Aroma oil expert Mr. Luo Qing talks about aromatherapy and how immunity works against viruses
A novel virus outbreak recently has reminded us how important it is to have a healthy body. But what does a healthy body mean? It relates not only to strong muscles, but more importantly, to soundly functioning immunity.
Traditional Chinese Medicine compares a virus attack to a thief. When a thief comes, what is the first thing to do? Will you firstly check the identity information of the thief or fasten your windows and doors and prepare defensive weapons? Scientific researchers and medical staffs have already confirmed the identity of the thief, but have we closed our doors and windows and prepared weapons? In other words, how is the condition of our immunity system? How can we improve it so that it can function more effectively?
“Sound” immunity is partially congenital and partially acquired. Skin and mucosa membrane, lymphatic system, immune cells, and chemical immunization altogether form a complete resistance system against harmful bacteria and viruses. We don’t say a “strong” immunity, but “sound” immunity because immunity is like a coin of two sides. While fighting against the pathogens, it will also damage body organs. People with weaker immunity levels are more likely to get disease and be attacked by viruses, and show severer symptoms and need a longer time to recover. People with too energetic immunity systems are more likely to have allergies. Also when they are infected, the immunity system works more robustly against the virus, which results in stronger damage to other organs of the body as well.
To prevent and overcome virus attacks, the first thing is to have a sound immunity system.
The outermost layer of the respiratory tract is the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane and the lymphoid nodule beneath it together form the first line of defense. We call it the mucosal immune system. It is the biggest “department” in the entire immune system of the body because the immune cells which dwell there are more than the sum of those elsewhere. It is the main path for the body to get external substances such as air, water and food. It is also a section that is most easily broken through by the enemies.
The mucous membrane is mainly composed of fat. To get enough good fat and Vitamin A and E which protect the fat from being oxidized is important for the health of the mucous membrane. They can be acquired from healthy food. Today people are afraid of hearing the word “fat”, but they don’t know what big harm the body will suffer due to a lack of fat.
The mucus secreted by the mucous membrane is the first battlefield against viruses. Cell immunity and humoral immunity both work here. If they are overcome, the virus will lose its activity and then be expelled through body fluids. If they fail, the virus will directly enter the blood and lungs. So to have enough water is very important. It will keep the mucous membrane moist and thus help to prevent the occurrence of many diseases.
In the practice of aromatherapy, it is recommended to take a teaspoonful of vegetable fat every day such as pumpkin seed oil, safflower oil, evening primrose seed oil or virgin olive oil. They are all rich in good fat and lipid-soluble vitamins, which help to repair the mucous membrane. During the coronavirus outbreak, it is also advised to rinse the mouth with vegetable oils every day. Three detox vegetable oils are recommendable and you can choose from them according to your own body conditions. Coconut oil is good for those of heat nature, cold pressed sesame oil is good for people of a cold nature and olive oil is good for those of neutral nature. Drop the oil into water (100 ml water – 10 drips of oil), keep it in the mouth and gargle for five minutes. It will either kill or take away the pathogens in the mouth, protect, repair mucous membrane and suppress inflammation.
Then it comes to the lymphatic system.
Lymph runs over the body inside the lymphatic vessel. However, unlike blood circulation supported by a central pump, which is the heart, the circulation of lymph is based on the shrinking of the smooth muscle inside the lymphatic vessel. Meanwhile, the muscles of movement help lymph reach the farthest part, the legs and feet. And a special valve structure inside the lymphatic vessel helps lymph flow to the veins on the shoulder blades and then back to the blood vessels.
A long time sitting inhibits effective lymph circulation. As a result, toxins and pathogen will not be taken to the lymph gland and eliminated. Infection and inflammation then follows. And the body’s immunity power is weakened. That is why we offer lymph detoxing massage at spas. It helps lymph flow more smoothly. The International Federation of Aromatherapist has developed a complete set of lymph massage techniques and tailors a range of massage oil formulas for different individuals. To learn more about essential oils and aromatherapy will benefit the entire family, and maybe lead you to a new business area.
What is cellular immunity? We divide immune cells into two types. Type 1 discovers the enemy and produces weapons. Type 2 defeats the enemy and clears the battlefield. Though in the disguise of body cells, normal viruses can be discovered by Type 1 immune cells very quickly. Type 1 immune cells then produce weapons and deliver the weapons to Type 2 to kill the virus. However, if the virus is totally new to the body, such as COVID-19, then it takes the immune cells longer to discover it and produce the antibody. The length of time and level of effect depends on the individual.
It is important to enhance the activity of immune cells.
According to quantum mechanics, everything is vibrating. The essence of all living things and substances are vibrations of particles. The higher the vibration frequency is, the stronger the activity is. When the vibration frequency reduces, the activity weakens, resulting in poorer functioning.
Substances of low vibration frequency will experience an increase of vibration frequency if they stay with substances of high frequency. Likewise, if we want to enhance cell activity, we can do more exercise of high vibration frequency or stay closer to substances of high vibration frequency.
In addition to outdoor aerobic exercises, there are many indoor options as well to improve cell vibration frequency, such as yoga, jogging, meditation and bathing. All essential oils boast high vibration frequency. We can use them in our daily bathing or massage to improve the vibration frequency and activity of our immune cells.
Finally, chemical immunization.
During the SARS outbreak, interferon was sprayed into the nose of medical staff and it played an important role in guarding their health. Interferon is a protein secreted by cells after the virus enters into the body. Interferon can suppress virus multiplying inside cells. Moreover, in our blood, there are more than twenty kinds of complementary proteins which also join in the immune activity of discovering and killing pathogens.
When it comes to chemical immunization, inflammation is something to be paid attention to. Coronavirus results in severe pneumonia and what really does damage is not the virus itself but the organic damage and complications triggered by inflammation.
The Latin origin of inflammation is inframmare, meaning burning. In Chinese, the corresponding character “炎”(inflammation) is composed of two 火 (fire), conveying the same message. They both vividly describes the feeling and features of the body when inflammation occurs: redness, swelling, hotness, and pain.
But all these uncomfortable feelings in fact result from the body’s defense mechanism. When the immune system discovers the invasion of pathogens or body tissue being damaged, immune cells will secrete a chemical component (inflammatory mediator) to gather more blood together (red). At the same time, interstitial fluid increases (swelling), the activity of immune cells are enhanced (hotness), and the swelling of organs stimulates nerves (pain). All of these reactions have only one aim – to defeat the enemy and repair body tissues in the shortest time.
If a small combat fails to solve the problem, the immune system will launch a large-scale war. More warriors and stronger weapons will come. Sometimes it may even turn into a nuclear war. When that happens, not only the pathogen is destroyed, but the normal organs of the body will greatly suffer as well. The “white lung” in novel coronavirus cases is the result of such a war. The regular clinic practice of saving organs from this war is to supply the body with steroid hormones. It is effective in protecting the organs from being destroyed, but it also leaves severe sequela to the body.
Immunity is closely related to one’s overall health. Healthy diets, exercise, quality sleep and good mood are key to a sound immunity level.
Our knowledge of the relationship between viruses and humans is still insufficient. There isn’t any clinic test yet telling whether essential oil can suppress or kill the novel coronavirus.
However, according to a range of research and experiments at home and abroad, we are sure about the following:
- Essential oil has an inhibiting effect on many viruses.
- Essential oil can adjust immunity.
- Essential oil can suppress inflammation.
- Essential oil can improve one’s spirit and mood, which is good for the immune system.
