Chills, aches, fatigue, but also headache and throat pain, sneezing and especially fever are the first symptoms of the flu. Others then appear: a dry cough, a runny nose, and often in children, viral gastroenteritis. Certain essential oils have powerful and recognized antiviral properties. Their mixture with other essential oils having a targeted action on each of the symptoms of the flu will be an effective remedy.
This article was updated on 23/11/2023The quick reflex: Ravintsara
From 3 years old and for adults:
- Dermal : 3 drops of Ravintsara to distribute in the lower back, along the spine and on the thorax, 4 to 5 times a day, until improvement.
- Oral route: 1 drop of Ravintsara in a teaspoon of honey or olive oil or on sugar, 4 times a day, until improvement.
Complete synergy for adults
The mixture
To fight the flu, mix:
- 60 drops of essential oil Ravintsara
- 40 drops of essential oilEucalyptus Radiata
- 20 drops of essential oil Laurel Noble
- 40 drops of essential oilBlack Spruce
- 80 drops (4 mL) of vegetable oil Nigella
How to use
Authorized users
YES. Adults, children over 6 years old.
NO. Pregnant and breastfeeding women, children under 6 years old.
Special precautions
- For people with epilepsy, this synergy may present an epileptogenic risk if the doses are not respected.
- It is also recommended to carry out the allergy test with the mixture in the crook of the elbow before use.
These precautions apply under the application and dosage conditions cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
Complete synergy for pregnant women and children
The mixture for pregnant women and children
Take your empty bottle, and add:
- 30 drops of essential oil Ravintsara
- 20 drops of essential oil eucalyptus Radiata
- 6 drops of essential oil of Inule Odorous
- 140 drops of vegetable oil Hazelnut
Cap (click!), homogenize then label your bottle. Your synergy is ready to be used!
How to use
For pregnant women over 3 months : Apply 15 drops of the mixture to the thorax, 5 times a day for 3 days.
For children over 3 years old : Distribute 8 drops of the mixture on the thorax and upper back, 3 times a day for 3 days.
Authorized users
YES. Pregnant women over 3 months, breastfeeding women, children over 3 years old.
NO. Pregnant women under 3 months, children under 3 years old.
Generally, remember that essential oils are PROHIBITED in the first 3 months of pregnancy. More details : essential oils for children and essential oils for pregnant and breastfeeding women
Special precautions
- A medical consultation is strongly recommended in case of fever.
- This synergy can cause a strong expectorant reaction (powerful decongestion of the respiratory tract).
- Medical advice is necessary for people with asthma or epilepsy.
- It is also recommended to carry out the allergy test with the mixture in the crook of the elbow before use.
These precautions apply under the application and dosage conditions cited above. If in doubt, ask your question on our forum and consult your doctor.
Why these essential oils?
Ravintsara strengthens white blood cells and fights viruses
Ravintsara is the antiviral essential oil par excellence. The alpha terpineol and the 1,8-cineole that it contains in quantity each have properties demonstrated in the fight against viruses, and their specific association (this terpene alcohol coupled with this terpene oxide) increases tenfold and targets their effects on Influenza , the flu virus.
Moreover, ravintsara essential oil effectively strengthens immunity by stimulating the adrenal glands. These organs, located at the kidney level, are responsible for the secretion of numerous molecules necessary for the proper functioning of the body. When subjected to a state of stress, the adrenal glands produce a large quantity of cortisol which is a hormone whose action partly inhibits the immune system. This leads to a state of general fatigue and the immune system is weakened. It is therefore important to stimulate the adrenal glands and keep them in a certain state of shape. Indeed, this is necessary to strengthen immunity, helping to fight against the virus, and effectively acting as a barrier to infections which could take advantage of the state of flu fatigue to take hold.
Finally, 1,8-cineole, a major component of Ravintsara essential oil, has expectorant and mucolytic properties by stimulating the mucin glands. In other words, 1,8-cineole helps in the thinning and expulsion of mucus from the trachea and bronchi, thus freeing the airways. This property is essential here when we know that the flu is primarily a respiratory infection.
Black spruce limits inflammation and gets you back on your feet
L'black Spruce essential oil has great importance in this synergy. It is present there for several of its properties. Among its main constituents is bornyl acetate. This molecule is known to be analgesic by acting on the nervous system. It also intervenes in the chain of reactions leading to inflammation, thus limiting the latter. The various pains linked to the flu will therefore be reduced.
In addition to this, Black Spruce essential oil is a powerful tonic due to its terpene content. It intervenes, through its cortison-like hormonal action, on the “pituitary-cortical-adrenal” axis. This system governs a number of processes in the body, and states of fatigue are sometimes due to a failure of the latter. Thus, the action of Black Spruce essential oil will generally stimulate different functions of the body and allow you to get back on your feet more quickly and effectively.
Noble laurel essential oil treats headaches
L'essential oil of Laurel Noble contains eugenol and methyl eugenol, molecules with powerful anti-neuralgic action. They help relieve pain caused by a nervous condition. Since headaches caused by the flu virus are indeed of nervous origin, Noble Laurel essential oil helps fight against this flu symptom.
In addition, we can add to this interesting antineuralgic property, the antiviral, expectorant and mucolytic properties of the molecules (alpha pinene and 1,8-cineole) present in this essential oil. These last three actions, which are also found in other components of this synergy, leave no chance of survival for the flu virus.
Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil calms coughs
Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil is essential to the mixture for its antitussive action. It aims to control spasms of the respiratory muscles responsible for the cough reflex. This property is attributed to the joint action of terpenyl acetate for its general antispasmodic properties and 1,8-cineole, which inhibits the contractions caused by acetylcholine on the tracheal muscle. This significantly calms the major flu symptom of coughing.
In addition, having a combination of molecules different but almost similar to those of Ravintsara essential oil, Eucalyptus Radiata essential oil supports it through its antiviral action, targeted on the influenza virus, and its expectorant and mucolytic properties.
By its antitussive specificity and its addition to Ravintsara, the essential oil of Eucalyptus Radiata is therefore ideal for this synergy against the flu.
Odorous inula: anti-inflammatory and respiratory decongestant
Inule Odorante essential oil is unlike any other and will be of great interest in the fight against the flu. It has bornyl acetate as its main component. This ester, in addition to its analgesic effect (loss of sensitivity to pain), is also a very good anti-inflammatory. Influenza infection is synonymous with numerous diffuse pains and consequent inflammation of the respiratory tract, Inule Odorante is therefore what infected pregnant women and children need.
For more details, bornyl acetate modulates the secretion of nitric oxide and certain prostaglandins. These molecules are involved in different mechanisms of the inflammatory reaction; the latter, caused by the infection, will therefore be limited.
In addition to this, Odorous Inula is especially recognized for its powerful respiratory decongestant properties. This essential oil then combines with the expectorant effects of Ravintsara while providing analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties making it essential to this synergy.
Why these vegetable oils?
Nigella to support immunostimulating essential oils
A very soft support for children: Hazelnut
Pregnant women and children have a fragile metabolism, which is best preserved by diluting essential oils in a mild vegetable oil. The most suitable is thehazelnut vegetable oil. Its composition, rich in fatty acids, allows it to soften and nourish the skin, to strengthen the skin barrier. but more importantly, it is a very penetrating oil, which allows the rapid passage of active ingredients into the body, in order to make this synergy effective quickly to overcome the flu.
We tell you about it in video
Was this article helpful to you?
Average grade: 4.8 ( 538 votes)
Bibliography
Work : de la Charie, T. (2019). Treat yourself with essential oils. Why and how does it work? Editions du Rocher.
Related articles
GUIDE Flu, cold and flu: what are the differences?
GUIDE Stomach flu and gastrointestinal flu: a difference?
GUIDE What to eat when you have the flu?
GUIDE Who are the people most affected by the flu?
About these tips
This aromatherapy article was written by Théophane de la Charie, author of the book “Treat yourself with essential oils”, accompanied by a multidisciplinary team made up of pharmacists, biochemists and agronomists.
La Compagnie des Sens and its teams do not encourage self-medication. The information and advice provided comes from a reference bibliographic database (books, scientific publications, etc.). They are given for information purposes, or to suggest avenues for reflection: they should in no case replace a diagnosis, consultation or medical follow-up, and cannot engage the liability of the Compagnie des Sens.