According to the NHS a common cold is a “mild viral infection of the nose, throat, sinuses and upper airways”. The main symptoms being; a blocked or runny nose, sneezing, a sore throat and cough. You may also have a high temperature, headache and aching muscles, although these symptoms are more indicative of flu. When the mucous membranes in the nose and throat are inflamed, due to the viral infection, they can be more susceptible to bacterial infection which may result in secondary infections such as sinusitis, bronchitis and ear infections.
Why do you get colds in Autumn & Winter?
You can get a cold at any time of the year, but they are usually more common in Autumn and Winter. It”s not the colder weather however that causes a cough or cold. People simply get sick more often at this time of year because they are exposed to each other more than in the Summer. We all tend to stay inside more when it’s cold and this means we are more likely to spread germs to one another. Viruses also spread more easily through dry air, and when it is cold, the air is both drier outside and inside (as people turn on the central heating and light fires to keep warm). So, it is not the cold weather that actually causes you to become ill, but it can make it easier for viruses to spread.
How can you treat a cough or cold?
There is no ‘cure’ for a common cold. GPs won’t prescribe antibiotics for treating a cold as these are only effective for bacterial infections, and as discussed above, most colds are caused by viruses not bacteria. Assuming the illness does not involve very young children, the very old, or people already weakened by other medical conditions, most doctors, quite rightly, will be reluctant to intervene with the body’s own healing powers.
Fortunately, there are lots of ways to help manage your symptoms. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen can help to reduce high temperatures and soothe pain and you can buy a wide range of cough and cold medicines from your local pharmacy or supermarket.
Aromatherapy essential oils can be extremely helpful for easing the symptoms in a completely natural way and can also help to prevent secondary infections by stimulating the immune system and fighting bacteria. They are completely safe to use in conjunction with over-the-counter medications or can be used alone if you prefer a more natural approach.
The best essential oils for treating a cough or cold
There are many essential oils that are good for treating coughs and colds, however the most popular choices are Lavender, Eucalyptus, Lemon and Tea Tree.
- Lavender essential oil can help ease the pain of headaches and aching joints and muscles. It can be diluted with a carrier oil and massaged into the temples and other aching areas. It can also be used in an aromatherapy diffuser or in a soothing night-time bath to encourage a more restful and restorative night’s sleep.
- Eucalyptus essential oil has a powerful antibacterial and anti-viral action and is a well-known decongestant. It is particularly useful in a steam inhalation for easing nasal congestion and inhibiting the spread of the cold virus. It’s best to use Eucalyptus earlier on in the day, as it has a stimulating action that may interfere with sleep. If you want to do a steam inhalation at night, we recommend using Lavender essential oil instead.
- Lemon essential oil. Many people feel extremely tired during or after a cold. Fatigue is the body’s way of forcing people to slow down and rest, so that the immune system has the best chance of fighting back and repairing itself. Lemon essential oil can be used to great effect to energise the mind and body and its antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties can help fight infection. It can also be helpful for reducing fever.
- Tea Tree essential oil is unusual in that it is effective against all three categories of infectious organisms: bacteria, fungi and viruses. It is also a powerful immuno-stimulant that helps the body fight illness and aids recovery. If used in a bath at the onset of symptoms it can help stop a cold developing, or at least reduce its severity and protect against secondary infection. It can also be used in steam inhalations and aromatherapy diffusers.
Other useful essential oils include Benzoin, Camphor, Niaouli, Peppermint, Pine, Ravensara, Rosemary, Sandalwood, Marjoram and Thyme.
Aromatherapy blends for coughs and colds
Steam inhalation
A scratchy throat is often one of the first signs of a cold – and a great time to start the infection fighting steam inhalations! Add 1 drop Eucalyptus, 1 drop Thyme, 2 drops Lemon and 4 drops of Tea Tree to a bowl of steaming hot water. Have the water as hot as can be tolerated as this will create a hostile environment for the virus and increase the effectiveness of the essential oils. Lean over the bowl and place a towel over your head and inhale for at least 5 minutes. Do this 2-3 times daily. It’s the fastest way of getting the therapeutic essential oils straight into the blood stream to help fight infection.
Daytime diffuser blend
Add 6 drops Tea Tree, 3 drops Ravensara and 2 drops of Rosemary to an aromatherapy diffuser or candle burner. This will help to stimulate immunity, fight infection and soothe cold-like symptoms such as a blocked nose, sore throat and chesty cough. The Rosemary will also have an energising and tonic effect.
Reviving bath blend
For a reviving, decongesting soak in the bath mix 1 drop Eucalyptus, 2 drops Rosemary, 4 drops Bergamot and 2 drops Tea Tree into 20ml of Bath Oil or Bath & Shower Gel. Add to the bath once run and mix well. You can also add 4 tbsp of Dead Sea Salt if you’re feeling a bit achy. This is quite a stimulating blend so should not be used directly before bed. If you’re feeling too fragile for a soak in the bath (or prefer to shower), a foot bath can be an equally effective way of getting the oils into your system – simply use half the quantities of oil.
Sore throat soother
Mix 10ml carrier oil with 5 drops Sandalwood, 4 drops Lavender and 1 drop Eucalyptus. Massage into the chest and throat area.
Inhaler for nasal congestion
Pop 2 drops Lemon Eucalyptus, 2 drops Camphor, 2 drops Lavender and 4 drops Tea Tree into an aromatherapy inhaler and sniff as and when required. The same blend of oils can also be mixed with 20ml of carrier oil, moisturising cream or unscented massage wax and used a chest rub (spot test for sensitivity first).
If you don’t want to buy all of the individual oils mentioned above we offer a selection of pre-blended essential oils that are ideal for the job. These include our Anti-Virus blend (our own unique take on Thieves essential oil), Bug Buster and Breathe Easy.
Other ‘natural’ advice for tackling coughs and colds
The essential thing to remember with coughs and colds is to head them off! As the old saying goes, ‘prevention is better than cure’, so strengthen your immunity first, and act quickly if you do feel you’re coming down with something.
Boosting your body’s capacity to fight the infection will enhance your immunity whereas using medication to suppress the symptoms will only weaken it over time.
Here’s a range of top tips to turbo-charge your immune system and fight colds the natural way:
- Increase your dietary intake of ginger and garlic. Both are strong immunity enhancers with many other beneficial properties too.
- Onions, leeks, fresh parsley and thyme will also give your immune system a boost.
- Reduce your dairy intake when fighting a cold – mucous forming foods will slow down your fighting chance by clogging up the works with even more catarrh.
- Avoid orange juice (also adds to mucous congestion). Juice fresh pineapple instead as this has the capacity to help break down congestion.
- Increase your Vitamin C intake – try BioCare’s Magnesiun Ascorbate powder (1 scoop =1 gram) which is low acid and easy to take.
- Make yourself some Rosemary tea – just add hot water to fresh sprigs of Rosemary to help boost your energy levels and clear your head.
- If your throat is sore, or to soothe a cough, try making a hot lemon drink with fresh lemon, root ginger and honey to help ease irritation and inflammation. Manuka honey is the best – try and get the highest grade you can!
- Finally, get plenty of rest and sleep, keep warm and remember to drinks lots of water or other ‘clean’ fluids such as herbal teas and those detailed above.
The most important thing to remember is that you CAN beat the bug. Even if you’re beginning to come down with something, think positive, buy some essential oils, follow the advice above and refuse to give in!
Please note that you should seek medical advice if your symptoms don’t improve after 3 weeks or get suddenly worse, if your temperature is very high, if you have
Sharon Lovett
Marketing Manager
Disclaimer & Safety Advice