Investigating How Essential Oils Benefit Immune System
In the past few years, more people have become interested in using essential oils to help support their health. Many are especially curious about whether these oils can help the immune system. This article will explain how the immune system works, what can happen when it becomes weak, and how some studies suggest that essential oils may help make it stronger. At the end, you’ll also find 5 easy DIY recipes using essential oils that you can make at home to support your immune system.
Introduction
Essential oils are strong, concentrated liquids made from different parts of plants. They contain special natural chemicals that can affect the body in different ways. Some of these chemicals may help the immune system work better, which is why essential oils are sometimes used along with regular medical care.
To understand how essential oils might help your immune system, it’s important to know what’s in them and how these ingredients interact with your body’s immune cells. Research has shown that certain essential oils can fight bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Some also help reduce inflammation. All of these things can support the body’s natural defenses.
This article will explore how essential oils may affect the immune system, using examples from scientific studies. We’ll look at oils like tea tree, oregano, lavender, bergamot, lemon, peppermint and eucalyptus to learn how these natural plant extracts might help keep your immune system healthy.
Overview of the Immune System
Your immune system is your body’s defense team. It protects you from things that can make you sick, like germs, viruses, and bacteria. It has two main parts: innate immunity and adaptive immunity.
Innate immunity is your body’s first line of defense. It includes things like your skin and the mucus in your nose, which block germs from getting in. It also uses special cells, like phagocytes and natural killer (NK) cells, that quickly attack many kinds of invaders. There are also tiny proteins called cytokines that help send messages to other immune cells so they know what to do.
Adaptive immunity is more advanced. It takes a little longer to respond, but it fights very specific germs. This part uses B-cells, which make antibodies to stop invaders, and T-cells, which kill infected cells or help other immune cells work better. Both parts of the immune system work together to keep you healthy and protect you from diseases.
Role of Immune Responses
Your immune system’s job is to find and destroy anything that can harm you, like viruses, bacteria, and parasites. When a harmful germ gets into your body, your immune system recognizes it and quickly starts fighting back.
First, the innate immune response reacts fast, using barriers like skin and tough, ready-to-go immune cells. If the germ sticks around, the adaptive immune response steps in. It uses B-cells and T-cells to launch a stronger, more specific attack. It also remembers the germ, which helps your body respond faster the next time it shows up.
Immune responses are extremely important for keeping you healthy. But problems happen when someone’s immune system becomes weak or damaged.
What Happens When Someone’s Immune System Is Compromised?
When someone has a compromised immune system, their body can’t fight off infections as well. Here are some things that can happen:
More Infections: They might get sick more often with things like pneumonia or frequent colds. For example, people going through chemotherapy can catch illnesses more easily.
Slower Healing: Cuts and wounds take longer to heal. A person with diabetes might notice that small injuries don’t get better quickly.
Opportunistic Infections: These are infections that usually don’t bother healthy people but can make someone with a weak immune system very sick. For example, people with HIV/AIDS can get pneumonia from a normally harmless organism.
Higher Risk of Cancer: The immune system helps find and destroy cells that could turn into cancer. If the immune system is weak, it might miss these dangerous cells.
Autoimmune Problems: Sometimes the immune system gets confused and starts attacking the body’s own cells. Diseases like lupus happen when the immune system doesn’t work correctly.
Studies Show Essential Oils May Help Support the Immune System
Essential oils are strong plant extracts that can have helpful effects on the body. Because their molecules are very small, they can pass through cell membranes when you breathe them in or use them on your skin. Some research suggests they may help support the immune system. Here’s how:
Antimicrobial Effects: Essential oils like tea tree and oregano oil can fight certain bacteria. For example, oregano oil has been shown to slow the growth of germs like E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
Anti-inflammatory Benefits: Oils like lavender and eucalyptus may help reduce swelling and inflammation in the body. Lower inflammation can help the immune system work better.
Stress Relief: Oils such as bergamot and chamomile can help reduce stress. One study showed that smelling bergamot oil can lower cortisol, a stress hormone. This matters because too much stress can weaken your immune system.
Immune Support: Some oils may help boost immune cells. For example, lemon oil has been shown to increase the activity of certain immune cells.
Respiratory Support: Oils like peppermint and eucalyptus can help open up your airways, making it easier to breathe and helping your body fight off respiratory infections.
Using essential oils in everyday habits—like in diffusers, in aromatherapy, or mixed with a carrier oil on the skin—may help support the immune system. You can even make your own immune-support blends. Here are 5 easy DIY recipes.
5 DIY Recipes Using Essential Oils to Help Boost Immune System
1. Antimicrobial Essential Oil Roll-On (Can help prevent infections in body)
Ingredients:
10 drops tea tree oil
10 drops lavender oil
5 drops lemon oil
2 tablespoons carrier oil (like fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil or olive oil)
10 ml roll-on bottle
Directions:
In the roll-on bottle, add the tea tree oil, lavender oil, and lemon oil.
Carefully pour in the carrier oil until the bottle is almost full, leaving a little space at the top.
Cap the bottle and shake gently to mix the oils thoroughly.
Apply to pulse points (like wrists and behind ears) or on areas that touch surfaces often (like hands) to help protect against germs.
Reapply as needed throughout the day, especially after being in crowded places.
This roll-on is a convenient way to enjoy antimicrobial benefits on the go!
2. Anti-inflammatory Lavender Eucalyptus Balm (Can helps reduce swelling, redness, and pain in different parts of the body.)
Ingredients:
10 drops lavender oil
10 drops eucalyptus oil
2 tablespoons coconut oil (solid form)
1 tablespoon beeswax pastilles
Directions:
In a double boiler, melt the coconut oil and beeswax together until fully combined.
Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
Stir in the lavender and eucalyptus oils until well mixed.
Pour the mixture into a small tin or jar and allow it to solidify.
Apply the balm to areas of inflammation or sore muscles as needed.
3. Stress-Reducing Bergamot and Chamomile Diffuser Blend (Can help with anxiety)
Ingredients:
5 drops bergamot oil
5 drops chamomile oil
2 cups water (for diffuser)
Directions:
Fill your essential oil diffuser with 2 cups of water.
Add the bergamot and chamomile oils.
Turn on the diffuser and enjoy the calming aroma in your space.
Use this blend whenever you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
4. Immune Modulating Lemon Essential Oil Blend (Can help immune system stay balanced)
Ingredients:
10 drops lemon oil
5 drops rosemary oil
5 drops frankincense oil
1 tablespoon carrier oil (like jojoba or almond oil)
Directions:
In a small glass bottle, combine the lemon, rosemary, and frankincense oils.
Add the carrier oil to dilute the essential oils for safe application.
Roll the bottle between your hands to mix well.
Apply to pulse points (like wrists and behind ears) to help boost your immune response throughout the day.
5. Respiratory Support Inhaler (Can help you breathe easier especially when dealing with congestion and seasonal sniffles or colds)
Ingredients:
10 drops peppermint oil
10 drops eucalyptus oil
Inhaler tube or cotton wick
Directions:
Add the peppermint and eucalyptus oils to the inhaler tube or soak a cotton wick in the oils.
If using a cotton wick, place it inside the inhaler tube.
Inhale deeply through the nose when feeling congested or needing respiratory support.
Keep the inhaler in a cool, dry place for future use.
Feel free to adjust the quantities based on your preferences, and always do a patch test when using essential oils on the skin to check for allergies or sensitivities. Enjoy boosting your immune system naturally!
Note: Always remember to consult with a healthcare professional before using essential oils, especially if you have underlying health conditions.
References:
Cavanagh HM, Wilkinson JM. Biological activities of lavender essential oil. Phytother Res. 2002 Jun;16(4):301-8. doi: 10.1002/ptr.1103. PMID: 12112282.
Watanabe E, Kuchta K, Kimura M, Rauwald HW, Kamei T, Imanishi J. Effects of bergamot ( Citrus bergamia (Risso) Wright & Arn.) essential oil aromatherapy on mood states, parasympathetic nervous system activity, and salivary cortisol levels in 41 healthy females. Forsch Komplementmed. 2015;22(1):43-9. doi: 10.1159/000380989. Epub 2015 Feb 19. PMID: 25824404.
Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2006 Jan;19(1):50-62. doi: 10.1128/CMR.19.1.50-62.2006. PMID: 16418522; PMCID: PMC1360273.
Koulivand PH, Khaleghi Ghadiri M, Gorji A. Lavender and the nervous system. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:681304. doi: 10.1155/2013/681304. Epub 2013 Mar 14. PMID: 23573142; PMCID: PMC3612440.
Caceres AI, Liu B, Jabba SV, Achanta S, Morris JB, Jordt SE. Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel Subfamily M Member 8 channels mediate the anti-inflammatory effects of eucalyptol. Br J Pharmacol. 2017 May;174(9):867-879. doi: 10.1111/bph.13760. Epub 2017 Mar 23. PMID: 28240768; PMCID: PMC5387001.
Horváth G, Ács K. Essential oils in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases highlighting their role in bacterial infections and their anti-inflammatory action: a review. Flavour Fragr J. 2015 Sep;30(5):331-341. doi: 10.1002/ffj.3252. Epub 2015 May 26. PMID: 32313366; PMCID: PMC7163989.