Avoid Getting Sick with these 8 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System

UK winters mean limited daylight hours and fairly cold temperatures.  These two factors may have a negative effect on your immune system making you more susceptible to bugs and colds.

Now is the perfect time to nourish and support your health to stay well throughout the Winter.

Here are 8 Natural Ways to help you avoid getting sick:

1). Start your day with Lemon Essential Oil

Lemon oil is a natural anti-depressant so it’s a great choice to create a happy morning mood.

Research also shows that lemon essential oil actually helps to increase your white blood cell count ^{[1] .}

These are vital cells that help your body fight infection.

 

2). Get to bed on time

Did you know that sleep is one of the body’s greatest healing mechanisms?

Crucial repair processes are taking place between the hours of 10pm and 2am so if you get to bed at midnight you are not allowing your body enough time to regenerate and fight off infections.

Lavender oil is an excellent sleep aid – it’s soporific which means it induces sleep.

If you need some help getting a good night’s sleep you may like the Peace Room & Linen Mist or the Sweet Dreams Gift Set.

Staying up worrying is not going to help you so do what you can to unwind and relax before bed.   I strongly advise against taking this time as an opportunity to catch up on the latest news!

Maybe take a 15-20 minute soak to unwind.

Here’s a summer bath recipe for you to try:

Bedtime Bath Recipe

1 drop Lemon essential oil
2 drops Frankincense essential oil
2 drops Rose Geranium essential oil
3 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
10ml Jojoba oil

Blend all of the above oils together and then add to running bath water followed by…

250g / 2 mugfuls of Epsom Salts.

The magnesium relaxes both your muscles and your mind and is wonderful at reducing stress and encouraging a good night’s sleep

Soak for 15 minutes minimum – ideally 20 minutes.

 

3). Fresh lemon juice to start the day

This is one of the kindest things you can do for your general health and wellbeing all year around and it’s so easy too!

Every morning squeeze the juice of half an organic lemon into a cup of warm water and drink.

This is a wonderful way to gently support your liver and help your body rid itself of toxins more easily.

 

4). Make staying hydrated fun!

 

Did you know that good hydration helps you absorb vitamins and minerals? 

Jazz up your glass of water by adding fresh fruits and herbs

Some good choices are fresh lemon, orange, mint and cucumber but there are no no’s here – experiment and find a combination that you love.

 

5).  Switch off

There is a lot of bad news in circulation so I recommend limiting your time consuming news that will ultimately have a negative impact on your health.

Limit your time spent on social media and take control by turning off notifications that you don’t really need.

Fear in itself creates stress and this in turn weakens your immune system.

 

6). Use Anti Viral Essential Oils

Various studies have shown that essential oils have powerful antimicrobial and antiviral properties and an excellent blog by Salvatore Battaglia, author, teacher and aromatherapy expert explains some of the findings.  To read his full blog, which is technical click here.  Key points detailed below….

“One study found in the vapour phase, essential oils such as Bergamot, Eucalyptus, Geranium, Cinnamon, Lemongrass and Thyme oil were very active against influenza virus after only 10 minutes exposure.^“

“The results of an Australian study demonstrated that vaporised tea tree oil was very effective as an antiviral for airborne influenza virus. The study found tea tree oil was able to achieve complete virus inactivation.”

“The researchers reported that the essential oils antiviral activity may be on the (two) principal membrane proteins of the influenza virus….Most essential oils inhibited viral activity of one of the proteins and only Cinnamon inhibited viral activity of both proteins mentioned.”

Battaglia has focused on studies examining the antiviral activity of essential oils vaporised on airborne influenza viruses and provides this blend to use in a diffuser or oil burner.

• 5 drops of Blue Mallee Eucalyptus
• 4 drops Tea Tree
• 1 drop of Cinnamon Bark

As a Clinical Aromatherapist I often make bespoke oil blends for my clients and have an organic oil blend of this recipe in stock in a 10ml dropper bottle for £14 for existing therapy clients (consultation already completed). Order here.
and for £19 for those who need a consultation. Order here.

Email me if you have any questions.

6).  Laugh out loud!

Laughter is a great healer.

When we laugh lots of positive stress releasing hormones are released.

Make some time to re-visit your favourite comedy film or comedian sketches or cartoons that you loved when you were growing up.  There is so much freely available on YouTube.

Take some time out whether it’s listening to your favourite podcast, reading a great book, or watch a comedy film.

Try to re-balance the doom and gloom and scare-mongering that is taking place and keep things in perspective.

 

7.)  Foot Massage

A five-minute foot massage brought about relaxation to critical care patients, helping to reduce their stress levels and measurably reducing blood pressure and heart rate.

This was discovered in a 1999 study undertaken by a team of researchers from the University of Hertfordshire and published in the Intensive and Critical Care Nursing journal. ^[2]

Lower stress levels = better immunity so why not ask your friend or loved one to give you a 5 minute foot massage?

Or book yourself in for an aromatherapy foot massage here and enjoy a full 30 minutes.

Immune boosting blends available on request.

I hope you have found this helpful and as always if you have any questions leave a comment below or message me.

I’d love to hear which of the seven tips is your favourite – let me know and comment below.

References

1] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1142199/

2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10595045