Cold & Flu - Blends suggestions

Respiratory allergies are becoming widespread due to, in part, air pollution and eating the wrong foods. Most doctors miss the connection between digestion and respiration. All the fats and oils consumed in our daily diets eventually arrive in the lungs. Our favourite foods of butter, chocolate and fatty meats are all heavy with saturated fats. Eventually the mucous which is produced to trap dust and smoke, clogs us up. When the ‘mucociliary escalator’ fails due to insufficient or excess mucous, coughing is the body’s natural response. Excess mucous results in catarrhal congestion while insufficient mucous results in the dry cough, all exhausting with disturbed nights for the whole family.

Avoid excessive dairy, sugar and refined wheat and ensure you get enough vitamin C and bioflavonoids, fresh fruit and vegetables as well as regular exercise and deep breathing in the fresh air. Have aromatherapy back and chest massages, sensible nutrition, bed rest, sufficient fluids, steam inhalations, ensuring sufficient moisture in rooms during winter with a vaporiser, and avoiding smoke/fumes/dust.

SOME SUGGESTED ESSENTIAL OILS

Antiseptic and antibacterial essential oils include:

• Thymes
• Eucalyptus's
• Pine
• Hyssop var decumbens
• Sage
• Cajeput
• Niaouli
• Tea tree
• Lemon

Antispasmodics to calm spasms, asthma, dry and whooping cough include:

• Cedar
• Cajeput
• Clary sage
• Cypress
• Eucalyptus
• Hyssop var decumbens
• Frankincense
• Sandalwood
• Thyme

Expectorants to promote ejection of phlegm by coughing or spitting include:

• Aniseed
• Cajeput
• Fennel
• Eucalyptus,
• Frankincense
• Hyssop var decumbens
• Sweet inula
• Spike lavender
• Myrrh
• Myrtle
• Pine
• Sandalwood
• Thyme

Immunostimulants to strengthen and support by inhibiting micro-organisms (bacteria and viruses) and by boosting immunity include:

• Cajeput
• Eucalyptus
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Rosemary
• Tea tree

For those who love experimenting, you may wish to try a suggestion from Dr Penoel’s book Life Helping Life: In their respiratory blend they combine the monoterpenes of Balsam Fir, with the cineole of Eucalyptus Radiata and Niaouli. (Niaouli contains molecules that help relieve and prevent respiratory allergies. The Penoels advise adding it to all respiratory blends to reinforce the Eucalyptus.) These three oils will make a synergistic blend to loosen the mucous and decrease possible allergic reactions. In addition they add peppermint, spearmint, caraway and eucalyptus dives. Peppermint provides menthol and menthone while Caraway provides carvone. The piperitone from Eucalyptus Dives provides anti-infectious benefits.

The respiratory blend can be applied a tiny drop at a time to the first and second points of the lung meridian, the upper part of the sternum, on the groove of the radial pulse on the wrist, just under the fingernails and toenails, on the lung area of the feet (the ball of the foot), a trace on each side of the nostril, on the anterior fontanelle and on the bone behind and under the ear. If your dropper bottle is too large you can dip a fine toothpick into the blend and then be able to use trace amounts.

Apply a respiratory blend to the soles of your feet. Have some healthy and light food and extra rest. Dr Daniel and Rose-Marie Penoel write: “The area most closely connected to the nose and sinuses is the anterior fontanelle. One or two drops applied here can have a profound action in clearing thick secretions from your sinus cavities. Those of you who are especially sensitive will notice, along with your physical improvement, a feeling of greater calmness and inner peace.” They also recommend an inter-rib massage with a respiratory blend to remove knots and crystals that represent energy blocks

Herbal considerations include echinacea, liquorice root, marshmallow and ginger. Grandma’s old fashioned remedy of freshly grated ginger root with freshly squeezed lemon and a spoonful of raw honey in warm water will soothe sore throats and give the body a boost of vitamin C. If you can find Manuka or local honey, so much the better.

Cleansing the sinus areas and lungs begins by cleansing the digestive system. You can either make your own blend, or try one of our top 3 recommendations: