Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

3 Pagans and a Cat

Home
Pagan
Green Witch Guide To Easing Flu Symptoms

Green Witch Guide To Easing Flu Symptoms

Last updated on: March 13, 2020 at 2:25 pm by Gwyn

Green Witch Guide To Easing Flu Symptoms 2020-03-13T14:25:38-04:00 Gwyn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Last week, I shared an article on how to use essential oils to create natural cleansers. The idea is to create herbal shields as an additional safeguard in our homes. We are magickal people, so it makes sense to engage our plant allies for assistance for health and home.

Even so, in the seven days since writing that post, the World Health Organization has declared a Coronavirus 19 pandemic. Many states, including Michigan, have declared a state of emergency. Many people have the flu (even if it’s not the one in question), including a friend of mine who is really suffering. So, I thought I’d share some basic home remedies that may assist in the relief of flu symptoms.

Plant allies can be helpful in easing flu symptoms. Image by 5598375 via pixabay.com

FLU: Essential Oils Which Support The Body

The beautiful thing about plants is they have multiple properties that support the body. We can eat food or drink teas which strengthen our body’s immune system. There are herbal remedies that offer physical comfort while easing uncomfortable symptoms. As magickal people, we can work with plant spirit allies to provide additional benefit for the mind, body, and spirit.

Here is a list of plant allies I have found useful when dealing with cold or flu symptoms. These can be used in herbal tea, elixirs, or essential oil form:

Elderberry: A powerhouse that can be made into a tea or syrup as a great immunity booster. Try Heron Michelle’s excellent antiviral brew.

Eucalyptus: Use the dried leaves as a tea (not suitable for children), the fresh leaves in the shower for steam inhalation, or essential oil for diffusing when noses and chests need relief from sneezing and coughing.
Frankincense: The essential oil can be diffused to create a peaceful atmosphere, reduce stress from being ill, assist productive coughs through steam inhalation or diffusion.
Lavender: Diffuse the oil to create a restful atmosphere. The dried flowers can also be used as a tea with mint to aid the body in recovering from flu.
Lemon Balm: Use as tea or tincture to encourage relaxation or sleep. It is also said to help the body “sweat out” fevers.
Lemon: May help clear stuffy noses and help promote steady breathing.
Ginger: This root is well-known for easing upset stomachs. Create a ginger root and honey tea to ease a dry cough.

Lemon and ginger make a powerful flu-fighting combo. Image by SuKaduna via pixabay.com

Additional Herbs and Oils used for colds and flu symptom relief include:

Peppermint
Marjoram
Orange
Oregano
Rosemary
Tea Tree
Thyme

**Reminder: Not all essential oils or herbs are safe to use with children or pets. Do the research and be aware of contraindication with medicines, potential side effects when used as a tea/tincture or EO, etc. I recommend Google and The Portable Essential Oils by Anne Kennedy. Another recommended resource is The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Easley and Horne.**

There are many ways to utilize plants during illness. Image by mohammad_hassan via pixabay.com

FLU: Recipes For Herbal Support

As mentioned, there are multiple ways to use essential oils, roots, and herbs during illness. These include:

Diffusion: A process of dispersing essential oils so that the aroma fills a room or space (AromaWeb). Methods include using a commercial diffuser, adding oils, roots, or herbs to boiling water in a pan on a stove, or in a bowl, allowing the steam to rise.
Inhalation: Placing a few drops of essential oil on a tissue then covering the nose and mouth to breathe the aroma. You can also use your hands to cup over the nose and mouth but it is best to use a carrier oil such as coconut in addition to the essential oil. There is also diffusing jewelry that can be worn to receive the benefits of the oils.
Skin application: Using an essential oil or herbal infused salve/lotion, carrier-essential oil blend, or herbal decoction applied to the skin.
Decoctions and Teas: Made using boiling water, roots, and/or herbs to create a beverage or soup.

A Few Recipes To Try:

(The tea recipe includes loose-leaf herbs but you can substitute with bagged tea.)

Sore Throat Tea: Pour 10 oz of boiling water over 1 tsp green tea, 1tsp peppermint leaf, and 1/4 tsp turmeric (use a muslin bag or tea strainer) in a mug or other hot beverage container. Steep for one minute. Honey can be added to sweeten for additional throat soothing properties.

Dry Cough Tea: Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Add 2 or 3 slices of ginger root. Steep for 15 minutes then add honey and lemon.

Oregano Steam For Stuffy Noses: Place one or two drops of oregano essential oil into a bowl of steaming hot water. Sit so your face is near the bowl as the steam rises and breathe normally. Be careful not to burn nasal passages or throat as oregano oil can be very strong. Encourages nasal passages to clear so the nose will get runny. It may also be helpful to ease a cough. Do once or twice a day.

*Rosemary-Lemon Steam For Easier Breathing: Place two drops of lemon essential oil and three drops of rosemary essential oil into a bowl of steaming hot water. Breathe deeply.

Breathe Easy Oil Blend: Combine 2 drops lavender, 2 drops peppermint, 2 drops lemon in 2-3 tablespoons carrier oil (I prefer coconut) in a jar with a lid. Shake or swirl to combine. Rub on the chest, back, neck. (You can increase the number of drops to the carrier if you wish to make a larger amount for extended use during a cold/flu. Store in a cool, dark place.) You can use this blend without the carrier oil in a diffuser as well.

*Eucalyptus-Lavender Salt: Combine 2 tablespoons Dead Sea salt with 3 drops eucalyptus essential oil, 3 drops lavender essential oil. Stir or shake to blend in a small jar with a lid. Inhale the scent from the jar as needed or add to a warm bath. Combine the two essential oils without the salt and add to 2 tablespoons of a carrier to rub on the chest, back, and neck.

Sore Muscle Relief: Combine 3-4 tablespoons carrier oil with 2 drops peppermint, 2 drops lavender, 2 drops rosemary, 3 drops copaiba. Massage into skin for body aches-discomfort.

FLU: Working the Magick

I know there has been a lot of panicked shopping going on due to the coronavirus. Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and canned goods are flying off the shelves at local stores. This is why my shopping is more focused on fresh fruits and vegetables, various forms of protein, along with other whole foods, to support my family’s health. And I am using what knowledge I have of herbs and essential oils.

As a Witch, I make sure to employ the aid of plant allies in every oil preparation I create, the decoctions I brew and stir magickal intention for good health into the food I cook. I have also made use of the Immunity Booster Sigil offered by Laura Tempest Zakroff, placing them on the doors of my home.

Trust me, I understand everyone’s concern. My mother is elderly and I am unable to visit her in case I might expose her to the virus unawares. But we are not helpless in this situation if we keep our heads and by following the guidelines of washing our hands, keeping our social contacts to a minimum where possible, and being wise whether we or someone we know/love contract the illness or not, we will make it through this difficult time in the end.

________________________________________________

*indicates adapted from The Portable Essential Oils by Anne Kennedy.

Also, there is some question on whether to use Elderberry for coronavirus. Check out this post, check with your doctor, do your research.

About Gwyn

Gwyn is one of the hosts of 3 Pagans and a Cat, a podcast about the questions and discussions between three pagan family members, each exploring different pagan paths and how their various traditions can intersect. The most practiced pagan on the path, Gwyn is a Green Witch devoted to Hekate, Brighid, and Frigga. She is a Clairsentient Medium, Tarot Reader, loves writing and, spending time with her family, as well as working with herbs, essential oils, and plants. You can read more about the author here.

Previous Post

March 9, 2020

Re-Thinking Chakras, Kirtan, And Other Borrowed Practices

Next Post

March 16, 2020 An Apple Spell For Health And Protection

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2024 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 February 2023 September 2022 June 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 October 2021 September 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

In 1 Peter 1, what does Peter say is more valuable than gold?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Righteousness Faith Charity Wisdom