubbing some diluted sage essential oil (5-10 drops in a 10mL roller bottle) with come carrier oil onto swollen lymph nodes may help soothe and move the lymph fluid.
Sage is also great for your memory and brain health. If you have brain fog along with your cold and flu symptoms, consider some sage, lemon, and rosemary!
Ginger is warming and stimulating, helping with body aches.
8) Frankincense essential oil:
Oh….Frankincense. One of my most favorite essential oils of all. You can find out some INSANE things you need to know about Frankincense essential oil here.
But as far as a cold goes?
Well, frankincense happens to be astringent, expectorant, disinfectant, and anti-inflammatory. You can combine frankincense with any of the oils on this list for a great boost for getting that cold gone faster. Like sage, it is helpful in moving lymph and getting the toxins gone from your body.
9) Oregano (or Thyme) essential oil:
Oregano essential oil is one of the “hot” oils. Be sure you dilute this essential oil well. I actually had a friend who burned the bottoms of her feet with a distributor from one of the big multi-level marketing companies told her to rub this essential oil on her soles. She neglected to tell her to dilute it WELL.
Oregano has some pretty powerful germ fighting characteristics. It’s great to diffuse in small amounts for cleaning the air. Just be aware your home may smell like a pizza. :-)
Personally, I prefer thyme (Thymus vulgaris ct. linalool). This essential oil contains linalool which is calming while also providing strong antimicrobial benefits.
This nebulizer is one way you can diffuse your essential oils.
10) Black Pepper essential oil:
Black pepper essential oil is a warming and stimulating essential oil, much like rosemary is. It can be helpful if you feel a low fever, as it can help you sweat, having diaphoretic action. You can apply a few drops to a warm moist washcloth to make a compress for your forehead.
Black pepper can also be used diluted in massage oil to help with achy muscles. Combined with some ginger essential oil, and you have a lovely anti-inflammatory combination.
NOTE: Be sure to dilute black pepper essential oil appropriately if applying to the skin.
Where Should You Buy Your Essential Oils?
Let’s first discuss where NOT to buy your essential oils. This is IMPORTANT!
1) DO NOT purchase from small businesses who purchase bulk essential oils on the cheap then rebottle them under their own brand name. You are nearly 100% likely to be getting adulterated and/or poor quality essential oil. If the business isn’t a recommended aromatherapy business, just don’t bother. Please.
Also, I want to mention that these business owners will sometimes even lie straight to your face and tell you they “know” ALL the farms and farmers where they buy their oils from. This is impossible. If your gut is telling you the oils may be shady, they probably are.
2) NEVER buy from grocery stores, chain stores, and even health food stores. You’re just not going to get quality, and you’re more likely purchasing essential oils with adulterants.
3) DO NOT buy from places like Amazon or from sites where you can get large amounts (1 ounce or more) for just a few dollars.
I like to purchase my essential oils from companies I’ve researched and am familiar with.
Here is an article about my criteria for how to choose a good essential oil company, if you’d like to take a look. The links in the article above are for Amazon, for your convenience, though.
Right now, I personally buy my essential oils from
Rocky Mountain Oils (I love this company for many reasons, which you can find in the link about finding a good company, above),
Starwest Botanicals (great quality, and you can purchase in higher quantities for soap making, etc.), and
Plant Therapy ( I love that they have a Kid Safe line of essential oils that you can feel confident using.
There are many great companies not mentioned here, though, so don’t think you need to stick with just these. Also, I always get asked about the big MLM (multi-level marketing) companies. Yes, their oils (I’m talking DoTerra and Young Living) are high quality. I tend not to purchase from them because their business structure makes the prices sometimes ridiculously high.
I hope those choices help give you a good starting place!
You might enjoy watching the video above, where I discuss the best essential oils for seasonal allergies. These can also be useful for cold and flu symptoms too.
Final Thoughts About Using Essential Oils for Cold and Flu
These germ-busting, symptom-relieving essential oils are wonderful to keep around your home in all the seasons, but especially during times when you have the cold or a flu!
These essential oils are special because they also will also serve a variety of purposes in your home. You can find out more by clicking through any links to articles I added here.
You may also be interested in these articles and videos:
The 10 Best Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies (article)
10 Best Essential Oils for Seasonal Allergies (video)
Natural Remedies to Have Ready for Fall (article)
12 Home Remedies to Help You Feel Better When You Have a Cold or Flu (article)
Sinus Congestion Roller Bottle for Kids and Adults (video)
Why I Became an Herbalist (video)
Also, I’d love to hear what you think and if you have ideas for favorite recipes using essential oils you like to use in your home for your family? Leave a comment in the comments section!
Hugs, Health, and Self-Reliance,
Heidi
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Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. No statement made here (or anywhere else by me) is meant or implied to treat, cure, diagnose, or prevent any disease or illness. Please seek advice from your medical professional. Also, always seed medical advice before using herbs or essential oils, as many of these can interact with medications or affect pregnant/nursing women, the elderly, children, or the immune-compromised.
Resources:
https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/about/antibiotic-resistance-faqs.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2994788/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/13678235
https://tisserandinstitute.org/essential-oils-flu/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435909/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2221169115001033
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/common-cold/symptoms-causes/syc-20351605
