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The antiviral activity of essential oils is one of their most intriguing effects. Many respected aromatherapists believe the greatest potential of the oils used in aromatherapy is to treat infectious illness — and while bacterial infections are a significant health issue, it is viral pathogens that are spread the most rapidly. Whether you’re interested in managing through “cold and flu” season, or preventing and treating other sorts of viral infections, essential oils may hold your answer.

Scientific researchers the world over have been experimenting with essential oils to find which oils have, if any, antiviral activity, and how strong this action is. This area of research is certainly still growing, though the available data certainly makes a statement. Research has generally involved one of two conditions: the treatment and effect of oils on the herpes viruses both in human subjects and in petri dishes, or the ability of oils to inactivate other viruses in petri dishes alone. The data shows that certain oils succeed in all conditions.

A large proportion of the research has been performed specifically on treatment and prevention of outbreaks and transmission of HSV-1 and 2. This is purely a result of the high number of persons with this condition, and the simplicity of testing the efficacy of an oil. Several essential oils have demonstrated the ability to support healing from outbreaks.

What makes this so important is really three-fold: First, the oils show the ability to directly inactivate the virus. Second, they also show the ability to alter our body’s cells in certain ways as to prevent the spread of the virus from cell to cell. Oils actually “immunize” each cell individually, making it more difficult for a virus to infect a healthy cell. Finally, this result has occurred with several essential oils, not just one, which makes the theoretical extrapolation of the data to other viral illnesses much more realistic — if several aromatics inactivate herpes viruses and increase cell immunity, it makes it far more likely that this same activity occurs with other viruses as well.

Several essential oils have been shown effective in treating herpes outbreaks and preventing their re-occurrence. The most thoroughly investigated are melissa, geranium and tea tree, with melissa leading the group with the most enthusiastic praise from a scientist. One German researcher thought it possible to prevent all future outbreaks with the consistent use of the oil when one feels an outbreak to be imminent. Melissa is considered exceptionally potent, and can be diluted to very low concentrations (less than 2%) and still be effective. Users will create a dilution that works for them and apply topically several times daily.

Viruses which cause influenza are inherently harder to examine “in-vivo”, yet data is accruing noting the ability of essential oils to eradicate these types of viruses “in the test tube”. Bay laurel was noted in one study to be effective against the virus causing SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome), and tea tree has been shown effective against viruses which cause influenza.

Due their unique chemical nature, professional therapists also highly recommend the oils distilled from evergreen tree needles: pine, spruce, fir and the like. These oils specifically contain “terpenes”, a class of molecules thought particularly effective for the treatment and prevention of viral illnesses. Other highly recommended antiviral essential oils include: hyssop, marjoram, ravensara and narrow-leaf eucalyptus.

Employing these oils in one’s own practice is very easy. The same method can be used for both healing from an illness and preventing one as well. Blending any three of these oils together in equal parts is likely to provide a stronger effect than any of them alone. The best way to offer the oil’s action to an entire home or workplace is through the use of a diffuser. Low concentrations of the oils can be inhaled throughout the day, and it is possible the diffused oils may in fact inactivate viruses in the air.

Topical application is also highly effective, as the oils are naturally quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and target organs. Best results may be achieved by application to the tops and bottoms of the feet near the ball (all the way from big toe to little), on regions of lymph nodes, and on the sternum. Application in this way will serve to support healing if one has become ill, and may be the best way to prevent illness if one is exposed to others who have contracted a viral illness.

This is a brief look at the possibilities of utilizing the antiviral actions of aromatherapy and essential oils. One really need not get more complicated than this to achieve the desired results (keeping well!), and at the same time, one may be more precise with their oil selection and application techniques through learning more on the subject. You’ll find a host of information on the internet, though the most valuable sources are texts by therapists familiar with the practices of medical aromatherapy (examples are Advanced Aromatherapy by Schnaubelt, and The Complete Guide to Aromatherapy by Battaglia). Good luck and stay well!

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