The Best Antiviral Herbs and Oils
I’ve been doing a series of Facebook Live chats this week to give my followers a helping hand with regard to the current (and crazy) situation in which we find ourselves. Today’s talk was about the best antiviral herbs and oils.
While we don’t know whether or not these things will work against the coronavirus, we do know they are antiviral and it certainly won’t hurt anything to include them in your daily repertoire. We have to eat anyway, right? We might as well be eating things that might actually help us. First of all the list of the best culinary herbs.
Antiviral Culinary Herbs
Basil – contains apigenin, linalool, ursolic acid, all of which have potent antiviral activity
Cilantro (aka Coriander) – removes heavy metals (ie mercury and lead) which feed viruses
Fennel – contains strong antiviral compounds
Garlic – antiviral and antibacterial that protects cells from viruses
Ginger – contains antiviral phytochemicals and compounds
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) – potently antiviral and antibacterial
Onions, shallots, chives, leeks, and scallions – antiviral, help pull toxins out of cells
Oregano – works at level of DNA to kill viruses
Parsley – removes copper and aluminum which feed viruses
Star anise – antiviral
Thyme – antiviral, boosts immunity
Turmeric – contains curcumin which has antiviral properties
So, add lots of these to your cooking. If you have a herb garden, nurture it right now! Go out there and chew a few fresh leaves. Make teas from them – the lemon balm especially makes a beautiful tea. You could add a few slices of fresh lemon and ginger and have a wonderful antiviral tea. Not only are they antiviral, they are also anticancer.
Antiviral Essential Oils
Just so we’re clear, I have to tell you that I’m not advising you that you can “cure” anything with essential oils. I’m just sharing a list of the essential oils that research shows have antiviral activity. Whether or not they will work against COVID-19 nobody knows because this virus is too new. In any event, it won’t hurt you to use these oils – if nothing else, they will help you to feel more calm, might just boost your immune system, and that has good benefits as well!
You’ll note that these oils are some of the same ones I just mentioned – same plants.
Basil
Bergamot
Blue Cypress
Cedarwood
Cinnamon Bark
Clove
Cypress
Eucalyptus radiata
Frankincense
Ginger
Helichrysum
Hyssop
Jasmine
Lavender
Lemon
Lime
Mandarin
Melissa (Melissa officinalis, aka Lemon Balm)
Myrrh
Myrtle
Oregano
Palmarosa
Palo Santo
Peppermint
Sage
St John’s Wort
Sandalwood
Tangerine
Tea Tree
Thyme
Two Tips for Using Essential Oils
- You could put a few of the above-listed essential oils into an organic carrier oil like coconut or hemp seed, and rub them into your skin. They quickly sink into the skin and are in the bloodstream and working within 10-15 minutes.
- You could diffuse a few of the above-listed essential oils into the room you’re sitting in, using an ultrasonic cool mist diffuser. The vaporized droplets go straight into your lungs and are then sent into your bloodstream. They also stay suspended in the air for quite some time.
If you have any questions, just comment below and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can.
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