Supporting Yoga Practice With Essential Oils: Keeping Healthy This Season
Yoga practitioners tend to have an interest in natural medicine. If they're not already "into" essential oils, they're really worth investigating. Medical and esoteric aromatherapy offers an incredibly diverse range of therapies that can support one's yoga practice. In this, part 2 of a series, we'll look at immune support for the yoga practitioner -- specifically you can prevent colds and flu this season, allowing you to enjoy your practice more fully.
Yogis attending classes regularly during the Winter are more than likely to find their mat next to someone with a cold. Those with a family will probably have children coming home with the latest something that's going around. And as traveling to retreats and workshops becomes more popular, they're bound to need a little immune boost from the trials of traveling. Essential oils are actually part of a plant's immune system, and just happen to be very compatible with our own biochemistry. They immunize our cells, stimulate immune function, and directly eradicate both bacteria and viruses -- all while being easily employed in our daily routines.
For cold and flu prevention, diffusing oils is the most effective means of support. As the cells lining our respiratory system are the most likely place for a contagion to enter our bodies, you can imagine that inhaling these protective medicines may be the best way to use them. There's actually a significant amount of scientific data showing that vaporized essential oils eradicate microbes in the air (they lessen bacterial counts) as well as on surfaces. They also have been show to increase the phagocytotic action of our white blood cells, so that elimination of foreign invaders happens more rapidly. Running a nebulizing diffuser at your home, workplace, or even yoga studio can have profound effects.
When using a diffuser isn't practical, or you want to supplement diffuser use, apply oils topically as well. This can be as simple as applying a couple drops to each wrist, rubbing them together, then rubbing them on your neck and chest. Do this a few times a day. Essential oils are rapidly absorbed through the skin, and will be distributed throughout your bloodstream in this way. If you'd do even more, massage your feet and/or use the oils in a bath. Please note: while many people have no problem with using a few drops of essential oil undiluted in this manner, some with more sensitive skin will absolutely need to dilute the oils in a carrier. Also, be sure to avoid topical application of "hot" oils such as cinnamon or oregano -- they're not really the best for our purposes anyway.
So which oils to use? There are many "anti-viral" essential oils, and these are the best to focus on for immune support. Narrow-leaf eucalyptus (eucalyptus radiata), melissa (also called "lemon balm"), pine, lavender -- and perhaps most potent of all, bay laurel -- are all highly regarded for prevention of colds and flu. Combine these oils for best effect. Use the blend undiluted in your diffuser, and dilute as necessary for topical application. Make a simple blend of 3 parts each of eucalyptus, lavender, pine and bay laurel leaf, and 1 part (or even just a few drops) of melissa. There's also a "new" type of thyme essential oil available, called "Benchmark Thyme", worth adding to your recipe. It's a blend of four thyme herb strains, formulated specifically for enhanced antimicrobial action.
For additional support, consider using a little lemon essential oil in your water. Lemon has excellent purifying properties, both for the water and our bodies. One can add 5 or so drops of oil to each quart of water and drink throughout the day, or do an "intensive" and have this same amount of essential oil in a cup of water first thing in the morning. This can synergize with the other immune supportive practices for a greater overall amount of protection from infectious illness.
From a more esoteric perspective, which yoga practitioners might enjoy, one can consider that a body that is calm and balanced will likely have the best immune function. Frankincense essential oil is considered by some to be the premier immune system supportive essential oil for this reason. It's health benefits are profound and complex. Among its many traits, it is thought to oxygenate the body, it has known anticancer action, and is a potent reducer of inflammation. The long-chain molecules are thought to stimulate the pineal gland, or "third eye", and bring an overall balance and healthy calm to the body and mind. Simple deep inhalation from the bottle can be effective, as can anointing with a drop or two. Be creative in finding ways you enjoy this wonderful oil (just note that some may find its undiluted use a bit strong on the skin -- diluting with your favorite carrier is a good idea if you're applying more than a couple drops).
This is just a quick look at how the yoga practitioner might support their health, preventing infectious illness in the coming cooler months. At the same time, these simple uses of essential oils can have profound effects. Wouldn't it be great to forget what it's like to have a cold? Further, with many yoga styles supporting community-based practice, it's nice to have the magical nature of essential oils to keep ourselves AND our close friends and family healthy and well. Enjoy!
Questions and Answers
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