Essential oils are an effective and natural remedy for certain cold and flu symptoms… provided you use them well!
- There are about 500 essential oils that can treat various disorders such as headaches, insomnia, stress or joint pain.
- Essential oils should be used with caution as they can cause serious reactions.
Winter continues with its procession of colds, flu, bronchitis or various fatigues. To treat these ailments, more and more people are turning to essential oils, natural and effective remedies. Jacques Fleurentin, pharmacist from Moselle, wrote a book on this subject, entitled Good use of aromatherapy. Because if essential oils can heal us, they should not be used in any way.
What essential oils to use for healing?
There are approximately 500 different essential oils. They can treat headaches, insomnia, stress or joint pain. If you have a cold, Jacques Fleurentin recommends niaouli, a tree that grows in New Caledonia. This essential oil has antibacterial and antiviral properties. Then you can choose eucalyptus, in particular “globose or radiate eucalyptus”, explains the pharmacist. Niaouli and eucalyptus fight germs, bacteria and viruses. In case of flu, use thymol thyme, which is one of the most powerful oils.
Aromatherapy: do not consume pure essential oils
There are several ways to heal with essential oils. First, the oral intake. But be careful, they should not be consumed pure! Add a few drops to milk, honey or yogurt. Then the inhalation. Put a drop on a handkerchief or in hot water. Finally, some essential oils can be applied directly to the skin, carefully avoiding the mucous membranes, the nose, the eyes… You can also diffuse them at home, for example to purify the air.
Children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, chronically ill people… be careful!
Inhaling essential oils and applying them to the body is simple. But you have to use them with care! They are effective for small daily problems, but if it is more serious, you must consult a doctor. Essential oils come, by definition, in ultra-concentrated forms. They can cause serious reactions. Irritation, nausea and even convulsions. To avoid them, ask your pharmacist for advice.
In addition, essential oils are not recommended for children, pregnant or breastfeeding women, the elderly or those suffering from chronic diseases such as asthma. In 2017, the magazine 60 million consumers revealed side effects from the use of essential oils similar to those caused by endocrine disruptors, such as abnormal breast enlargement in young boys.