Why So Many Are Sick
All of us have experienced sickness one time or another, some to a larger degree than others. It is widely accepted that the body's own immune system, a complex network of specific cells created to ward off sickness and disease, is greatly compromised when we eat a poor/acid-causing diet, side-step exercise, surround ourselves with environmental toxins, create continuous stress and have unkind attitudes/thoughts about oneself and others. All of these choices lead to toxic build up in the body. At a certain level, the body can no longer juggle such an overload, resulting in weakened defenses and possible disease.
Using Essential Oils for Immune Support
In these modern times, many are familiar with the stress-relieving qualities of essential oils as well as their antimicrobial properties. Such characteristics of essential oils are helpful in supporting a fully functional immune system; stress and microbes are known to weaken its army of defenses. Few are aware that essential oils can actually strengthen the capacity of the immune system directly to fight off foreign invaders.
Mechanisms to Support the Immune System
When we bang our leg, get a sliver in our hand or cross paths with infectious entities the immune system is recruited and responds with inflammation - a tool to heal damaged cells and tissue. This initial inflammatory response is vital to restoring the injured area, yet prolonged inflammation can lead to a number of debilitating and often painful diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and even cancer. Research has established that essential oils have the ability to inhibit detrimental inflammatory processes that contribute to disease. Scientists are now investigating the actually mechanisms by which essential oils can enhance the immune system directly.
Melaleuca EO Helps Out
The list of immunity specific cells armed for battle is long. Yet, in a nut shell they fall into two very broad categories ? humoral and cell-mediated; one binds and attacks, the other engulfs and kills. Researchers from the University of Maringa, Brazil (2009) found that the immune system in mice was stimulated when treated with clove essential oil. They established that such a boost was due to improvement in humor and cell-mediated immune response mechanisms. Lucky for the mice.
Swallowing Pathogens
In our magnificently crafted bodies, we have what is called natural killer cells, or NKs. Their job is to kill viruses and diseased cells such as cancer cells. At Nippon Medical School in Tokyo, Japan (2006), scientists found that phytoncides (essential oils from wood) increased NK activity and restored activity when cell lines were damaged (purposely induced). Researchers proposed that the reason for this effect is that phytoncides induce immune cells that destroy unwanted cells and microbes - perforin, granzyme A, and granulysin respectively.
Ginger EO Controls Immune
At Zhejiang University Medical School in China (2006), scientists looked at the ability of ginger essential oil to regulate immune system functions. Using mice (bless them for their sacrifice), these researchers were able to identify that ginger essential oil can exert suppression of T lymphocytes (a component of the cell-mediated immune response) in cases where such a response is actually harmful to the body, such as with chronic inflammation and autoimmune diseases (like Crohn's disease).
Concluding Thoughts
Our remarkable immune system is highly complex and important to our well-being. A strong and balanced immune system is required in order for life to exist on an enjoyable and sustainable level. Results of very recent studies indicate that essential oils could be a new branch of medical treatments for those with compromised immune systems. As conventional pharmaceuticals decline in their effectiveness, it is helpful that science has identified qualities in essential oils that are effective against disease-causing pathogens.
The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using ginger oil and other therapeutic essential oils.