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The most commonly recommended essential oil for flu prevention is echinacea. It has been used for hundreds of years to treat a variety of minor medical conditions, and it’s well known for boosting the immune system to fight bacteria and infection.
You have to mix echinacea essential oil with other oils if you want to diffuse it because echinacea plants don’t have a scent.
There are echinacea supplements in pill or liquid drop form. The drops contain carrier oils or other ingredients to dilute the oil so that it’s safe for internal use.
It’s not safe to use this oil internally if you have an autoimmune disease, and it can cause nausea and other mild side effects in some cases. It is considered safe for children.
Other immunostimulant essential oils that you might consider using include bergamot, eucalyptus and niaouli and rosemary.
There are also some powerful flu-fighting essential oil mixes that may deliver more preventative power than a single oil.
They verified that the oil did reduce infection within the cells, and it decreased the amount of infection spreading to other cells.
This doTERRA blend isn’t marketed for use by children, but it is sold as an immune booster and internal cleanser that can help prevent infection, illness and damage from contaminants in the environment.
You can diffuse it in your home or use it to keep the adults in your household healthy.
Even with excellent hand-washing skills, mastery of personal space and top-notch avoidance of door knobs and shared spaces, most children will pick up a mild cold or even the flu at least once during the cold season.
If you use the right natural flu remedies within 24 hours of contracting the illness, you can limit the severity of the symptoms or decrease the length of illness.
You may need to experiment with some of these options until you find the remedies that work for each of your children.
1. Elderberry Extract or Syrup
The blue and black elderberry plants have established medicinal benefits, but the red berries don’t have these beneficial properties.
The flowers and berries are antimicrobial, and many people use elderberry syrup as a daily supplement to prevent illness because it gives the immune system a powerful boost.
When you do come down with something, you may use natural elderberry elixirs, oils and syrups to shorten the length of illness, stop a cough and break a fever.
In 2004, the Journal of International Medical Research printed the results of a study that tested the effectiveness and safety of using elderberry extract to treat two strains of influenza.
All participants in the study were at least 18 years old, but the researchers found that supplementing with elderberry extract reduced the length of sickness by approximately four days.
They also concluded that the supplement is safe for consumption. The patients consumed four 15-milliliter servings of elderberry syrup for five consecutive dats.
Similar results were found in a 2017 study that determined elderberry extract reduced the severity of cold symptoms and the length of illness for more than 300 airline passengers.
The best way to use this natural flu remedy is to buy or make an all-natural elderberry syrup.
It’s safe for children as a preventative measure and treatment, but make sure to follow directions to ensure the proper dosage for your child’s age.
3. Probiotics & Yogurt
Have you heard about your gut microbiome?
If not, this refers to the collection of microorganisms living inside your digestive system, including your colon and stomach.
A lot more research is needed to fully understand all of these microbes and what impact they each have on our overall health, but most medical professionals are already convinced that the secret to a strong immune system and a long, healthy life lies in the gut.
Many health conditions are now believed to start with an imbalance in these microbes. Your unhealthy or damaging microorganisms outnumber your beneficial microbes, leaving your body susceptible to disease and illness.
The solution is to supplement with live cultures that restore bal