We are definitely into cold, flu, and “stomach bug” season. In my last post, I looked at some natural ways to help boost the immune system. Essential oils- especially those in Verefina’s Immunity Line- are an important part of my family’s tool kit for preventing illness. The products in this line are made with a blend of five essential oils (clove, cinnamon, lemon, eucalyptus, and rosemary) that help eliminate germs from the home and support the immune system naturally. In addition to the Immunity Line, other essential oils can also help keep the germs at bay.

Essential Oils and the Immune System

Essential oils play a variety of roles in the plants that produce them. They carry vital substances- such as trace minerals, vitamins, amino acid precursors, and oxygen- to all parts of the plant. They also serve as a defense for plants. Many essential oils contain antimicrobial compounds that help protect plants from certain bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

Essential oils can carry out some of these same functions in the human body. They are fat-soluble, so they pass through the lipid (fatty) barrier around our cells, delivering oxygen and nutrients and improving the overall health of cells.

The Verefina Immunity Line

There are seven products in the Immunity Line, so you can choose the ones that work best for you and your family.

Immunity Full Strength

Immunity Full Strength contains the blend of immunity essential oils in an undiluted form. Immunity Full Strength can be used in a diffuser or added to a spray bottle of water and misted into the air. When sprayed or diffused in the air, essential oils can help kill airborne microbes (source). Immunity Full Strength can also be used topically after it is diluted with a carrier oil, such as almond, sunflower, apricot, or Fractionated Coconut Oil. For general health maintenance apply Immunity Oil to the bottoms of the feet (essential oils are absorbed more quickly through the skin on the feet). Immunity Full Strength can also be rubbed into the chest, throat, and behind the ears during illness. ALWAYS dilute before putting Immunity Full Strength on the skin.

Immunity Pre-Diluted Roll-On

The Pre-Diluted Roll-On is an easy and convenient way to use our Immunity Oil. Already diluted with sunflower oil, the roll-on comes ready to use. Simply roll on the bottoms of feet (or other areas when sick) as needed.

Pre-Diluted Dropper

The 1-ounce Pre-Diluted Dropper is also ready to use. Apply it to the bottoms of feet, or use it to refill the Roll-On.

Immunity Multi-Purpose Spray

There are a variety of uses for this spray: air freshener, hand sanitizer, and non-toxic surface cleaner. Use it on countertops, door knobs, toilets, or any other area that requires non-toxic, antimicrobial cleaning.

Immunity Coconut Hand Lotion

This light, fast-absorbing lotion deeply moisturizes hands without leaving a greasy feeling behind. Get the benefits of our Immunity Oil in this popular lotion.

Immunity Roll-On and 1-Ounce Refill Package

Save money when you buy our Immunity Roll-On and Refill Package. When the roll-on is empty, simply remove the top, and refill it with the dropper.

Hand Sanitizer Spray

Our brand new Hand Sanitizer Spray comes in a 1-ounce bottle, so it’s ideal for travel or to keep in a purse or backpack. So this product is absolutely fantastic to have on hand any time of the year, and is especially helpful during the winter months.

Caution: The Immunity Oils should always be diluted before applying to the skin. To test for reactions, put a small amount in one area, and wait at least 24 hours before using on larger areas of the skin. Immunity Oils may need to be further diluted for young children. Pregnant women should consult with a healthcare practitioner before using essential oils.

Other Essential Oils for Preventing Illness

In addition to the oils in the Immunity Line, other essential oils can be used in various ways to help keep everyone in the family healthy. As I mentioned above, many essential oils have antimicrobial properties, so they make excellent household cleaners. Lavender, oregano, and tea tree essential oils, for example, can all be added to a spray bottle with water or a mixture of water and white vinegar to make potent, yet non-toxic, surface cleaners. Our DIY Cleaning Kit also contains essential oils, soap, and containers for making your own 100% natural All-Purpose Cleaner, Surface Scrub, and Glass Cleaner.

Recent research has shown that a compound in oregano essential oil, carvacrol, has the potential to help prevent the spread of norovirus, the microbe that causes most cases of the dreaded “stomach bug” in the U.S. Carvacrol has been found in laboratory settings to have the capacity to damage norovirus. A 2014 study at the University of Arizona found that carvacrol can break down the outer protein layer of the virus, making it easier for other antiviral agents to act on it. Dr. Kelly Bright, who led the study, stated that "carvacrol could potentially be used as a food sanitizer and possibly as a surface sanitizer, particularly in conjunction with other antimicrobials. We have some work to do to assess its potential but carvacrol has a unique way of attacking the virus, which makes it an interesting prospect” (source). It is important to note that carvacrol itself does not kill the virus, but makes it easier for a second antimicrobial to do so. Further research may show that oregano essential oil in combination with other essential oils is effective in ridding surfaces of norovirus.

The winter months can bring various illnesses, but Verefina’s Essential Oils can help support your natural immunity and keep germs from spreading.

Which essential oils do you use to stay healthy?

Sources:

“Could Pizza Herb Prevent Winter Vomiting Disease?” EurekAlert!. 11 February 2014. Web. 12 November 2015.

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2014-02/w-cph021014.php

Friedman M., Henika P.R., Levin C.E., and Mandrell R.E. “Antibacterial activities of plant essential oils and their components against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enterica in apple juice.” PubMed. September 2004. Web. 8 October 2015.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15366861

Fu Y., Zu Y., Chen L., Shi X., Wang Z., Sun S., and Efferth T. “Antimicrobial Activity of Clove and Rosemary Essential Oils Alone and in Combination” PubMed. October 2007. Web. 8 October 2015.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17562569

Goldberg, Jane G. “More Than a Scent: Essential Oils Aid the Immune System.” Huffington Post. 9 August 2011. Web. 8 October 2015.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jane-g-goldberg-phd/essential-oils-health_b_868303.html

Photo courtesy of Verefina

About the Author

Katie Zapotoczny is a Verefina Affiliate and the creator of An Ever Green Life, a blog that seeks to empower readers to make changes that will improve their health and help protect our environment.