Essential Oils and Swine Flu

Lately I have been receiving a number of emails passing along information on Swine Flu and today was no exception. People are sharing lots of information and tips on various ways to keep oneself healthy and I believe that essential oils could be a wonderful defense at this time.

For those of you interested in see where Swine Flu is prevalent click on Google Maps' Swine Flu Tracker they will apparently be keeping this updated.

According to Wikipedia:

Swine influenza (also swine flu) refers to influenza caused by any strain of the influenza virus endemic in pigs (swine). Strains endemic in swine are called swine influenza virus (SIV). Of the three genera of human flu, two are endemic also in swine: Influenza virus A is common and Influenza virus C is rare. Influenza virus B has not been reported in swine. Within Influenza virus A and Influenza virus C, the strains endemic to swine and humans are largely distinct.

Swine flu is common in swine and rare in humans. People who work with swine, especially people with intense exposures, are at risk of catching swine influenza if the swine carry a strain able to infect humans. However, these strains rarely are able to pass from human to human. Rarely, SIV mutates into a form able to pass easily from human to human. In humans, the symptoms of swine flu are similar to those of influenza and influenza like illnesses in general, namely chills, fever, sore throat, muscle pains, severe headache, coughing, weakness and general discomfort.

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of Influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that derives in part from human influenza, avian influenza and two separate strains of swine influenza. The origins of this new strain are unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that it has not been isolated in swine. It passes with apparent ease from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention here are a list of things you can do to Stay Healthy

• Stay informed.
  
• Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.
• Take everyday actions to stay healthy.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.
• Stay home if you get sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

• Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.
• Develop a family emergency plan as a precaution. This should include storing a supply of food, medicines, face masks, alcohol-based hand rubs and other essential supplies.

And what about our essential oils - they all have some anti-viral components with some being more anti-viral than others. Incorporating them into our every day routine could certainly go a long way to keeping us healthy and disease free.

See our website for Ways in which essential oils can be used

Prevention is always the best approach and diffusing an essential oil synergy in your environment can be a very effective way of getting the essential oil molecules out into the air. Topical use of an essential oil synergy would allow you to take your preventative blend with you where ever you go. An anti-viral essential oil synergy could also be added to a liquid soap for washing your hands. It could also be added to a hand sanitizer.

Monoterpenes have air antiseptics, antiviral, bactericidal and decongestant and essential oils high in monoterpenes include Lemon (Citrus limonum), Frankincense (Boswellii cartari)and Sweet Marjoram (Origanum majorana) among others.

Phenols are powerful antiseptics and are a excellent stimulant for the immune system. Essentail oils high in phenos include Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare).
Caution: These can be skin irritants so use topically with respect.

Medieval doctors used to wear beaks filled with aromatic herbs and spices to keep them disease free. There is also the Legend of the Four Thieves Vinegar. There are a number of different versions of both the legend and the formula, but the story goes that there were four thieves who were looting homes and business abandoned by terrified or dead owners during the plague raging in the town of Toulouse in France in the 1630s. They were caught and the judge, amazed at their continued health offered to let them go free if they shared the secret of their resistance to the plague. While the ingredients in the formulas may vary a bit depending on the source, they do all seem to contain the same basic four aromatics of lavender, rosemary, sage and thyme. Many herbalists have made up a Four Thieves Vinegar containing these four herbs. All of these essential oils would certainly be worth considering adding to your synergy.

The article I have on the website Aromatherapy and the Common Cold lists essential oils which would be good used in synergies against Swine Flu as well as the Common Cold.

One of my favorite Germ Busting Synergies is:
8 drops Lavender
10 drops Lemon
5 drops Eucalyptus globulus
3 drops Geranium
3 drops Palmarosa

I use this on all my kitchen surfaces. Adding Thyme to this blend would make it even more anti-viral.

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