Influenza is an infection caused by a virus of the influenza family. It occurs most often in winter and sometimes gives rise to epidemics. The most common symptoms are: fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle and joint pain and tension, headache, cough, feeling very tired. These symptoms usually appear two days after exposure to the virus and usually last less than a week. However, the cough may persist for up to two weeks. In this file, we offer you simple, 100% natural and very effective remedies to help you prevent or treat the flu and all its symptoms as quickly as possible.
The best essential oils against the flu!
The flu virus has got you! Here is our most effective formula to help your immune system better fight flu viruses. Take from the first symptoms!!!
Prepare a massage oil based on:
- 50 ml d'safflower oil
- 20 drops of essential oil ravintsara
- 20 drops ofradiated eucalyptus essential oil
- 10 drops ofniaouli essential oil
- 20 drops of essential oil expensive
How to use it ?
Massage the back and chest 3 times a day for 3 days. You can also ingest half a teaspoon of this mixture twice a day for 2 to 3 days.
Inhalation with essential oils for sore throat or dry cough
Add 2-3 drops of sandalwood, cedarwood, and frankincense essential oil to a bowl of hot water and inhale the vapors for 5-10 minutes. In case of infection use tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus oils. Repeat at least twice a day.
IN ADDITION: In order to neutralize potential germs which are the cause of your dry cough or in addition to appropriate treatment, diffuse twice a day (in an essential oil diffuser):
- 2 drops of oil essential of niaouli
- 2 drops of essential oil cypress
- 2 drops ofeucalyptus globulus essential oil
- 2 drops ofravintsara essential oil
How to use it ?
A mister is also ideal because a room that is too dry encourages coughing. If you can, use an air humidifier.
Boost your immune defenses against the flu with ravintsara essential oil
Boost your immune defenses against the flu with ravintsara essential oil
In case of severe fatigue, or as a preventative measure during epidemics (flu, winter viruses, etc.), take a 2-week treatment with the following mixture:
- 1 teaspoon ofhemp oil (unique for its content of vitamins A, B1, B3, B4, B6 and E, proteins, carotene, minerals, omega-3 and 6, essential fatty acids...etc)
- 1 drop ofravintsara essential oil
- 1 drop of essential oil citron
How to use it ?
Take in the morning and evening for 2 weeks.
Wintergreen essential oil for flu-related muscle aches and pains
Prepare a massage oil based on:
- 25 ml of arnica macerate
- 25 ml of St. John's wort macerate
- 30 drops ofwintergreen essential oil
- 20 drops ofhe of fine lavender
- 10 drops ofhe of peppermint
How to use it ?
Place a few drops of this mixture on the painful muscle, massage 3 times a day until completely absorbed.Contraindications:
These synergies should not be used in pregnant women (during the entire pregnancy), breastfeeding women and children under 8 years old.
These properties and methods of use do not constitute medical advice. For therapeutic use consult a doctor.
How do you catch the flu virus?
Every year, influenza spreads rapidly around the world when the virus first appears. Between 3 and 5 million people are seriously affected every year.
During an epidemic you have to be very careful not to be infected and be careful not to pass it on if you already have it!
Since the skin is quite airtight, the flu virus cannot penetrate it easily! but this is not the case for mucous membranes. It is therefore through the mucous membranes that the virus can generally infect you: more particularly in the eyes, nose and mouth.
Typically, the virus is spread through the air through coughing or sneezing. But it is wrong to think that this virus only spreads over relatively short distances. It can in fact also be present on contaminated palpable objects (money, hands, public transport, etc.). All you have to do is touch your mouth or eyes to transfer the virus and potentially be contaminated. A person can carry and transmit the virus both before and during the appearance of symptoms. Therefore all contact must be reduced to a minimum because the flu is an extremely contagious virus (the incubation period of the virus is 12 to 24 hours, the person remains contagious during the first 3 days when they present symptoms).
Our advice to avoid catching the flu:
Here are our tips for reducing the risk of catching the flu during epidemic periods:
- Wash your hands as often as possible to reduce the risk of infection because the virus is eliminated with soap
- Avoid regularly touching your eyes and mouth without washing your hands properly beforehand.
- Ventilate spaces (office, house, apartment)
- Avoid physical contact as much as possible
- Diffuse essential oils with virucidal properties
NOTE: To limit transmission, it is important to sneeze by covering your mouth with your elbow and not with your hand. If a person carrying the flu virus sneezes with their hand over their mouth and then shakes your hand 1 hour later. It is then very likely that if this person did not wash their hands, your hands now carry the virus. You rub your eyes and that's how you can get the flu.
TOP 5 of the best essential oils for the flu!
Essential oils can help prevent the flu but also limit the severity of symptoms once you get sick.
To prevent the development of viral infections you must strengthen your immune system. During winter, boost your immune system with garlic, vitamin E and vitamin C. Stick to a healthy diet as much as possible. Many essential oils can boost your immunity and help your body resist or fight infection, for example tea tree oil. Also consult the recipe “Boost your immune defenses with ravintsara essential oil” in the recipe section of this article.
Use essential oils of tea tree, radiant eucalyptus, cineol rosemary in a diffuser, especially during flu epidemics.
At the first signs of infection, take a hot bath adding 8-10 drops of tea tree essential oil diluted in a spoon of olive oil. Then go to bed immediately. Lavender, marjoram or chamomile essential oils can also be used in the bath to soothe the body and promote sleep.
To fight against respiratory infections and sore throats, mix 2-3 drops of each essential oil in a glass of lukewarm water: tea tree, clary sage, radiant eucalyptus. Mix and gargle at least 2 to 3 times a day.
To reduce fever, massage the lower neck, chest and feet with the following mixture: 4 to 5 drops of each following essential oil: tea tree, lemon eucalyptus, cloves diluted in 25 ml of vegetable oil. Repeat the massages twice a day.
There are many essential oils that canhelp relieve the various symptoms of the flu such as the essential oil of cinnamon leaves, lemon, cypress,radiated eucalyptus, globular eucalyptus, d'hélichryse, niaouli, ravintsara, sage, thyme and others.
The most effective are the following essential oils:
TEA TREE ESSENTIAL OIL:
The most complete and effective essential oil in case of flu due to its powerful antiviral, bactericidal and immunostimulating properties. It is also a diaphoretic essential oil in case of fever: it promotes perspiration and helps reduce fever. It is also very effective (in a glass of water) as a gargle to relieve sore throats.
RAVINTSARA ESSENTIAL OIL:
It is a powerful immune system booster and one of the most powerful antiviral essential oils.
Tonic, powerful energizer, antiviral, powerful anti-infectious, antibacterial, painkiller, antispasmodic, muscle relaxant, expectorant, strengthens the immune system, neurotonic, balancing, positive, expectorant, clears the respiratory tract.
Widely used in cases of nose and throat infections, flu, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, colds. It clears the respiratory tract and strengthens the immune system. It is also effective in cases of physical and nervous fatigue.
LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL:
Preventive and curative against all viral or bacterial infections. It purifies the air and kills germs from contagious infections such as colds and flu.
RADIATED EUCALYPTUS ESSENTIAL OIL:
It is an essential oil widely used to treat winter illnesses and infections. Radiated eucalyptus essential oil is particularly suitable for treating many problems related to the respiratory tract, bronchi and nose (allergy, bronchitis). , rhinopharyngitis, sinusitis). It has a huge number of virtues which make it a reference oil in many areas of application: ear infections, air purification, in cases of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nasal cavity, in prevention of winter infections (flu type, colds), to strengthen the immune system, coughs, infected acne. It is also a very useful invigorating essential oil in cases of general fatigue.
NIAOULI ESSENTIAL OIL:
Very versatile, Niaouli essential oil stimulates the immune system. It relieves the most common viral infections such as tonsillitis, ear infections and the flu. Very powerful antiviral, anti-bacterial, anti-infectious, antifungal, anti-parasitic, venous and lymphatic decongestant, febrifuge, it also stimulates the immune system.
Cure and treat flu symptoms naturally with essential oils?
Generally we do not treat the virus itself, but only the symptoms.
- Sore throat:
Sore throat often accompanies respiratory infections and the flu. This is often the first sign of an illness and immediate treatment will prevent the infection from developing or at least limit the duration of the illness. Sore throat is caused by irritation and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and throat and can be very painful. If possible stop smoking and keep your neck and chest warm, rest your voice as much as possible. Inhalations of water vapor mixed with 2 drops of tea tree essential oil are an effective treatment for sore throat. You can also mix a drop of tea tree essential oil with a drop of Niaouli in a teaspoon of honey to relieve pain and reduce inflammation (2 to 3 times a day). - Fever:
This is a physical state, when the body temperature is higher than normal (i.e. more than 37°C). Fever is a vital and very useful reaction, it accelerates metabolism and strengthens the immune system. It is not recommended to overeat if you have a fever as the digestion process then uses up the energy needed to fight the infection, but it is important to drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. When the fever begins to subside, choose foods that are easy to digest, such as soups, rice, steamed vegetables. To help fight infection and stimulate your immune system, massage your back and chest with 1 drop of ravintsara essential oil + 1 drop of radiant eucalyptus + 5 drops of organic vegetable oil (twice a day).
If fever persists for several days or increases, seek medical attention immediately. Stay in bed and stay warm. - Headaches:
Headaches are common during periods of fever and flu. To relieve pain, apply cold compresses of rose, chamomile or lavender hydrosol to the forehead and temples. Drinking mint tea can also help relieve headaches. For more information on headaches and appropriate care, see our dedicated article: https://www.mycosmetik.fr/blog/huiles-essentielles-contre-mal-de-tete-et-migraine-n9 - Cough:
Coughing is a reflex that aims to clear the airways. It mainly appears during infections or allergies. To treat cough, it is necessary to identify your type of cough - dry, wet or congested. Stop smoking, keep warm and especially the neck and chest are the first reflexes to have. You can also drink herbal teas and inhale steam in case of dry cough during the flu. See our articles on wet cough: https://www.mycosmetik.fr/blog/huiles-essentielles-contre-toux-grasse-n11
What are the symptoms of the flu?
Depending on a person's general state of health, symptoms can be mild or much more serious (according to the Pasteur Institute, influenza causes between 1,500 and 2,000 deaths each year). Particular attention should be paid to people with a weaker immune system: young children, the elderly and people with health problems.
The first symptoms of the flu may appear one or two days after contamination. Usually chills or a feeling of cold are the first symptoms of the flu. Fever may also be present from the first days with a body temperature between 38 and 39°C. If the virus is very aggressive, it is not uncommon to be forced to stay in bed for several days. This state of fatigue is generally accompanied by stiffness in the neck as well as muscle pain throughout the body, mainly in the back and legs. In children, gastrointestinal symptoms may also appear, such as diarrhea or abdominal pain.
Recognize and differentiate between cold and flu
In the early stages of the illness, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold and the flu, but the flu can later be identified by a warmer fever and a sudden feeling of very tiredness accompanied by muscle stiffness.
WARNING: The flu can lead to serious complications, in particular triggering secondary infections of the respiratory system which can lead to various severe pathologies (acute bronchitis, pneumonia, etc.).
Daily advice against the flu
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially mint or elderberry teas, hot water with ginger or lemon slices and honey.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, especially those with a high vitamin C content, lots of garlic and onions, they increase resistance to infections and help fight the virus more quickly.
- During epidemics, wash your hands as often as possible to reduce the risk of infection because soap neutralizes the virus.
- During illness, stay in bed and rest, avoid contact with other people. Stay warm.
- Boost your immune system (see our recipe at the beginning of this file).
- Avoid physical contact with family members, work colleagues and anyone in public places during outbreaks.
- Ventilate your living rooms as much as possible.
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