Immune System Boosting Aromatherapy

A question I have been asked many times ‘What is the immune system? And how does it work?’  How can I help my family and myself?

Your immune system is your body’s natural defence against bacteria, viruses and other agents of infection.  Whilst it’s important to look after your immune system throughout the year it seems more miserable when we get colds, coughs and sore throats in any of the seasonal holidays so today we are going to look at the support Jane your Clinical Therapist offers and how she can support you with a plan of action for the whole family! 

Let’s talk ‘bugs’ and all the other ‘actors’ Our immune system is designed to defend the body against ‘bugs’ and to bring harmony within our cells. 

We have passive immunity – this refers to the protection we get from our mothers or medical interventions such as antibody rich blood products or vaccines.  Acquired immunity developed after exposure to a pathogen.

The innate immune system is the body’s first line of defence, it has a rapid response against pathogens and relies on physical barriers like the skin, mucus membranes and dendritic cells – these identify and eliminate threats.  The innate immune system does not target a specific pathogen’s it’s an immediate response to any invader it encounters.

The adaptive immune system is much more sophisticated.  It learns to remember and recognise a specific pathogen.  When a new pathogen – infectious disease enters the body specialised lymphocytes called ‘T Cells’ and ‘B Cells’ start to work.  An antibody is produced to fight that pathogen.  This system takes longer to respond but provides long-term immunity. 

In response to a threat the immune system calls up a diverse team of specialised cells and each has its role:

T Lymphocytes

Cytotoxic T Cells known as Killer T Cells are part of the adaptive immune system.  A cytotoxic T Cell will directly attack and destroy an infected or cancerous cell.  Helper T Cells are another type of T Lymphocyte that will coordinate the immune response by activating other cells like B Lymphocytes and cytotoxic T cells.

B Lymphocytes or B Cells

These cells produce antibodies that neutralise pathogens or tag them for destruction by other immune cells such as macrophages.

Dendritic cells act as a sentinel that identifies pathogens and presents them to T Cells triggering an adaptive immune response.

Natural killer cells are part of the innate immune system and can identify and eliminate an abnormal; or infected cell including those showing signs of cancer.  Together the cells create a multi-layered defence system protecting you from infections, diseases and even cancer cells.  The immune system is responsive, and we can support it through lifestyle changes and complementary therapies such as aromatherapy and reflexology.

So how does aromatherapy boost the immune system?

Aromatherapy can boost the immune systems responses fighting microbes by providing lymphatic support.  Let’s particularly look at the most supportive of the essential oils that I believe as a Clinical Aromatherapist help support the lymphatic system the most and they do this by encouraging the functioning of the Lymphocytes.  Reflexology and lymphatic drainage massage can be supported using lemon essential oil (citrus limonum) to stimulate the lymphatic system and lymphoid organs by helping to cleanse the blood and move toxins and infections out of the body.  Secondly, reflexology and aromatherapy can support stress relief as chronic stress weakens the immune system by increasing cortisol levels.  Cortisol suppresses the production of lymphocytes and white blood cells.  Lavender essential oil (Lavandula angustifolia) can measurably ease stress and anxiety although too much of it can be a stimulant.  Thirdly, we look at sleep and its importance for adaptive immunity.  During sleep our bodies produce cytokines these are these are the protons that regulate the immune response.

When using complementary therapy for immune support we take a direct approach here at Hummingbird Holistics with reflexology and aromatherapy.  So, let’s look in more detail at a few of my favourite essential oils for boosting immunity with the endocrine and lymphatic system.

Tea Tree (melaleuca alternifolia) is renowned for its antimicrobial properties that help fight pathogens.  It’s extremely versatile and one of only two essential oils that can be used neat on the skin, the other is Lavender.  Caution is needed around animals as it is a contraindication and can be toxic to them.

How it works – Tea tree main component is terpin-4-ol and has potent antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal actions (Carson, Hammer and Riley 2006).  Research shows its potency is said to be against ‘free viruses’ that means the virus has not yet invaded a cell.  It is known to activate white blood cells and lymphocytes (Budhiraja et al.  1999).

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) supports the immune response by easing stress and encouraging restful sleep allowing your body to activate healing cytokines.

How it works – lavender is full of linalool, a monoterpene with antibacterial (Fisher and Philips 2006), antifungal (Nakahara et al. 2013) and antiviral (Choi 2018).  In studies lavender has performed as well as benzodiazepines (Lorazepam) in soothing anxiety (Woelk and Schläfke 2010).

Lemon (citrus limonum) boosts innate immunity and has a component that supports adaptive immunity.

How it works – d-limonene is a primary component found in all citrus oils.  It has a powerful anti-infectious quality.  Lemon has been shown to fight a wide variety of virus, bacteria and fungi, (Lang and Buchbauer, 2012)  bloosts white blood cell count, lymphocytes antibody production and bone marrow cellularity (Raphael and Kuttan 2003).

Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) supports respiratory health and the immune system.

How it works – Ceaderwood is known as phytoncides and enhance the activity of natural killer cells (Li et al. 2006).

Thyme (thymus vulgaris ct linalool)f.  It is a powerful antimicrobial against a wide spectrum of viruses, fungi and bacteria (Rota et al. 2008; Astari and Schnitzler 2010) and modulates the immune response.

Jane our Clinical Aromatherapist has a wide vast knowledge base and offering complementary consultations to blend and dispense at the apothecary kitchen, just book in a slot and we will do the rest and make sure that the blend is bespoke and suitable for you!

References

Astani, A., Reiching, J., Schnitzler, P., (2010) Comparative study on the antiviral activity of selected monoterpenes derived from essential oils.  Phytotherapy Research 24(5):673-679.

Budhiraja, S. S., Cullum, M.E, Sioutis., S.S, Evangelista., L, Habanova, S.T., (1999).  Biological activity of Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil component, teripin-4-ol, in human myelocytic cell line HL-60.  Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics.  1999.

Carson, C. F., Hammer, K.A., & Riely, T.V. (2006).  Melaleuca alternifolia (Tea Tree) oil:  a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties.  Clinical microbiology reviews, 19(1), 50-62.

Choi H. J. (2018).  Chemical Constituents of Essential Oils Possessing Anti-Influenza A/WS/33 Virus Activity.  Osong public health and research perspectives, 9(6), 348-353.

https://doi.org10.24171/j.phrp.2018.9.6.09  last accessed 01.04.25

Fisher, K., & Phillips, C.A (2006).  The effect of lemon, orange and bergamot essential oils and their components on the survival of Campylobacter jejunity.  Escherichia coli 0157, Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro and in food systems.  Journal of Applied Microbiology, 101(6), 1232-1240.

Lang, G. and Buchbauer, G. (2012) A review on recent research results (2008-2010) on essential oils as antimicrobials and antifungals.  A review.  Flavour and Fragrance Journal 27, 13-39.

Nakahara, K., Alzoreky, N.S., Yoshihashi, T., Nguyen, H. T., & Trakoontivakorn, G.  (2013). Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Cymbopogon nardus (citronella grass).  Japan Agricultural Research Quarterly:  JARQ, 37(4), 249-252. 

Raphael, T, J, Kuttan G,  (2003) Immunomodulatory activity of naturally occurring monoterpenes carvone, limonene, and perillic acid.  2003 May;25(2):285-94. doi: 10.1081/iph-120020476. Last accessed 02.4.25

Rota, M.C., Herrera, A., Martinez, R.M., Sotomayor, J.A, and Jordan, M.J.  (2008) Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of Thymus vulgaris, Thymus zygis and Thymus hymalis essential oils.  Food Control 19. 681-687. 

Woelk, H. and Schläfke, S.  (2010) A multi-centre, double-blind, randomised study of the Lavender oil preparation Silexan in comparison to Lorazepam for generalised anxiety disorder.  Phytomedicine 17, 2, 94-99.