How Essential Oils Positively Affect the Immune System

Guest Post By Julie Manchester
The Merry-Go-Round of Disease

The role of a healthy immune system is to guard against disease, but a compromised immune system will likely give hints that it is not doing so well. Cues such as chronic inflammation, mucous build-up, skin lesions, and on-going fatigue all are signals that the immune system defenses are weakened.

Weakening these humoral and cell-mediated defenses, known largely as B and T cells, can result in the onset of disease. Once a body has acquired a disease, the capacity of the immune system to maintain wellness is reduced and thus a vicious merry-go-round is created.
Using Essential Oils for Immune Support

In these modern times, many are familiar with the stress-relieving qualities of essential oils as well as their antimicrobial properties. Such characteristics of essential oils are helpful in supporting a fully functional immune system; stress and microbes are known to weaken its army of defenses. Few are aware that essential oils can actually strengthen the capacity of the immune system directly to fight off foreign invaders.

Fighting off Disease

When we bang our leg, get a sliver in our hand or cross paths with infectious entities the immune system is recruited and responds with inflammation - a tool to heal damaged cells and tissue. This initial inflammatory response is vital to restoring the injured area, yet prolonged inflammation can lead to a number of debilitating and often painful diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer.

Research has established that essential oils have the ability to inhibit detrimental inflammatory processes that contribute to disease. Scientists are now investigating the actually mechanisms by which essential oils can enhance the immune system directly.

Melaleuca EO Helps Out

At the Laboratoire de Botanique in France (2006) researchers were able to identify that Melaleuca alternifolia was able to regulate the amount of inflammatory-causing secretions found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).

In so doing, natural anti-inflammatory agents, known as cytokines, were still able to be created and thus able to boost the body's ability to protect and restore itself. This in itself is quite a finding, especially for individuals suffering from conditions associated with chronic inflammation.

Engulfing Pathogens with Niaouli

Once a pathogen gets into the cells, it is looking to replicate and destroy tissue, often resulting in painful infections. A branch of the immune system is designated to engulf cellular invaders and send lymphocytes (T cells) to destroy these foreign bodies.

At Jeonju University, Korea (2008), researchers found that niaouli essential oil (from an Australian evergreen) was able to enhance the effect of cell-mediated immunity (one of two major branches of the immune system). Researchers support clinical use of niaouli essential oil to control infectious diseases.

Ginger EO Controls Immune

The Institute of Neurobiology and Molecular Medicine in Italy (2008) found that Eucalyptus essential oil actually stimulates a component of the immune system known as macrophages. These immune cells are one of the primary defenses against pathogens invading our human cells.

Using in vivo (in rats) and in vitro trials, they were able to pinpoint that eucalyptus essential oil does indeed mimic our natural immune response. Researchers propose that such findings may drive develop of a new family of immune-regulatory drugs/treatments altogether. This could be quite helpful for those who have weakened immune systems due to contracted diseases and effects of chemotherapy.

Conclusion

In a perfect world where our planetary environment was well tended, our purpose was clear and community supported, and our foods were safe and saturated with nutrition, it is likely that few of us would suffer from disease and frequent sickness.

Yet, in these modern times of high stress, environmental hazards, individualism, and processed foods our immune systems are often compromised and in some cases malfunction. Recent research indicates that essential oils are able to boost the functions of the immune system as well as suppress certain components when misdirected. With such capabilities, essential oils seem indispensable and a gift to humanity.

Benefits Of Essential Oils

There are so many oils in the products we buy. Have you seen the words "essential oils" in products and wondered how those are different than other oils? Essential oils can be found in many marketed products as of late. But they are not new; they have been useful in societies for many years. The origins of essential oils will give insight to why we need and want them. It's important to understand what they are and learn the benefits and uses of these essential oils.

First, in defining what essential oils are it's important to know that these oils are not new just because they are being promoted in many basic household items. Essential oils have been useful to societies for thousands of years! However, recent research has shown that the usage of these oils may have many benefits; this is why you may see essential oils being featured on products.

Two types of oils exist. There are essential oils and regular fragrance oils. Essential oils always come from plants naturally. Fragrance oils are created synthetically. So let's discuss how essential oils come from plants. Essential oils are extracted from any type of plant life. This extraction happens through expression or distillation.

Essential oils are produced by extracting pure liquid or the "essence" of a plant. This extraction must occur through either a distilling or expressing process. In distilling essential oils, steam is used. In expressing essential oils, a cold-press method is used. The usage of these methods will depend on the kind of plant being used for extraction. Leaves, stems, flower, peel, bark, wood, roots, seeds and resin will all produce different types of essential oils when distilled or expressed.

The creation process of essential oils gives insight into why they are important. Because they are naturally from plants, they are pure and highly concentrated. However, this concentration does not feel oily at all. This high concentration will allow more benefits.

One of the great uses of essential oils is in the home. Some essential oils will actually repel pest. Other essential oils will naturally freshen living spaces. You can maintain your home without hash chemicals in using essential oils.

Aside from using essential oils in the home, body function improvement is another application. The topical use of essential oils may actually help improve or heal your body. However, people with allergies should consult a physician before using essential oils topically.

Certain kinds of essential oils can relax the mind as well as the body. And so, one of the most common uses of essential oils is for stress management. Essential oils may release mental tension because of their calming sent and thus, help reduce stress.

Some Properties Of Eucalyptus Radiata Essential Oil

There are 700 varieties of eucalyptus that are discovered till now and out of these there are 500 varieties which are useful and which produce many different type of oils. Australia is rich in eucalyptus tree. You will find eucalyptus in other countries also but not in large quantities as in Australia.

There are different types of oils produced by eucalyptus trees. Some of these oils are medicinal oils, many different industrial oils and oils that can be used in perfumes. The amazing thing is that all these oils are produced not from the bark of the tree but from the leaves. You will found eucalyptus tree oil in almost all first aid kits. This is because of its great medicinal properties.

Eucalyptus is best for the treatment of many different diseases. Among these trees eucalyptus radiate essential oils are very useful and have different medicinal properties. You will find different chemistry in different oils.

The most important and the most commonly used properties of the tree in the family of eucalyptus tree is Eucalyptus radiate. It is highest in 1, 8 cineole. It has all the properties of removing infections and is a big antibacterial, antiviral, and is also great oil for getting relief from sinus. It also helps in improving the respiratory conditions. It is gentle for skin and has a very low quantities of aldehydes hence is very much effective.

Another common tree used is the eucalyptus globules. It is also known a blue gum tree. Its special property is to heal the infections of respiratory tract. It is also good for the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis and wounds. This tree is also helpful in purification of air and production of ozone. Its chemical component shows that it is high in oxides and the most important are 1, 8 cineole.

There is one more tree in the family of eucalyptus which is known for its properties. It is eucalyptus citriodora. Its fragrance is like fresh lemon and gives a cooling effect. The main constituent of this tree is citronellal which is an aldehyde. The best use of the oil of this tree is to give a cooling effect to the body and reduces heat in the body. It is also used in repelling silver fish and cockroaches and many other insects that reside in your home. It is very good for children because of its fragrance.

One more common tree named eucalyptus dives. It is also named as peppermint eucalyptus. You can recognize by its fragrance which matches that of methanol. The main ingredient of this tree is piperitone which is a ketone. It is good for healing infections of sinus, ear, kidney and vaginitis. Its oil is used commonly to heal infections and other related diseases.

Last but not the least is Eucalyptus polybractea. It has similar properties as that of E.globulus. It is also named as Blue Mallee and is high in 1, 8 cineole. It is gentle on skin.

Ways To Enjoy Body Oil

People have been using body oil for years. There are many purposes for this oil and varieties to choose from. If you are thinking about using some body oil to sooth parts of your body, then discover the different types and styles of oil available. When you learn how oil can help your skin and how it can differ from each other, you will be inclined to buy a few different bottles of oil.

When you go out looking for an oil for your body, you may wonder where to get a good price. If you check drugstores and outlets, you will find some reduced costs. These oils could be great quality items or have qualities in them that make them less potent. A specialty shop that carries bath items and body products, may offer some oils that are rich in nature and vibrant in scent.

For a cheap oil for the body, you could try an outlet or a pharmacy. These places will feature some basic oils and moderately priced ones. The variety of scents will be basic and may not be as soothing as one that costs a bit more to buy. It will still moisturize the skin and leave it feeling smooth and soft.

A specialty shop that sells bath oils and oil for your body, will feature a wide range of products and price ranges. You may find some rich scents and more of a variety of bottle sizes. Purchasing an oil from a unique store, may give you an oil that really penetrates your skin and leaves it feeling great with a lasting scent.

Often it is the scent that attracts people to certain oils. You will find that some oils are flower inspired, where others have more of a fruity smell. It is common for oil users to enjoy the smell of woods and nuts. The more shops you visit, the more variety of oil smells you will be exposed to. Everyone has their own unique sense of smell, so you will find something that you truly enjoy.

It is common for people to put oil on their feet at night, this can help there feet from cracking. Foot oil is also used after a pedicure at spas and can be used at home as well. If you have areas on your body that are prone to dry skin or cracking, then you will discover that oil can help sooth these particular areas.

Massages are not the same without the use of oils. These oils may be aromatherapy and help the person to relax during the session. They help the hands work up and down the body with ease and allow for the back to be massaged. Some massage oil is edible and comes in lots of flavors. These flavors can be found in sweet tasting forms such as chocolates, to fruity ones like banana and cherries. A store that sells lingerie may also sell these oils.

Shopping for body oil can be made easy when you know where to go. The more stores you check out, the better your selection and choice will be. Not all oil is for everyone, so it is important to find the scent and brand that you like the best. When you find the right oil for your skin, it will help you keep soft and radiant looking skin on your body. A bottle of oil will last a long time, because you only need to use a drop at a time.