Aromatic plants have been used since antiquity as a protection against infectious illnesses. During the great waves of plague that swept across Europe from the middle ages to the late 17th century, the people who worked with aromatic plants or oils were found to escape from the plague, while others all around them were dying. A striking example of the effectiveness of aromatherapy in controlling plagues and epidemics is illustrated by the fact that the laborers working in the lavender fields and gardeners tending herb gardens and tanners and glove-makers who used essential oils to perfume fine leather escaped from the plague unhurt while their masters perished! We know what ancestors didn't - these aromatic plants are all powerful bactericides and that some of them are also anti-viral agents.

How can we get the protection of these aromatic plants that kept our ancestors away from contracting contagious diseases and epidemics? Do we have to go and work in herb plants? Well, we can get the same effect by using the essential oils of the aromatic plants. One very effective way is to use a vaporizer. Use selected essential oils prized for their bactericidal and anti-viral properties (we will recommend a few in a moment along with several blends.) This offers real protection against infection during epidemics. To protect from people outside your home during an epidemic, put a few drops of one of these oils on a tissue, or on your clothes, where you can inhale it frequently. Daily baths, with essential oils added, are ways to reinforce the protection.

Essential Oils for Plague, Cholera, and other Epidemics

The following essential oils provide you with the best protection burned or sprayed in the air:

Clove

Eucalyptus

Tea-tree

Use the following essential oils in baths:

Lavender

Rosemary

Tea-tree

Thyme

Any one of these essential oils used singly or in combination will provide you a high level of protection from infection.

Aromatherapy for Infectious Illnesses

How do essential oils protect us from infectious illnesses? They do that in three ways:

Essential oils increase the body's ability to combat infection from bacteria or viruses.

Essential oils attack the bacteria or viruses themselves.

Essential oils prevent the spread of infection.

All antiviral or bactericidal essential oils have the ability to attack bacteria or viruses, either killing the invading organisms, or slowing down the rate at which they multiply in the body.

The most important essential oils that work against a very wide range of bacteria and viruses include:

Bergamot

Eucalyptus

Juniper

Lavender

Manuka

Rosemary

Tea tree

Most of these essential oils increase the body's ability to fight off the infection also. Manuka and Ti-tree are two that does this remarkably well.
If the illness affects the respiratory passages (nose, throat, lungs) as is the case with inhaled anthrax, inhaling essential oils with steam is an effective treatment.

Essential Oils as Immune System Protectants

Aromatherapy has a broad range of application in immune system support because virtually every essential oil in therapeutic use is active against one or more bacteria, and almost all of them stimulate production of white blood cells. It has been found that people who use essential oils regularly have a high level of resistance to illness. They catch fewer colds and other diseases and recover quickly if they do.

Essential oils support and strengthen the immune response by two different ways:

By directly opposing the threatening micro-organisms

By increasing the activity of the organs and cells that fight them.

Best Essential Oils for Immune System support are (they do both these actions):

Bergamot

Eucalyptus

Lavender

Manuka

Ravensara

Tea-tree

These essential oils act against a wide variety of bacteria and viruses, while at the same time increasing the immune response.

Other Essential oils Useful for immunity:

Rosemary and Geranium support the adrenal glands and stimulate the lymphatic system.

Black Pepper and Lavender strengthen the spleen.

These oils assist the body in resisting and combating infection. For best results use the essential oils at the first onset of symptoms.

If your infection is recurrent or prolonged, and/or if your immune system is depleted, aromatherapy treatment should be continued for at least a month. This will help bringing the micro-organisms in the body under control, repairing the immune system and strengthening the immune system to withstand from further attack.

Essential Oil Blend for Immune System Strengthening

Massage the following extracts in a vegetable oil base:

Bryony 4%

Eucalyptus 3%

Lavender 3%

Rosemary 3%