I posted the other day about natural ways to boost your immune system, but I feel I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about how to boost your immune system with essential oils. So as a bonus post this week, I’m going to tell you about the essential oils we use in our house to support our immune systems. (You can thank me later.)

We’ve all become super fans of doTERRA essential oils in our house and we all seem to have our own reasons for loving them. One reason we have in common is how effective they are at keeping us healthy. Using these powerful plant compounds to fight off ailments and infections isn’t a new thing – folks were using them for many, many years before modern medicine came along. As everything seems to do, it’s now starting to come full circle, as people become more aware of the stresses those medicines put on the body and also the importance of holistic health and wellness practices, in general. It’s a beautiful thing! It doesn’t mean we’ll never take another pill – sometimes it’s necessary. But it does give us option- effective ones. Essential oils have become our first line of defense (besides food and rest) because of the success we’ve had with these babies preventing us from getting sick in the first place. 

What are my favourite essential oils for immune support?

There are definitely a few oils that are staples with us once the cold weather settles in. We diffuse them, separately or mixed in a blend, and also use them topically. Here are my faves (all from doTERRA…quality is key!):

1. OnGuard Blend: This is doTERRA’s immune blend and it’s the BOMB when it comes to fighting germs. A combination of wild orange, clove, cinnamon, eucalyptus, and rosemary, we start diffusing it throughout the house as soon as someone starts to sneeze. We also use it topically (mixed with fractionated coconut oil and/or the other oils outlined below) on the soles of our feet. I even make my own all-purpose cleaner, dish soap and hand soap with OnGuard oil and also the OnGuard cleaner concentrate. An added bonus…it smells amazing!
2. Oregano: So this one…I don’t love smelling so much. Actually, the oregano smell is amazing, but I’m not such a fan of smelling like an Italian pizza house! That said, oregano essential oil is such an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral powerhouse, I can suck it up when I want to protect myself. Another way we’ve been using oregano with great success is for plantars warts. Fast and effective. Just be careful with oregano – it’s a very strong oil and can actually burn surrounding skin if not diluted…be sure to use only directly on the affected area and not around it.
3. Frankincense: This is one of my favourite oils, for everything. Called the King of Oils, frankincense supports healthy cell function (a key to staying healthy), stimulates the immune system, and provides anti-inflammatory effects throughout the body. We use frank (alone or blended with other oils) in the diffusers and topically. It’s a little spooky how this oil just seems to know exactly what the body needs…almost like an adaptogen!
4. Lemon: This awesome smelling oil just makes everything better – who doesn’t love the smell of lemon?! With powerful antibacterial and antioxidant properties, it’s a perfect addition to the immune blends we use regularly. It also tends to be an energizing oil – a bonus for anyone when they’re feeling under the weather.
5. Tea Tree (or Melaleuca): Tea tree is an immune stimulant and extremely antiseptic. It’s been shown effective in treating viral infections which is why we use it whenever we need to fight anything off. I’m not a huge fan of its scent, so we tend to blend it with these other oils when we use it…unless I’m trying to get a “stinky-boy” smell out of a room…then I diffuse that puppy straight up!